We’re currently in-between study series so for the next two Fridays before the holiday break, we’ll have guest speakers:

• Friday, DEC 11: Roman Harper, former NFL player and current SEC Network analyst
• Friday, DEC 18: Sarah Verardo, CEO of The Independence Fund

More on Sarah with next week’s reminder email/post.

Speaker bio: Roman Harper

Super Bowl Champion and former NFL Pro Bowl safety Roman Harper signed a multi-year deal to join SEC Network in the summer of 2020, filling the fourth chair on SEC Nation. Harper, an all-SEC performer for the Alabama Crimson Tide, joins host Laura Rutledge and analysts Tim Tebow and Nation newcomer Jordan Rodgers behind the desk. Harper also appears regularly on additional SEC Network studio shows, including SEC Now and The Paul Finebaum Show.

Harper, who spent nine of his 11 NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints, was recently announced as a 2020 inductee into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. The Alabama alum, who was a team captain when the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, played with New Orleans from 2006-13 and finished his playing career with the organization in 2016. Harper also spent two seasons (2014-15) with the Carolina Panthers, helping lead the team to Super Bowl 50. As a broadcaster, Harper spent the past two seasons as a Saints analyst with WDSU in New Orleans, worked for Charlotte’s FOX 46 and currently hosts “The Clubhouse Podcast” with Kyle Bailey.

Born was born and raised in Prattville, Ala., he is the founder of Harper’s Hope 4*1 Foundation, which focuses on strengthening families and encouraging children to reach their unlimited potential, regardless of their circumstances. The nonprofit does outreach in the Charlotte and New Orleans communities and throughout the state of Alabama.

Harper lives with his wife and four children in Charlotte, NC.

In full transparency, Roman is a neighbor of mine and since meeting him, I’ve gotten to know him not so much as a great former football player, but rather as an individual with high character, a strong sense of community, and Christian family values. He can also hit a golf ball a country-mile…but that’s another conversation! The video below shows Roman a couple years ago as he was leaning into retirement from the New Orleans Saints and preparing for the next chapter of his life. I know he’ll share some of those decisions and impacts this Friday to our men’s group.

As always, please gather virtually over Zoom starting at 7:30 am ET to “catch up”. I’ll open us in prayer at 7:45 am ET before quickly turning the Zoom microphone over to this week’s guest speaker, Roman Harper.

Peace!

Featured image copyright: Jeremy Brevard