Most of the world knows Ben Roethlisberger as a hotshot QB. 6-time Pro Bowler, 2-time Super Bowl champ with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But his accolades aren’t everything there is to know about him. Back when he was a kid, it was his dad who had taught him the Christian values that he carries to this day. When fame and fortune found him early on in his career, Roethlisberger didn’t actively pursue faith. Later, when he got married to Ashley, Roethlisberger found a renewed connection with faith. He even got baptised, and since then, Big Ben has always been outspoken about faith and the impact it has had on his life.

Ben Roethlisberger once said, “I want it to be known to all of the young men out there, it’s cool to be Christian and be an athlete. I’m trying to be a better Christian than I am athlete and football player. I push myself every day to do that, and it starts here. It’s not always easy.” He has tried to live by these words ever since he got married and found a renewed calling of faith. While most people try to kick back and relax on weekends, that’s not how our Big Ben rolls. He stepped out this weekend to be a part of a faith movement that is spanning the entire world.

On his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, Big Ben talked about Illuminations, a revolutionary organization that has a dedicated mission. The mission? Translating the Bible so it can reach people all around the world in their native language. “Their goal is to end Bible poverty – what they were doing is they’re trying to translate it to every nation,” Roethlisberger said on the podcast. Big Ben went into detail about how Illuminations is finding translators and trying to spread the message of Christ. Talking to the members of the group, Big Ben said, “it was a really really special event. We got to hang out a lot with some really cool people.”

Speaking about their efforts, Big Ben also mentioned that the group had raised a massive $40M. He further added, “This was only 150 people”. Just 150 people raising $40M over a weekend, that’s big. “the other person that’s in charge. So, it’s Todd Peterson, who is an ex- kicker in the NFL, and Mart Green – Those are the two guys that kind of started this thing.” Ever since he retired from the NFL, Peterson has worked to spread the good word. He once said in an interview, “Over time, there are many things that have transformed in my life to make me more like Jesus. These changes aren’t always instantaneous, but they’re part of the sanctifying process. When we surrender to Him, God creates in us a clean heart and a right spirit.” And it is with this drive that he leads to support the grand project of Illuminations.

Todd Peterson and Mart Green’s mission

Back in 2014, Mart Green was trying to create a fundraiser for resources and donors for Bible translation. It was then that Todd Peterson (then interim president and CEO of the Seed Company) reached out to Green and proposed giving its largest fundraiser to Green’s movement. What followed was a $21M investment by the partners of Seed Company. And Green knew he had found a powerful partner, and a servant of God, in Todd Peterson.

The Illuminations organization has a clear goal. When they started on their mission, they estimated it would take them 100 years to complete their work. But now, they have a stronger vision ahead of them. By the year 2033, their goal is to give 95% people of the world access to a full bible. They are also aiming for 99.96% of the world to have access to a New Testament. The whole world will have access to Scripture, and “100% of the world’s most strategic written languages will be available in 2 useable translations.”

Todd Peterson and Mart Green continue to work on their mission to bring the Bible to every person in the world. And now, they have an active supporter in the legend Ben Roethlisberger and his family. Together, we hope they will not only complete their mission but may even complete it before 2033. As is so rightly said, Matthew 4:4 – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”