Praying for CNN Sportscaster Nick Charles

Despite his pain and sufferings, Charles continues to show tremendous courage, wisdom and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

On this Easter morning, I woke up with an intense and unexplainable urge to pray for Nick Charles. I do not personally know Charles; but I have read about his struggles and pain. I do know that the former CNN Sportscaster is dying from terminal metastatic bladder cancer. Despite his pain and sufferings, Charles continues to show tremendous courage, wisdom and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Charles was born in Chicago, Illinois to a mother of Sicilian heritage and a father of Spartan Greek heritage. The 65-year-old, was the first sports anchor for CNN in 1980.

I think the reason why Charles' story has resonated with me and so many people is that it shows there is something more to life and that God teaches us through pain and suffering. Charles' faith and courage has taught me something – that he was put on this earth to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and that CNN was just the “Mount Everest” to reaching millions around the world.

While speaking to CNN, an evangelical minister, Ravi Zacharias, who also officiated Charles’ wedding to Cory, said it much better. He exemplifies the convergence of faith, family and finitude, said Zacharias to CNN. “All three have come together. His surrender to an ultimate purpose of God has made him handle this journey. I’m sure he’s had some dark nights of his soul when he’s all alone. It’s impossible not to have them.”

Zacharias also added, “What I’ve seen in Nick Charles is the miracle of a transformed life,” the minister continued to tell CNN. “What people will take away from Nick is not just a lifestyle, but a death-style – that you have to face death. The dark night and the dark valley he’s walked through, he’s walked through with courage and with fortitude.”

While speaking on CNN, Charles said, “How you could just come to God and there’s no backtrack, no guilt involved, no keeping score, and I said this is where I should have been before but this is where I am now and I’m moving forward with it.”

“If I’m wrong I have lived a better life since 1992. I’m a better person,” Charles told CNN. “When they cremate you or throw dirt on you and there’s nothing after that, what have I lost?”

He added, “Faith is fastening on to what is unseen.”

Charles reportedly has recorded video messages for his family and friends to show after his death. He has a wife, Cory, 4 children and 3 grandchildren. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2009.

06/25/11 Update

Nick Charles, former CNN sportscaster dies at 64 from terminal metastatic bladder cancer