'Praying Tailback' addresses Sussex prayer breakfast

For 38 years, Sussex County officials, business leaders and residents have set aside time to pray for the county and its leaders.

The guest speaker at this year's June 9 Sussex County Prayer Breakfast first made history as an NFL player, but his true legacy has been his ministry after football.

The Rev. Herb Lusk, a former Eagles tailback who is pastor of Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia, was the first NFL player to kneel and pray in the end zone after scoring a touchdown. That occurred on Oct. 9, 1977, after a 70-yard TD run on a handoff from quarterback Ron Jaworski. He will forever be known as the “Praying Tailback.”

NFL historians say that 9,000 games had been played to that point.

It was by far Lusk's best game as an NFL player. He rushed for 117 yards and scored two touchdowns, the only two he scored as a rusher in his career.

Drafted in the 10th round by the Eagles in 1976, Lusk played three seasons. He said in training camp at the start of his fourth season in 1979, he realized that he would never play again. “It was time to preach the word. The Lord called me to ministry,” he said.

While his wife, Vicky, worked, he went back to college to obtain his master of divinity degree. “I had to finish school because in college [Long Beach State] I majored in football,” he said with a laugh.

A chance visit to a Philadelphia inner-city church with only 17 active members was a defining moment in his life. He said the church had two mortgages, a leaking roof, was in bankruptcy court and needed major renovations. “At first I couldn't wait to get away from there,” he said, but it didn't take long for him to realize that his calling was the church.

“I realized there couldn't be a better place to start my ministry,” he said.

Over the years, membership has grown to 2,000. Thousands more have benefited from Greater Exodus outreach programs in the United States and Africa. The church has a Christian school, charter school, prison ministry and a welfare-to-work program where 25,000 people have been trained for employment.

Lusk said his father left him with five rules to live by: Love everybody; work hard and serve others; call on God – prayer is important; find a way to give and bless others; and finally, be a believer and trust God.

Kevin Pierce, a retired a Pennsylvania State Police trooper, was the featured singer. Dale Dukes, a former county councilman, served as emcee. His grandson, Colby, coordinated the event at Crossroad Community Church between Georgetown and Bridgeville.