Sports Review Magazine Article on Evangelist Richard Lane

NFL HOFer Dick "Night Train" Lane's Son A Lay Catholic Evangelist (Speaking In Detroit April 12th)

Jim Acho 4/11/08
Dick "Night Train" Lane is still considered by some old guard football men to be the greatest DB in NFL history. He led a unique life: as an L.A. Ram in the 1950s, made several movie cameos; married singer Dinah Washington in 1963; was an All-Pro with Detroit, had his own restaurant, later became Detroit's first black assistant coach in 1966; when I knew Train he was a supervisor with Detroit Parks & Rec, and was crotchety as a mug. He retired in 2000, and passed away shortly after that, God rest his soul.

His son Richard is a Catholic evangelist, and is in Detroit speaking this Saturday--he will be speaking across the country this year and over the forseeable future as part of his lay ministry. I for one applaud his efforts, and will try to get there to hear him speak. --Ach
Son Of The 'Night Train' To Address Catholic Men
by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic

Evangelist Richard Lane

Detroit � In the 1950s and 60s, Detroiters watched the ferocious football star Dick "Night Train" Lane put the hurt on running backs and wide receivers who faced the Detroit Lions.
In April, they're going to hear from the late football star's son, Richard Lane. A Catholic evangelist residing in St. Louis, Richard Lane wants to tackle the powers of darkness and division, and the busyness that keeps men from Christ.

"In a lot of our Catholic churches, there are not enough men involved," says Lane, who will be addressing thousands of men gathered at University of Detroit's Calihan Hall for the annual Catholic Conference for Men April 12. "Men are so worried about trying to build something for our families, trying to get a better job, earning income to send kids to college, we don't take enough time out for Jesus. We don't take time out for God." Having been raised in Detroit during his father's NFL career, Lane says he's been excited to return to the area. continued...
Train Was The First Black Athlete In Detroit Team Sports History To Get Endorsements
Lane spent a six-year career in the United States Army Military Police Corps after his graduation from Morehouse College in Atlanta. He converted to Catholicism and became a street-corner evangelist. Since, Lane has built a name for himself on the Catholic speaking circuit, and with his wife, Donna, he runs Qorban ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading God's Word. He also is co-host of a Catholic weekly radio program in St. Louis and a sought-after speaker for Catholic events.

Lane acknowledges his important role as a black evangelist, as well, saying that African Americans have a lot to discover in the Catholic Church, and that Catholics, both black and white, have to extend the invitation. "Out of 30 million African Americans in this country, only 3 million are Catholic," he says. "We have to do a better job of sharing our faith with other creeds, nationalities and races." He says Catholics can draw more black men to the Church just as Christ drew men to Himself. "The only way people are going to be interested in coming into the Catholic Church is if they see Christ in those of us who are Catholic," he says.

In a city as diverse, yet as racially divided, as Detroit, Lane adds, it helps when white Catholics experience worship in predominantly black churches, and the other way around, too. "Everyone is One Body of Christ, and everyone has to look out for each other," Lane says. "We have to embrace the richness of our Catholic faith." Already, local Catholic priests are making efforts to evangelize in largely black communities. Fr. Theodore Parker, pastor of St. Cecilia Parish on Detroit's west side, says a large part of inviting black men into the faith community has to do with relationship building.

Lane says he will be in Detroit a couple days before the Catholic Conference for Men, both learning about the local Church and being part of interdenominational efforts. He's glad, he says, that the well-known name of his father, who died in 2002, has opened the door for him. "I know my father's in heaven, and I know he had a lot to do with this invitation," Lane says.
What: Sixth annual Catholic Conference for Men.When: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 12.Where: Calihan Hall, University of Detroit Mercy, 4001 W. McNichols Road, Detroit, MI.Cost: $50 at the door; call (313) 319-7128.