Super Bowl 2023: Pastors Ted and Dawn Winsley of The Family Church provide spiritual boost for the Philadelphia Eagles

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Well, if the Eagles win Super Bowl 57, it may be due to divine intervention.

For more than two decades, the team has been led by two very devoted chaplains who not only pray for each player’s safety, but also help them to rise spiritually.

For nearly 22 years, Pastors Ted and Dawn Winsley of The Family Church in Voorhees have been the spiritual backbone of The Birds.

The husband and wife are the team’s chaplains to the coaches, players and their significant others.

“A lot of the players weren’t prepared for that level of access, that level of freedom. This ability to do anything that comes to mind,” said Pastor Ted Winsley.

Over the years, through thick and thin, they have helped mend the young professional athletes on and off the field with weekly Bible studies and pre-game worship services.

“We do personal ministry, personal counseling, pre-war counseling, marriage counseling, baby dedication,” Winsley said.

We know that the birds are a family and the whole family needs help too. This is where Pastor Dawn comes in, focusing on the player’s wives and girlfriends.

“They realize, ‘Wow, you know, my fiance, my husband is actually getting the same message,'” Pastor Dawn Winsley said.

But a lot of what they teach focuses on when those game days come to an end. They help former Eagles well beyond their NFL careers.

“Football is not your goal. It’s a platform and it allows you to express who God called and created you,” Pastor Ted said.

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“This thing really goes beyond the game. We give them tools to use later,” Pastor Dawn said.

They also wanted to take this time to remind everyone that our eagles are people too. They need support for a championship.

“Encourage them and say kind things. I believe that will really help,” Pastor Dawn said.

Pastor Ted says his message during his final coaching studies was, “God gives everyone a dream. The dream is to fulfill a vision, and vision makes us family.”

As for the Birds Nation, you’re being asked to do your spiritual part to bring home a win.

“Hey pray haha. We are the birds that pray. I truly believe this is a platform that God gave to the city to show the love of God,” Pastor Ted said.