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Former Oakland Raiders running back Napoleon Kaufman, now an East Bay minister, greets someone attending a special service Sunday night at The Gateway Church in Lockeford. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)
Raiders star-turned-minister comes to Lockeford
Napoleon Kaufman acknowledged that he was having a great career as a running back for the Oakland Raiders in the 1990s. He really loved playing the game, but he retired in 2000 at the age of 27 because there was something he loved much more than football — God.
"I'm not an athlete who happens to be a Christian," Kaufman said after preaching at Lockeford's Gateway Church on Sunday night. "I'm a Christian who happened to be an athlete."
Now 36, Kaufman lives in Pleasanton and preaches at The Well Christian Community in Dublin, which boasts 1,200 members. He says he also has five churches under The Well's umbrella.
On Sunday, the former Raider running back was in Lockeford as Pastor Manny Campos' guest at The Gateway Church on East Hammond Street.
Kaufman said he developed as a preacher during the off-season throughout his 91-game NFL career. He was chaplain during his third or fourth year with the Raiders.
Then, in 2000, Kaufman said he realized that he couldn't stay with the Raiders.
"I really loved playing football, but I realized I had a call for God," Kaufman said. "I enjoy watching football. We have people who play football who go to our church." Campos invited Kaufman to Lockeford after he spoke at Campos' former church in Yreka about five years ago.
Dressed in a very loose-fitting mustard-yellow shirt and slacks, Kaufman didn't say a word about football during his sermon in Lockeford. An animated speaker, Kaufman focused on how Satan is trying to keep everyone away from God; making Lockeford a more Christian community; and healing members of the congregation.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
| Napoleon Kaufman's football career | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Carries | Rushing yards | TD | Receptions | Yards | TD |
| 1995 | 108 | 490 | 1 | 9 | 62 | 0 |
| 1996 | 150 | 874 | 1 | 22 | 143 | 1 |
| 1997 | 272 | 1,294 | 6 | 40 | 403 | 2 |
| 1998 | 217 | 921 | 2 | 25 | 191 | 0 |
| 1999 | 138 | 714 | 2 | 18 | 181 | 1 |
| 2000 | 93 | 499 | 0 | 13 | 127 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 978 | 4,792 | 12 | 127 | 1,107 | 5 |
| Source: Pro-footballreference.com | ||||||
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napa valley chef wrote on Jul 24, 2009 12:09 AM:
dogs4you wrote on Jul 20, 2009 6:44 PM:
RaiderHater wrote on Jul 20, 2009 6:03 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Jul 20, 2009 3:30 PM:
TETMFPB wrote on Jul 20, 2009 2:42 PM:
lodi boy wrote on Jul 20, 2009 1:03 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Jul 20, 2009 12:30 PM:
It would have been interesting to hear his redition of the way Satan is trying to keep everyone away from God, I have my own ideas, booze, dope, lawyers and government for a start, come to think of it those 4 might make me run to God. On second thought all I need is an animated speaker, I get enough of that around the house. "
Audi 5000 wrote on Jul 20, 2009 9:31 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.