God and Football

Focus on the Family has confirmed rumors that it will broadcast its first-ever Super Bowl ad on Feb. 7, a 30-second spot featuring Florida Gators star quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, sharing "a personal story" centered on the anti-abortion theme of "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life."

"The Tebows said they agreed to appear in the commercial because the issue of life is one they feel very strongly about," according to a statement by the conservative Christian Focus on the Family. "Tim and Pam share our respect for life and our passion for helping families thrive," Jim Daly, president and CEO of Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, Colo., said in a statement. "They live what we see every day – that the desire for family closeness is written on the hearts of every generation. Focus on the Family is about nurturing that desire and strengthening families by empowering them with the tools they need to live lives rooted in morals and values."

The funds to air the ad emanated from a handful of "very generous and committed friends" who donated specifically to support the project.

"Now that the ad has been shot, we're excited to tell people it's coming, because the Tebows' story is such an important one for our culture to hear," Daily said. "You won't want to miss it."

The content of the ad still remains to be shown to the media, but may center on Pam Tebow's decision not to abort her son at a time when she faced complications with her pregnancy in the Philippines while and her husband were serving as Christian missionaries. Tebow, of course won the 2007 Heisman Trophy, and was home-schooled.