At a Glance
Jeff?s future wife Stacy read an article about Jeff while he was trying out for the LA Rams. She was a junior at USC- and had recently become a Christian by placing her trust in Jesus Christ. Although he was a long-shot free agent, Jeff said in the article that he wasn?t worried about getting cut because he was leaving it in God?s hands. That caught Stacy?s attention - so she sent him an encouraging note and started praying for him twice a day during training camp tryouts. A few weeks later Stacy agreed to go on a group outing to Disneyland and an Angels game with a group of USC seniors and a few single players from the Rams Bible study group. Jeff got a heads-up that the girl who had written him a letter was coming and thus began their courtship. They started dating every off night Jeff had, and even though he had a clear hunch she would be the one, he hinted he might like to date others before getting real committed. She saw some immaturity in him - and came back at him with a lot of spunk - really challenging him on his thoughts. He asked her what she thought about the institution of marriage, and she said it was a life-long commitment?no matter what. She articulated a clear and compelling vision of marriage as a sacred bond where a husband and wife become life partners, anchoring a family and stable home. Her heartfelt and dynamic reaction put Jeff?s feelings towards her over the top, and they were soon engaged. When Jeff?s son Kyle was born, he was thrilled. He realized all the things he enjoyed doing with his father as a child, now he had the opportunity to do with his son. Three more sons followed and the Kemps have had a very active, competitive (and hungry!) household. Jeff believes the key to a great relationship with children is that they feel accepted by Dad, and to accomplish that requires time with them, as well as many affirmations of their value, character and potential. Jeff and his four sons play a lot of football and ping-pong. They ski and enjoy one-on-one breakfasts and family dinners. He also takes each child on a trip when they turn 13 and 18. He wants them to see an ?unconditional love? role model that can be applied to any relationship. He and Stacy often talk about media and cultural influences to his kids and how many of those messages promote self-centeredness rather than other-centeredness. He and Stacy pray together, have date nights, play tennis together and talk about the kids frequently. They also lead a class for young married couples where they share the importance of husbands loving their wives sacrificially and wives respecting their husbands. These are the deepest needs of men and women and marriages only thrive when these needs are met unconditionally. Years ago, Stacy asked Jeff the right questions, and together they are helping our country get the right answers. Since retiring from the NFL, Jeff has been leading Families Northwest, a group dedicated to fueling a marriage and family movement. To learn more about Jeff and his continuing efforts to strengthen families, go to his organization?s website, www.familiesnorthwest.org.
