ALLENTOWN, Pa. \u2014 Jerry Christian has been a familiar name in Allentown, not just for his accomplishments on the basketball court, but for the lives he has helped shape off of it.<\/p>\n
A street naming ceremony to rename Hickory Street ‘Jerry Christian Way’ was scheduled for Saturday but was postponed due to weather.<\/p>\n
Even without the street sign going up yet, Christian\u2019s message remains clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you put \u2018Way\u2019 on it and you say, \u2018Jerry Christian Way,\u2019 well, my way is to lead people to Christ,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Christian played for the Allentown Jets professional team for nine seasons, an experience that led him to mentor young players at the Cumberland Gardens Community Center.<\/p>\n
He says he never turned kids away while working there, calling it a message from God to help and guide young people.<\/p>\n
He taught children not only how to play basketball, but also how to navigate life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a lot of conversations about life. They just needed to talk, and they needed somebody to listen,\u201d Christian said.<\/p>\n
One of those kids, Alvin Blount, remembers the lessons well.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get knocked down so much and as a kid, you don’t understand why it’s happening. You just get defeated. And while I was defeated, I just remember Jerry saying, \u2018Don\u2019t quit, don\u2019t quit.\u2019 And things worked out,\u201d Blount said.<\/p>\n
Blount described Christian as the kind of person who always makes time for others, whether it was helping with basketball or simply offering advice about life.<\/p>\n
While the street ceremony will happen at a later date, those who know Christian say his legacy has already been paved through the people he has inspired.<\/p>\n