FILE - In this May 31, 2012, file photo, New York Jets quarterbacks Mark Sanchez, left, and Tim Tebow workout during NFL football practice in Florham Park, N.J. Likely done in New York after one frustrating season and Jacksonville already saying no to a happy homecoming, what's next for Tebow, one of the league's most popular and polarizing players? A backup role on another NFL team? A position change? The Canadian Football League? Well, even Tebow isn't sure.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
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FILE - In this May 31, 2012, file photo, New York Jets quarterbacks Mark Sanchez, left, and Tim Tebow workout during NFL football practice in Florham Park, N.J. Likely done in New York after one frustrating season and Jacksonville already saying no to a happy homecoming, what's next for Tebow, one of the league's most popular and polarizing players? A backup role on another NFL team? A position change? The Canadian Football League? Well, even Tebow isn't sure.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
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FILE - In a Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, file photo, New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) warms up before of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Likely done in New York after one frustrating season and Jacksonville already saying no to a happy homecoming, what's next for Tebow, one of the league's most popular and polarizing players? A backup role on another NFL team? A position change? The Canadian Football League? Well, even Tebow isn't sure. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert, File)
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FILE - In a Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, file photo, New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff speaks with quarterback Tim Tebow before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Tebow barely played during a massively disappointing one-year experiment, which recently retired special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff labeled "an absolute mess." (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)
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FILE - In a Tuesday, June 12, 2012, file photo, New York Jets quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh, right, watches as Mark Sanchez, left, and Tim Tebow throw during NFL football practice in Florham Park, N.J. Likely done in New York after one frustrating season and Jacksonville already saying no to a happy homecoming, what's next for Tebow, one of the league's most popular and polarizing players? A backup role on another NFL team? A position change? The Canadian Football League? Well, even Tebow isn't sure. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
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FILE - In a Monday, March 26, 2012, file photo, Tim Tebow holds his first news conference with the New York Jets, in Florham Park, after he was acquired in a trade with Denver. Likely done in New York after one frustrating season and Jacksonville already saying no to a happy homecoming, what's next for Tebow, one of the league's most popular and polarizing players? A backup role on another NFL team? A position change? The Canadian Football League? Well, even Tebow isn't sure.(AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
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From left, Heisman Trophy candidates Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, Notre Dame's Manti Te'o and Kansas State's Collin Klein pose for a photo at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Notre Dame defensive back Manti Te'o displays his trophyies after being named the college defensive player of the year and the nation's college player of the year at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel displays his trophy for the Davey O'Brien Award after being named the nation's best quarterback at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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CORRECTS SPELLING TO MONTEE, NOT MONTE - Wisconsin's Montee Ball displays his Doak Walker Award after being named the nation's outstanding running back at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Notre Dame defensive back Manti Te'o displays his trophy for the Maxell Award after being named the nation's college player of the year at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Tebow cancels talk at controversial Dallas church
DALLAS (
AP) — New York
Jets quarterback
Tim Tebow has backed out of an appearance at a Baptist mega church in Dallas run by a pastor who has created controversy with his remarks about gays and other faiths.
Tebow tweeted Thursday that he canceled a scheduled April 28 appearance at First Baptist Church due to "new information that has been brought to my attention."
"I will continue to use the platform God has blessed me with to bring Faith, Hope and Love to all those needing a brighter day," Tebow wrote.
The Rev. Robert Jeffress, First Baptist's pastor, confirmed in a phone interview that Tebow called him Wednesday night to cancel.
Jeffress said Tebow told him he would like to speak at First Baptist at some point, but "he needed to avoid controversy right now for personal and professional reasons."
Jeffress has preached that gay sex is sinful, Mormonism is a cult and Islam promotes violence and pedophilia. He said Thursday that First Baptist was being mischaracterized as a "hate church," and that the church's teachings were consistent with historic Christian beliefs.
Tebow wasn't going to speak about anything controversial, Jeffress said.
"We had planned for him to speak very positively about the difference Jesus Christ had made in his life," Jeffress said.
Tebow won two BCS championships and the Heisman Trophy at Florida, but he has struggled to make it in the NFL. He barely played last season after the Jets traded for him from the Denver Broncos, where he started much of the season in 2011 and won a playoff game.
Tebow is a devout Christian who has built a large following through his faith. He has addressed church audiences before. Last year, he spoke to about 15,000 people gathered at an outdoor Easter service north of Austin.
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