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http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/06 ... tball.html

Spreading the word about faith and football

By Kimberly Orsborn, News Staff Writer

Friday, December 15, 2006

MOUNT VERNON — When the five tall, broad OSU football players strode through the Mount Vernon Middle School cafeteria at lunchtime on Wednesday, all heads turned their way, eyes opened wide with excitement and the chatter volume increased.

The athletes, members of Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as Athletes in Action, were in Mount Vernon to talk to the middle-schoolers about faith and football. They were accompanied by MVHS alumnus Bryan Hawkins, director of AIA, a student group, at OSU.

Jim Cordle, No. 64, a sophomore offensive linesman from Lancaster, said he has been a member of FCA since high school.

“I went to a Catholic high school,” said Cordle, “and FCA was a way to get together before and after practice, to come closer to God and to pray.”

Asked why he volunteered to talk to the students, Cordle said, “I want to encourage young kids to develop a relationship with the Lord.”

Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, No. 2, a sophomore from Piscataway, N.J., said he’s an FCA member “because they helped me with my college experience and staying close to the Lord.”

“This is my time to give back,” he said. “They asked if I would volunteer and I said I would. I want to spread the word.”

Joe Gantz, No. 33, a sophomore running back from Wooster, said he is familiar with Mount Vernon.

“I played here at the high school a few times my senior year,” he said.

Gantz has been a member of FCA the two years he has been at OSU, as well as during his four years of high school. He volunteered on Wednesday because, “It is crucial to use our status as players and fellow Buckeyes to share the word of God and to be role models to young kids.

“Dreams can come true and all things are possible through God,” he added.

Gantz said his dream of playing football at OSU had come true, and he wanted the students to know their dreams can come to fruition as well.

Sophomore and defensive lineman Todd Denlinger from Troy, No. 92, said he joined FCA when he arrived at OSU and volunteered because it’s not only important for the athletes but important for the youth.

“We are role models; they look up to us,” he said. “And what better role model than to be teaching God?”

Denlinger said he and his teammates are role models for youth of all ages, even for their peers in college.

“It’s fun to be a role model,” he said. “But you can’t let it get to your head at all, because that would be hypocritical.”

Defensive lineman Joel Penton of Van Wert, No. 98 and a fifth-year senior who graduated Sunday, joined FCA as a high school freshman. He said he has a special spot in his heart for youth.

“I’ve been active in AIA five years,” he said. “I think it’s very important to spread the Good News. Habits made now [in middle school] tend to carry through. The things that happened when I was that age are so important.”

Penton acknowledged that he is a role model but said “It’s important to keep things in perspective, to look around and realize there are so many people who have done so much more.

“Their parents’ impact has done so much more than we can do in 20 minutes. We are well known now, but it’s just a short blip before our careers are over,” he said.

Following each of the three lunch periods, the players and Hawkins were introduced by teacher John Freshwater, who leads the FCA group at the school. Freshwater reminded the students that the Buckeyes would be very busy the next few weeks getting ready for the BCS National Championship game in Tempe, Ariz.

“Turn those Gators into some boots,” he told the players, to the cheers of the students.

Hawkins directed questions to the players, asking Cordle, “Why did you choose to play at OSU? Why not Michigan?”

“Because Michigan sucks,” replied Cordle to cheers and laughter.

Denlinger told the youngsters, “I’m more than just a football player. I am close to my family and to God. I study hard and get good grades. Yes, football takes up most of my time, but it’s not who I am.”

In response to the question, “How do you find what is important to you?” Penton replied, “A lot of things seem to be significant, awards and material possessions, but I’ve found that, in my 23 years, those things seem like they are going to last but what I find significant is my relationship with Christ. For a while those material things make me happy, but that doesn’t last. My relationship with Christ is what’s important.”

Jenkins told the students that his deep relationship with God had developed only recently, that his life before Christ was one of confusion.

“Once I found Christ,” he explained, “he cleared all that up. I came here today to share that with you guys. Your troubles can be cleared up.”

Hawkins asked Penton to explain how one becomes a Christian.

Penton responded, “We have all sinned and turned away from God. The relationship with God for all of us has been destroyed. There are consequences. But the God who loves us so much and created us sent his son to die for us. Even though he lived a perfect life, Jesus took on the sins of the world to save us.

“We have to accept that gift of Jesus dying on the cross by opening our lives up and accepting Christ. You can do that right now. We would like to give you that opportunity right now. We’re here to talk to you about the joy that football and other things cannot give us.”

At an autograph session, eighth-grader Ryley Martin, who brought his football bearing the OSU logo to be autographed, said he’s a fan of both FCA and the Buckeyes.

His friend, Kyle Henthorn, said he was there because of the Christian connection between football and FCA.

Student Andy Bouchard said, “Good Christians make good decisions on the field,” and eighth-grader Courtney Clark said, “FCA is important. It helps you believe in God and stuff and have confidence in yourself.”

Hawkins, a track and cross-country athlete who graduated in 1993 from MVHS and in 1997 from Miami University, has been AIA director on the OSU campus for nine years.

“I’m basically like a chaplain,” he explained. “In the summer, we travel all over the world on OSU student mission trips to play sports and witness, build relationships and take classes with people in other countries. We teach people how to play baseball.”

He said OSU and its teams are unknown in other countries and, sometimes, so is the sport of football.

“[The players] go over there and they’re nobody,” Hawkins said. “America is the draw.

“We don’t push people but often they beg us to come back again. Only one team in nine years has said no, that they weren’t comfortable with us. Sports is a universal language.”