CHINA GROVE – They got game — and God. The Catawba College football team visited First United Methodist Church in China Grove on Sunday and took over.
They did the songs, children’s church, prayer, scripture readings and their own witnessing. In other words, the entire morning service.
First United Methodist in China Grove is Coach David Bennett’s home church. He and his family bring the entire football team, support staff, coaches and trainers every year before the first day of school.
In all, 172 people, all part of the Catawba College football team, showed up Sunday.
All 135 of the players came. Most participated in the service.
During the songs, the sound of deep male voices bounced through the church, over the voices of all the other people.
When the children went to the front of the church for their own time, the football players got a lot of high fives and smiles.
Children’s church was conducted by Glen Lloyd, who wears No. 46 and plays fullback.
He demonstrated God’s love on the Earth with a jug of water and a dropper of food coloring. With the Holy Spirit in the shape of a spoon, he showed how a drop of love can then spread God’s love over the entire earth.
“It’s our job to spread his love all the way around the world,” Lloyd said.
Afterward, he gave all the children a snack to remind them to spread their love.
Then, Trevor Forbes, No. 13 and a wide receiver, led the morning prayer, asking God to watch over the team this year.
During the time of witness, two of the players talked about their faith.
Major Wilburn, No. 59 and a linebacker, summed his up in two words: “I’m blessed.”
John Vernon, a tight end who wears No. 87, shared something he learned his freshman year at Catawba.
God “wants us to do our best and strive to be No. 1,” he said. Vernon said he wasn’t giving God his all.
“I was just trying to survive in my spiritual life,” he added. This year, he has said he is going to do more than survive.
TheCatawba Football Singers — No. 68 Jason Zbyd, No. 93 Brett Lloyd, No. 22 Marcus Hicks, No. 27 Ryan Norman, No. 25 Maurice Price and No. 8 Nick Hopper — performed next.
Performing a cappella, the singers showed that they have confidence in what they are doing.
The congregation called for another song, and the group sang a piece one of them made up.
The audience also found out something about one of the coaches on the football team. Lindsey Lyerly, one of Bennett’s assistant coaches, is a football coach struggling with a call to join the ministry, according to Dr. Rusty Inman, pastor of the church.
With good reason.
His message was a strong one, spoken from the heart on Isaiah chapter 6.After he read the verses, he explained how they were important in his life.
After Lyerly, the morning message came with Coach Bennett’s arrival at the podium.
“We’re not only producing winners on the field, but producing young men who are winners off the field,” he said at the beginning of his message.
His shared with the congregation what he thinks it takes to make someone a fine person.
“Someone in your life is responsible for getting you where you are today...
“It’s never too late to give your life to the Lord,” he said.
He talked about teamwork and how he makes the boys on his team young men with heart.
“It’s not me. It’s not I. It’s us and we,” he said.
Contact reporter Joanie Morris at 704-797-4264 or jmorris@salisburypost.com
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