Game Day Sunday Featuring Jake Fromm

[Applause] [Music] [Music] oh man that was good y'all we've already had church this morning I'm telling you hey would you welcome Jake from to the stage Jake we're so glad you're here today man thanks brother thank you so much for being here today but have a seat we're going to have a conversation we're going to talk about football Family Faith and uh I don't know fireworks something like that go yeah man we are so glad that you're here today and uh man everybody in the room if you haven't found a seat yet uh there are plenty of chairs in various spots but we are really grateful that you're here and uh Jake let's just dive in um before we start yes sir can we give some praise for the worship team this morning that that was that was awesome awes that was that was great they rocked it this morning absolutely great job choir and Orchestra praise team and everybody in between incredible um thank you Jake for that uh let's talk about growing up of course everybody that's here probably knows you're you're from one of Robbins and talk about you played baseball you know World Series opportunity Little leue World Series you played uh football of course and um let's talk about how your family was such an influence in your life you know Sports Athletics you know all that kind of stuff early on yeah um yeah so we'll start you know born well not born here born in mon grew up raised here in war Robbins uh my family's right there uh on the front row good to see you guys thanks for uh coming and showing up and supporting me this morning um but uh man growing up uh got to see you know what uh what love and family looked like for Mom and Dad uh who who did great and um really just tried to give us every opportunity uh to succeed as uh as young men um I'm the oldest brother I got two younger brothers who are twins uh ones that merer right now um trying to become a doctor and the other Tyler uh played football at Auburn just transferred over to Georgia Southern so he's continue on this uh this football dream you know that we all have and um man just so proud of my my younger brothers had to to brag on those guys real quick but uh yeah man growing up I was a I was a baseball player really first um but really kind of play whatever sport was in season um had the awesome opportunity to play in The League World Series and do that cool thing um but but football never really came to the the the Forefront really until I got to high school mhm and then I get to play that that freshman season a little bit um and and get to see what Friday Night Lights is all about man and from then on fell in love and like this is uh this is what I want to do so early on it was more baseball than football but then it was more football than baseball I mean you still played baseball all through uh all through High School state champions right yeah got two yeah two state champion Rings Hopkins in here there he is there he goes yeah thanks H that's right coach Brett coach Hopkins and hoko baseball so hoko baseball hoko football tell so here's one thing everybody knows you played at housing County high school and you played football there but what I thought would be neat is to tell so so we got some kids in here who probably like you you might have gone to the elementary school they go to or you might go to the middle school they go to so tell us a little bit about that history here yeah um man it's a very competitive environment here in this County you know that's just something I always figured out really uh really soon growing up um you know whether you know you're from you know this side of town or that side of town you know there's always a uh just a rivalry going on right you know north side and Warner Robins um happening and uh you know even felt that playing wck ball and little league ball growing up too um you know that everybody has their kind of side of town um but uh that's also the cool thing about about church you know about Jesus doesn't matter kind of what uh you know what what color you wear you know on on Friday night on Saturday it doesn't doesn't matter the blood of Jesus covers all that no rivalry here it's just love just love this morning everybody you hear that just just love absolutely so some of y'all agreed some of you like yeah right like I don't know I don't know all right so so uh did you go to elementary school around town here yeah I went to uh Lake Joy uh Elementary School and primary went Moss Creek uh finished it out there at house County High School um that's what too what I love so much about about this place this town uh it's the people man just had just such such great people pouring into me just from an early age you know in in elementary school in middle school you know saw coach Brett you know other coach Brett um at the middle school you know earlier this morning you know him him pouring into me and and helping me be a you know better young man and a better football player you know just there so many people that poured into my life I can't thank you guys enough uh for making me the man I am today um on top of you know my family as well but that's why I love this community that's right man it's a great great place to live great place to work great place to play great place to serve and and be in Ministry so um so football in a way has to have a little bit of a family feel to it as well absolutely right so there's this football family and so your football family is important how does that contribute to the overall success of a team that that culture and that family feel yeah uh I think it starts from the top down um you know starts with a you know a head coach and stealing that culture and stealing that that that family environment you know that you get um but there's just something sacred a little bit about a football locker room you know and um it's it's just something special you don't really get out in the real world uh as much um but there's just something about coming together to achieve a common goal um embracing the hardship a little bit you know right now you guys are in training camp you know yes training camp for lack of better words sometimes does does suck a little bit but it's supposed to right you know you grind uh you get through it together you build some camaraderie um and man if you can if you never finally transition to instead of just doing it for you know your own personal Glory you know for just wins and you start doing it for the love of your brother next to you then then you got something you know that's kind of you know getting ahead kind of going back to you know the you know the great commandment you know of loving God and loving people and so you know if we can figure out how to incorporate that into our sport I think we're really really on to something that's good so it's that adversity that gives you that bond that connection that family feel that you need to be able to succeed on the field but also off the field right um so all right so I know um I'm a big- Time football fan I know we got some football fans here and we've got uh we got fans of all types and then people that couldn't care less about football but uh I want to kind of dive in and and talk a little bit about your career at Georgia and uh and maybe even everyone here knows probably you had a really good career uh at the University of Georgia I can remember coming back I I I was born here you know in war Robbins I was gone for a while and we came back in 2012 and I think around 2012 was kind of when you were in middle school and so I was already hearing about this guy playing ball in middle school and I'm thinking wow you know he's he's a middle schooler what's the big deal and then I got to watch you play right and then when I'm when I get back and kind of you know watch you play ball and then hear about your recruiting I'm a bulldog right and I hear that Jake from is going to Alabama that's what I that's what I heard originally I was worried somebody' say roll tie but that's not allowed in church they they brainwashed me over there at Southside Baptist Church with Jerry walls Jerry wall I got I got to hear roll TI and you know Alabama every single Sunday walking in church well Jesus still loves him too that's uh but then you saw the light right yeah okay um so you you originally committed to Alabama and then uh committed to Georgia I guess uh Kirby started recruiting you right after he got most likely CU he was only there a year and you were there his second year right yeah so uh you know the uh the whole recruiting process um it is just a a crazy crazy process um and it's it's gotten even even more different now with nil and all the different uh things and tools that they have now um but you know at the time my in my recruiting process you know sophomore junior year you know I had three big offers and that was you know Alabama South Carolina and miss and at the time Coach Rick being the head coach there I never had you know the offer the opportunity to go play ball at the University of Georgia and um so SM Rick's fault that's what I'm hearing hey you you said it not me you know we'll we'll kind of we'll kind of leave it at that we still love him too yeah no we got a got a great relationship with him and um but just kind of at that time being a quarterback sophomore junior when you really start having to make those decisions you kind of just really get kind of pressured and put it because if you don't commit then someone else is going to take that spot and so um you know it's uh it it made a lot of sense at the time to commit to Alabama um they had a well oiled winning machine and decent coach yeah decent coach uh you know decent weapons around you um so you know why why not go and do that U but anyway during that whole recruiting process you know coach kein Lane kein is actually the offensive coordinator there at the time and then Kirby is the defensive coordinator so I'm getting recruited by kein and uh kein just doesn't really care about recruiting you know he's like hey how you doing yeah so once you commit you know me and you we don't really talk anymore you just kind of show up so okay sure you know anyway Kirby takes over that recruiting process and you can just kind of tell something something's up you know like hey just he can't tell us but hey just be patient something's happening anyway fast forward about four or five months he gets the job at the University of Georgia and calls you know very soon after that and from their point you know kind of rest his history so did you grow up a Georgia fan yeah we did yeah we we grew up watching the dogs play on Saturday and um being locked in you know I always wanted to be like Matthew Stafford and and throw it around in the hedges so as a football player you did want to play at Georgia but you had a great offer for a hard for me to say a great program at Alabama absolutely and um and but then it was kind of the opportunity to be able to play for your dream school yeah and really in a lot of ways have a dream career you know from the outside looking in I know it wasn't perfect a lot of hard work a lot of effort a lot of behind the scenes a lot of weit room film time everything that goes into so it you got to have that work ethic to make it happen nobody snaps their fingers and just and just gets there by accident but to be able to play for your you know the school that you pulled for growing up and then to be able to play quarterback and as a true freshman and uh and see you know that kind of unfolding it really had to kind of be like you're living a dream yeah I mean that uh that freshman year was was special um it just it happened so fast I enroll into college early graduate early from high school you know so that way I can get a spring ball under my belt understand the offense and and get really just instilled with the with the culture with the program just to give myself a shot right you know CU kiry's telling me on this whole idea of hey come in and compete compete compete uh Jacob e was there at the time great great football player get all the all the tools that you'd want at the college level and at the NFL level um but he's like hey come and we're going to give you an opportunity to compete like yeah sure I like that I I enjoy competition um and went there uh spring balls happening some summer happens uh and then we training camp and then we kind of get to that first game uh first game is really the first time where I'm like I don't I don't know if I'm actually going to play in this game or not you know I've had a very blessed career up to that point played in every single game I've dressed out for um and so I don't I don't kind of know how how it's going to go but um thankfully I had prepared from day one showing up on campus of hey being a starter taking mental reps um grinding as hard as I can in the weight room developing the relationships staying later throwing with guys afterwards um you know throwing with Terry Godwin working on fade balls you know during the summer and um you know just on the second Drive of the first game of the season you know uh things happened and um man just just kind of go in and and take care of business and it just happened so so so fast yeah and you had no idea no idea all of the effort and energy and there's nothing promised y right and you still have to put in all the work you you still have to put in the film work the extra work I mean when you and and and some of you may know but when you're playing ball at College especially a place you know a D1 school man they've got you from sun up to sun down Beyond and I mean you're everything's regimented classes school you know diet work room you know they want they want you to sleep you know 10 hours a night but then they get you up at 6 and they have study hall for you at 9:00 at night so it doesn't it does doesn't make sense but anyway you know get your rest somewhere between they got a pack schedule for you but you were preparing here's a great principle right you were preparing as if you're playing ball not even knowing if you were going to play oh yeah and and I'll be honest I can remember I don't remember every single play of your career like like your mom probably remembers every single play but I don't remember every play but I can remember that game and there was a lot of hype around een a a five-star Guy and um I just felt like as a as a football fan outside looking in armchair quarterback you know I can say well something's not clicking right now I just don't feel like I I don't feel like we're we're we're where we need to be this does I can't remember who we were playing you remember yeah Abate it's Abate they're good but we should have we should have been doing pretty good and then the moment you took the field it was like a shift of momentum and all of that came because of preparation you weren't on the bench whining or crying you were ready and when your number was called you stepped up and it changed the game instantly I I can remember that so I'm I'm sure yeah okay somebody's clapping for you back there I'll take it thank you um and so I'm sure that is one of the highlights so as you look back over your career let's talk about some moments some games yeah some highlights the Rose Bowl you know some things like that that are just kind of like wow these are moments that I just you know they're kind of highlights in my career yeah so you know watching the the the little highlight tape uh coming in great job by the way um whoever whoever did that but um yeah man the the Mississippi State game first play of the game throwing up a flea fcker um for for Touchdown I mean that's that's pretty pretty cool I think about uh Terry you know catching that one-handed fade ball uh on the road in Notre Dame uh my first start something that we had worked on I mean almost every single day at nauseum over the summer um just trying to trying to get that right and uh made it happen in a in a big- Time environment um you know that the Rose Bowl is a very big you know very huge game something we hadn't done in a really really long time and you know out to LA for a week um it's just really cool man I got blessed to playing a lot of Big Time football games and uh man it's just uh the atmospheres uh were just awesome you know and uh think about the Rose Bowl you know some little minute detail that I remember is like that was the best playing surface best grass ever played on in my entire life wow it was awesome you know like something something so little so small you know and in the second half uh the sun setting over there over the mountains you know and you kind of like teex second you're like oh wow that's that's really cool you know down Hut you know but um you you know sometimes you can kind of just just experience a moment inside of a moment it's really cool when you get the chance to do that that's really NE so so you know of course Baker Mayfield was kind of all the hype going into the Rose Bowl and uh Georgia came out Victorious just a back and forth wild crazy game is Baker as advertised you know kind of edgy funny but but also in your face a little bit he uh you know he he's he's got this this cocky confidence that he has and uh man guys uh guys respond to it you know really well um so you know he kind of gets a bad rap sometimes um but uh you know I've met him have nothing nothing bad to say about him um but really really good football player and he uh he definitely kept us on our toes there for four quarters no it was an instant Classic Plus some you know four quarters plus some plus some for sure instant classic great game and that freshman year for you probably was just you know I mean you're you're you're you probably felt like in moments you're just watching this happen in front of you because incredible places Notre Dame Rose Bowl various didn't have time to think you know was like hey go play and then prepare for the next one never really having time to take a step back and um man experience it but uh man it was uh it was incredible incredible ride and Incredible Journey all right so we talked about some neat places to play um but Georgia's Stadium Sanford Stadium you know what what's it like as a ball player you grew up as a fan of Georgia so as a ball player now for the first time running out to you know the screaming fans at Sanford Stadium yeah uh so App State we play you know not really thinking about playing you know that was a that was a home game the next game we play on the road at Notre Dame uh I know I'm starting um and for whatever reason if you know the weight of the world should have been on my shoulders but I wasn't nervous at all for some reason don't don't understand it just felt felt good um the next game was Samford at home night game I've never been more nervous before a game than Samford at home under the lights for whatever reason you know I you know I guess cuz you know we were supposed to beat them you know pretty handedly and you know the pressure of perfection um you know whatever it was I you know I don't get it I don't understand it but uh I'll never forget that game because you know they're doing the coin toss over there and uh man I'm on the sideline we get the ball first and I'm like dude I'm I'm going to throw up before I snap this football so not nervous at Notre Dame yep nervous versus sred home hey you you tell me I don't understand it still don't understand it this day but football it's strange it's just football man you know if you if you you've played you understand it sometimes you get it sometimes you don't yeah so running out I mean and and I'm sure it's probably still a sellout you know night game at Georgia and Athens and so running out at Sanford um was that a little bit of a surreal experience yeah it was really cool are you just so nervous you just don't even I mean you're so nervous in that moment it's a uh it's always been a mix for me of of trying to experience the moment but then really staying locked in and focused on the job and the task at hand um you know I always felt like I kind of did a pretty pretty decent job of of being able to um you know block out what needed to be blocked out and focus on what what needed to be focused on and um yeah you can you can take a second all right see it I'll check it out oh this is pretty cool uh and then lock back and and focus back that's when your preparation kicks in right you've prepared for that moment so okay um so we talk about games Seasons years things that kind of stand out what about players anybody you played with or against that you just thought this person I mean that guy right there is one of the best players I've ever played with or one of the best defenders I've ever played against or you know so I'll give you I'll give you three three guys that come you know to the top of my mind here uh Nick chub's number one uh just a a a physical just specimen um but then he also he also had it up here too um man and to the limits that he would test his body of just throwing you know six seven plates on his back and and squatting like man why why even think about doing that like thatat a bus that Hur that hurts for me even to think about doing um but you know just uh and you know just he dealt with injuries throughout his career still you know still dealing with them now uh but it just seems like man every year he just comes back better from those injuries um and then roquan Smith is another guy as well guy kind of here here in the 478 area as well I'll never forget ran you my freshman year we're doing you know summer conditioning out there uh they take us up top on the turf we go through some stations it's brutal for about 30 minutes then we take uh then we go down down on the grass and then we got these 50 60 yard Sprints we're doing them in sets uh and was actually kind of funny you know little poetic about it is you know we do quarters you know you know one for every quarter and then we have two overtime ones that season as well so you know that that comes you know later throughout the year like wow that actually kind of happened you know anyway ran is the only guy out there Nick Sony's on this team Lorenzo Carter all these different guys who are on this football team nobody can breathe nobody can talk and Ran's acting like this is a breeze a jog in the park he's talking he's yelling hey let's go you know let's let's do this and like like guys I can't breathe right now how are you functioning um in in this summer Georgia Heat um but man ran was built different man that's the day everybody decided they hated R is that right man he he had a motor and he could keep going and every time you turn on the tape and you watch him you can you can tell oh yeah still still yeah he's still doing the league absolutely yeah so Nick chub Y is he as quiet in real life as he seems oh yeah now he you know he he he's got his core group of guys you know and if you lucky enough to get into that group he'll open up a little bit um but he's he's pretty pretty pretty reserved all right anybody else on that team that you played with and then playing against I would say uh at Auburn was Derrik brown derck brown was always a guy you had to prepare for um you know hey we got this guy number 97 for Auburn and uh you just he was he was a a physical freak and you had the game plan always had to slide the protection always would run our trap plays to you know to to just get him disolved in in what was going on but uh he could he could wreck the game in a heartbeat game plan changes for one guy one guy yeah yeah okay any DBS that you were just like I'm not throwing that direction or you're like hey man I got my guys out there so it's not a big deal no always kind of had this uh you know this this confidence to just really go after a guy I don't know I always always enjoyed it um I always felt like my guy was better you know between me and my guy our timing our reps were going to add up and be better than whoever we were going against so um yeah I always kind of just just wanted to go after a guy I always I've always been that way and if you can go after their best guy and kind of get him in a tank man the rest of that defense is going to shut down it's that theme of preparation that keeps coming back right so you're always preparing and you never know what's coming but prepare uh as if you're going to step in and do what you're supposed to do right that's why we practice that's and there's a there's a theme really with a Christian Life as well where you know you don't ever know what's coming your way yeah and uh you can be prepared but you do that every single day you know every single day prepare because you're in a war you're in a battle and you never know what you're going to face so uh so you keep up with Georgia football still today I know and uh what do you as you look at what's happened over the last couple of years uh and uh what's coming up you know everything's changing with college football right now not just n but now 12 team playoff going from a four team playoff back in the BCS days I mean everything's just so different with college football um and so Kirby's seen some success as you look at the team uh this you know this uh this season 24 25 what are you thinking about Georgia football or if you even want to kind of say hey here are the programs across you know college football that I think are some Elite programs and uh ones you need to be looking out for yeah uh you know for Georgia this year uh you know they they have the guys you know do they have the depth they've had in the past I don't know we'll see um do they have the the defensive line guys to rotate up front to really just take over a football game uh I don't know it'll be fun to watch this year uh for them because they go on the road they play three really good teams on the road they play O Miss who's like ranked 11th right now they play Alabama on the road and they play Texas on the road so how do they survive those three games um but then like you mentioned about this 12 te playoff you don't you don't have to be perfect throughout the regular season so you can you can get in you know with one loss maybe two I don't think you want to risk it um that much so to to me you know it always kind of come down if you get through the season with one loss you have to win the SEC Championship Game you know but now if you go perfect throughout the season you can slip up have you know have a bad game in the championship game and still get in um so we'll see man it'll be fun to watch uh Carson play this year um you know he he's taking ownership of things you know has a very high floor now so let's see you know how much higher the ceiling can get for him uh and his guys that he has and uh we we'll see what they can do I I know they really were upset about not getting the opportunity to to threee um I think you know a lot of us are too as well and we'll see how they respond to that yeah so so you think Georgia has a chance to compete and as a Georgia fan and knowing Alabama's history like I'm not going to count Alabama I know Nick sav's not there anymore but Bama's going to have to prove they're not bama you know what I'm saying like so they've got to be up in the conversation you know with with some of the elite teams it kein is scary to me very scary man now that he's a head coach I thought that was interesting your comment about how he recruited which blows me away he does a pretty good job on the trail yeah he does but he's just kind of you know you know okay sure man great all right come on if you want to or okay all right I heard he gives out golf carts now so I don't know hey man there's no telling what all they're giving out nowadays so what other teams do you see because of course Texas and the SEC now and what other teams do you see across the landscape that you think these are teams that are really emerging as um you know some of the best teams around yeah I mean Ohio State's going to be in the mix uh we'll see how Michigan kind of rebuilds you know their program without their quarterback without their head coach obviously Texas Alabama as well um but I mean I I think we'll just see you know Old Miss can they be that guy or they gonna get into a big game and you know just kind of get embarrassed again you know for lack terms but we'll we'll see uh and that's the crazy thing about college football is I really think the the parody in in college football has actually gotten a lot better that's right you know everybody thought thought with nil that you know things are going to get worse the good you know the the the good are only going to get better and all that stuff but I don't know I think instead of going to being a solid backup at a you know a great school like Georgia or Alabama or Texas or any of these teams like guys are going and playing at smaller schools um making a little bit of money and then transferring out to wherever they want to go so it's just a an everchanging game in this college football and there's always it seems uh we're going to move on to something uh in just a second but there's always it seems like team like Washington was last year where you're like where' they come from but or oron could is always kind of in the mix too so okay let's let's shift gears because I could talk football all day I could talk football in Jesus we'd be here for a week all right well I'm at home I'm in church and I'm I got my my high school football guys here so like I'm right at home I can sit here and talk about this all day long uh but then we have some folks that are here and they're not football fans and they're like what are they talking about so uh let's talk about let's talk about your what have you been up to since Georgia yeah and uh we can talk a little bit about you know your football career as well as your family there okay yeah uh very light on the football part uh I got drafted to the Buffalo Bills uh was there for two years I did a six week samp with the New York Giants got to play a little bit um started a couple games really fun accomplished a dream checked that off the Box uh it was awesome now we weren't very good um but it was it was really cool to have that experience get to play uh it was awesome uh after that uh spent two seasons with the Washington commanders um was there with him this spring actually got cut and so now I'm in a kind of a season of patience like hey where where where am I going to be God where are you sending me I I don't know I'm back to preparation preparing to be a football player this fall is that what you have in store for me I don't know but you know prayer for me is hey I want to be willing and I want to be ready that's a very dangerous you know prayer to pray you know that hey I I'm I'm willing CU I don't I don't know where he's going to send me I don't I don't know what what looks like uh but uh I want to have a willing heart and uh I want to be ready for it that's great so you even talk about and I think this is important for everyone to hear you you said earlier you're like I got fired and I don't know if people think about getting cut from a team like getting fired that's what it is though really we're like thanks but no thanks that's so that's got to be tough we'll see you it's got to be tough yeah but you didn't say well I got fired I'm going go home become a couch potato and hang out with NCA 25 on the Xbox right you said I'm staying fit I'm staying in shape I'm practicing you know I'm not with a team right now but I'm going to be ready if the Call Comes yeah I mean you kind of you for me it's just it's a once in a lifetime opportunity you never really get the chance to to go back and do this again um so man I'm going to I'm going to try to to stay in it for as long as I can uh I had a try out with the Packers two weeks ago got an encouraging phone call uh from our agent last week about being high up on the list for a team so um we'll see you know we'll see I I could get a call tomorrow uh and be in Camp or I can get a call uh on Christmas Eve and say hey come come join us uh we're making a push for the playoffs I I have no idea uh but we'll just kind of kind of see where where he where he puts me this a great like you can't control what you can't control but you control what you can which is I can't control what the team does but I can control where I am and I'm going to be ready if and when the Call Comes yeah 100% so tell me about so we talked about your family growing up but now you're married yeah you got a son trying to trying to start a family of my own so uh my wife Caroline who's not here at the moment just fed out with my my little boy I think Luke was was crying and there go y so uh yeah so uh we were talking about Alabama he started crying and they left yeah I understand it buddy I do I do um anyway she uh we we met uh Georgia she played volleyball um great uh great player um and uh yeah my my roommate at the time kind of started dating her roommate we spent a lot of time together and like oh hey this this girl's pretty cool um I want her to be the mother of my children so we we got married three years ago yeah and uh have a little boy now who's four months old and I'm trying to figure out you know how to how to be a follower of Jesus how to be a football player how to be a husband how to be a father all these different things at the same time managing these relationships um it's uh it's it's it's tough It's Not Easy um but it's um it's a a blessing uh to be able to have kind of what what I have and and I'm so thankful for it we talked a little bit about a silver lining like your son Luke is four months old now four five months old four months old and so you know you're not in Camp right now with a team so you're able to kind of be home you know 100% And I was in camps right now wouldn't be here doing this today that's right that's right um so this you just you you never know you you get opportunities and he's got so much more in store for us than we could even comprehend or prepare for or want for ourselves that's right um and that's that's that's why he is who he is so um that we we we had a conversation before we came out and talked about how being a husband and a dad is a lot of sanctification right that's that's a big word that just means it's the way God helps grow you as a follower of Jesus and so I'm sure you've learned a lot uh in your walk with God in your walk with Jesus as a husband and as a father oh 100% uh back to back to patience not a very patient person you know I'm I'm going to go out go get it um got to constantly be doing things but hey man taking a taking a step back allowing things to happen you know slow down um you know being with him and uh man it's a it's it's a fun and and one thing too that that people had kind of maybe mentioned to me but you never you don't realize his God's love for us until you have maybe a child of your own you're like man I I love that boy right right there and you kind of start to understand like the depths of his love that he has for us uh a little bit more and even it's still on such a bigger scale that we can't even comprehend it but uh it's helped me kind of see that a little bit more yeah absolutely man that's great so let's let's shift gears for a minute and uh we're going to talk about uh your faith something very important to you and of course uh you know something that's uh been a part of your life for a long time and I mean no nobody's surprised here this is a church right We Worship the Lord we honor and glorify Jesus and so that's what we want to talk about that's really what today is all about today is all about the gospel so every investment we make whether it's an investment of time whether it's investment of resources um whether it's investment of a character coach on your campus or with your ball team whatever it is uh for us we are you know clearly all about seeing people uh come to Christ Our motto is helping people find and follow Jesus and so give me kind of an overview of your personal faith journey and then um how God has made a difference in your life yeah um kind of thinking of 1 Peter 3:15 have always been you know ready to give an account for the Hope in which you believe um so here's my my quick kind of testimony story you know growing up you know I grew up at Southside Baptist Church there um in Middle School uh my brothers Dylan and Tyler both gave their life over to Jesus and they wanted to get baptized um but at the time for me I hadn't fully surrendered over um to to him but uh you know I'm not going to get left out of that that baptism you know just you know Optics wise it looks really good and um but for me there wasn't a full heart surrender um there but anyway I got baptized with those with with my brothers and don't really think about go through the motions you know we're we're a normal churchgoing family we we're we're we we show up on Sundays probably miss a few more Sundays than we should have you know um with with travel baseball and all that different conversation for a different time I'd love to have that conversation but um in out of church uh get to high school coach ler um great great man great follower of Jesus get to see what it looks like to live for Jesus kind of through the game of football get discipled by him a little bit uh my sophomore year at High School uh show up on a random Sunday don't think anything of it find a spot late in the back um evangelist timley is there U if you know him you know he's a Vietnam veteran uh preaches from wheelchair has his legs um he had his legs blown off uh overseas um in in the Vietnam War and but man he just has this amazing voice when he spoke you listened and so uh he's he's preaching on the Book of Revelation the great white throne and man I'm just I'm locked in my heart's beaten I'm next to Mom my other brother Dylan and I'm just thinking like dude my my heart's not right like I don't I don't I don't want to miss eternity away uh from Jesus I don't want to be separated from him I don't want to be separated from my family um and that day gave my life over to Jesus and and committed to live every single day uh for him after that and um man it was an awesome awesome transformation and man what a what a crazy crazy experience that day and you know I wish I could tell each and every single one of you when you give your life over to Jesus that things get better they get easier they they don't necessarily uh you know happen doesn't happen that way um but uh it gives us a hope um to to believe in um and uh we we can do it because you know we worship uh a risen savior who who's already done it for us man that's great and I I want to go back to to this and so so Von Lasser was the coach at hon County when you were playing ball there he's now at Bley County so and we've got some Bley County folks in the room and uh V is is a coach and a Preacher Man he's preaching in Bley County in the C area but I I want to say this because the impact of a coach right God began to work in your life and the impact of a coach and I think if you're a coach here today you probably have heard like hey you have an impact in the lives of the students that are in your care whether it's you know young men young ladies whatever sport it is and uh your faith story you know right there includes a coach that had an impact in your life hey by the way game day wouldn't happen if it weren't for the coaches that are willing to to you know it's a lot of work it's a lot of effort and energy so thank you guys for for helping make this happen I we we could we couldn't do this without the coaches that are committed to to help and make this happen too and so um the fact that coach Lasser who um you know is such a strong follower of the Lord had an influence in your life and then God brought still still text me to this day we'll go back and forth of of sharing you know the the verse of the day I mean this is man I want to age myself here you know young Years Years After High School football right and he's still sending me you know an accountability text to hey wake up get in the word and um I just I think that's awesome you know and just the impact that you can have as a coach uh on your guys I mean I just I looked up I looked up those guys looked up to coach Smith uh right here um because I I wanted to to be the the men they were um and uh the game of football is such a great place it's it's your mission field one uh as coaches and then two as players as well man it's just your opportunity to to show your your fellow teammate your peer uh what it looks like to be a Jesus follower as well so uh what a great place the game of football has given us uh to do that and to be our mission field well and I think and and I I I know that uh you know I like sports some people don't like sports but I've always felt like Athletics can serve as a metaphor and preparation for Life yeah right and so we learned some lessons on a team whether you're in a CH playing in an orchestra band or you know playing on a team or even uh you know one act or drama or whatever there are lessons that we can learn that last beyond just what happens on the field or on the stage or or or or on the court so so tell me from that moment you know trusting in Christ yeah um how has that decision kind of changed the trajectory of your life yeah um it's it's it's given me a uh a a a book and a standard to live by um to to no matter what I'm facing whatever I'm going through um I I got hope in this I got hope in these words um I know that I can do it because he already did if I'm experiencing something if I'm going through something like he he's already been tested and tempted to the same thing that I'm going through um and and he wants a relationship with us and wants to live life in community with him um and uh it's just it's it's something special so um one final question all right and this is this is an important question so there there may be someone here today who has a story like you like hey you know I've been a church and I kind of I did that thing I got baptized I'm good or whatever or somebody here who says I I just you don't know me I don't know if God could love me I don't know if God for could forgive me I don't know what if I could ever be a part of God's family um if you're talking to somebody here today and they're not sure where they stand with God God yeah uh what would you tell them yeah um for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life like the Lord God of the universe he knows you he formed you he created you um for a purpose to to spend life in community with him like he wants what's best for you he has a great plan for you a hope and a and a beautiful future um and it's just such a a a beautiful beautiful thing to to be able to see that and live that out um in life and also want to talk to you about Hebrews 4:16 because of Jesus because of his death and Resurrection on the cross because of his atonement for our sins in Hebrews 4:16 we can approach the throne of grace we can approach the throne of grace with boldness right like if I'm I'm if you're if you're here today in the seat like hey I don't I don't think Jesus are God I don't think he loves me I'm not worthy you don't know the things that I've done like because of Jesus because of what he did on a cross we can approach the heavenly father Seated on the throne with great boldness so if that's you here today and you're like man I want to I want to commit my life to Jesus I want to know him I want to live for him man I challenge you to be bold today man that's great and really that's what today is all about right the message of the Gospel it's more than just religion because there was a moment in your life you realize religion not enough religion can't say religion is kind of like what am I trying to do to earn God's favor it has to be a relationship with God that comes only through Jesus Christ and so as Jake said if you're here today and you're like man hey that that's me like I know there's never been a time in my life where I've trusted in Christ there's never been a time in my life where I've been changed I don't know uh where I'd spend eternity one day um that's the most important decision of your life and I think even you you know and NFL quarterback college quarterback you know um husband dad all those incredible things and I can say and I believe you could say the most important decision of your life amen is trusting in Jesus absolutely and uh because what we do here in this life you know only lasts a little bit of time but this life is a test for eternity and so if you're here today and you may have just showed up today and didn't even know it was game day or if you're an athlete a coach player family um if there's never been a moment in your life where you've trusted in Christ today can be that day and that's what this is all about and so here's what I'm going to ask you to do okay I'm going to ask you to Bow your heads and close your eyes for a moment we're almost finished we'll be done I'm going to ask you to Bow your heads and close your eyes for just a moment and here's what I want to ask as you look at your heart as you look at your life I just want you to kind of examine your heart and your life for a moment has there been a moment in your life when you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus the the Bible says the god of the universe is a God who knows you loves you and he desires to have a relationship with you but you can't be good enough to get to him that's why Jesus had to come God came to you God sent his one and only son who lived a perfect life a life we couldn't live he died on the cross for our sins a death that we deserved the Bible says Jesus did not stay in the grave he rose again on the third day the resurrection of Jesus changes everything he's alive today and because he lives we can have life for all of eternity do you know has there been a moment in your life where you've repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus you may be here today and you may say I need to do that I need to trust Jesus today if God speaking into your heart you can do that right now you can say we talk to God through prayer right prayer is not some crazy magical mystical biblical language it's just a conversation with God and God can read your thoughts he knows your heart and from your heart to his you could say God I know that I'm a sinner and I know I need a savior I believe the savior is Jesus I Repent of my sin and I trust in Jesus I want you to come be the Lord of my life I want to follow you if you did that today if that's your heart's desire and that's your prayer I'm going to ask you to do a couple of things okay one is you've got a card in front of you and with this card I'm going to ask you in a little bit just to check the box and that box is the first option I ask Jesus to become the Lord of my life today maybe you got questions about that or you're looking for a church whatever it is you can check that in just a moment we'll check the box and we're going to leave them right in the seats somebody will be by to pick them up okay you can leave them right there in just a minute I'm going to pray and we're going to stand and we're going to sing it's called a a time of invitation it's a time for us to respond and so maybe maybe we'll have pastors and people here to receive you pray with you you just need to come and you just need to say hey I I know that I need Jesus and we can tell you what it means to trust in Christ if you're watching across the community or literally around the world you can text the word respond to the number on your screen or even in the room you can text the word resp respond to the number on your screen we'll have a chance to respond to what we've heard today I'm going to pray we'll stand and we'll have a chance to respond you be obedient as God speaks to your heart God thank you for this day for this opportunity to be here I want to thank you for Jake is incredible testimony of the fith that he placed in the Lord Jesus Christ that's changed not only his life but his eternity thank you for allowing us to be here today for every single person in this room every single person watching on online wherever they may be we pray this now in Jesus name amen um gosh I'm getting moved right now man my heart is uh is pounding um so I didn't share with you maybe the second half I guess of my testimony story uh so you know I get drafted by Buffalo it's 2020 it's the co year very tough year for me tough year for everybody um and really I I I made it through that year you know from a uh a really core group of men there uh with a Bible study uh we were learning how to be Disciples of Christ uh and that year we were kind of uh going through and uh we were in the book of Acts and acts 238 really stuck out to me uh the Apostle Peter talking and it says repent and be baptized and the Order of that kind of command there really really tugged on my heart really throughout the entire football season I'm like I just I don't really feel like I got baptized on the right side of my salvation and uh at the end of that season I got baptized and it was one of the most freeing things I've ever done uh as a Believer as a person you name it um and so just kind of that's my last challenge to to anyone here in this room if you want if you need to be baptized it's not on this card guys um but just write baptism somewhere on it um and they they will get with you guys and we will baptize you in the name of the father the Son and the Holy Spirit and he will set you free so I love you guys man this has been this has been awesome thank you so much