Strong men, stronger faith: Religion plays central role in many local athletes' lives

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By Nate Taylor | Saturday, August 9, 2008 10:59 PM CDT | () comments

A high school football player takes a knee to pray before a recent practice. (Larry Fisher/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

It is a Sunday afternoon and the Quad-Cities River Bandits are an hour away from game time.

Members of the St. Louis Cardinals’ Class A affiliate sit in the clubhouse and watch the parent club play the San Diego Padres.

Right-fielder Adron Chambers watches the clock turn

4 p.m., and walks into a hallway. Then, he walks back into the main locker room and alerts his teammates.

“Hey guys,” he says. “Come on. It’s time to meet.”

Ten River Bandits follow Chambers into a small equipment room. They sit in folding chairs. On one end of the room is 2007 first-round draft pick Pete Kozma. The other end has manager Steve Dillard.

All eyes are looking up to an older man who does the team’s weekly chapel service. He softly asks the players to bow their heads in prayer.

The rest of the players stay in the clubhouse watching the ballgame. For 15 minutes a week, the clubhouse is split into two groups: One that shows its faith and another that chooses not to.

Even though the 12 players wear dirty tennis shoes, shorts and T-shirts, the tiny room is their sanctuary during the season.

And today’s lesson is about dealing with temptations.

Athletes can relate

Many athletes in the Quad-Cities are showing their religious beliefs. From high schools to the pros, religion is being discussed inside clubhouses and locker rooms.

“It’s still a platform that can bring out the absolute faith,” said Tim Schneckloth, who is the director of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “If anyone can relate to the gospel, it’s athletes who put their sweat and tears into sports.”

Schneckloth expects this year to be one of his biggest in dealing with junior and high school athletes for the fellowship. He already is getting ready to handle more than 1,000 athletes as school fall sports start this week.

But it’s just not junior and high school athletes who Schneckloth deals with. This past year, he provided chapel services for the Quad-City Steamwheelers.

“What’s unique is all the backgrounds on that team,” Schneckloth said. “You want to break down walls and get a little glimpse of heaven, it’s dealing with athletes. When you’re on a team, it’s all about the team. It’s a great way for guys to talk about faith.”

During the season, Schneckloth held services with the Steamwheelers at every home game. About half of the team showed for the services to talk about faith, including starting quarterback J.J. Raterink.

“I have a very strong faith,” Raterink said. “I do believe things happen for a reason. I’m comfortable expressing my faith.”

Raterink is one of the athletes who said he believes religion is talked about more often in the locker room than many would think.

Raterink said he believes his gift from God is football. He said he understands people might not agree with his faith, but that doesn’t bother him.

“Sure, everybody doesn’t agree on religion, but that’s OK,” Raterink said. “People might be a little taken aback, but I see guys playing for more than wins and losses.”

Allan Ross, the executive director at the Jewish Federation of the Quad-Cities, said he believes religion is being translated into sports more than ever before.

“I think religion is being extended to the playing field more than ever before,” he said. “It’s gaining in popularity and will continue. It doesn’t matter what athletes believe in. Religion will give them more inner strength to compete.”

It’s contagious

With more athletes talking openly about religion, some have been moved by others with faith. Take Julian Vandervelde, for example.

When Vandervelde graduated from Davenport Central High School, he didn’t consider himself religious. Now, the 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Iowa calls himself a man of God.

“I’ve been growing in my faith since I came on campus,” said Vandervelde, an offensive lineman for the Hawkeyes. “It’s changed me, and I can talk about it with my teammates.”

Vandervelde has his teammates to thank. When he was a freshman, he met teammates Dan Doering, Seth Olsen and Trey Stross. They introduced him to Bible study and since then Vandervelde has been devoted to his faith.

“Watching Seth has become my model of what a good Christian athlete should be,” Vandervelde said. “It has helped me so much off the field, and it’s given me the self discipline that I needed.”

Another athlete who has been moved spiritually is professional golfer Zach Johnson. During this year’s John Deere Classic, Johnson was not afraid to talk about his faith.

“You’re not just going to get Zach Johnson the golfer, you will get all of me,” Johnson said during the tournament’s media day. “My faith is a part of me and my life.”

In 2000, Johnson met his wife Kim. He soon realized that Kim’s faith was extremely important to her. If Johnson wanted to continue his relationship with Kim, he knew God would be a deal breaker.

Johnson said he knew God, but didn’t give it much thought. Johnson took a pre-engagement class with Kim at a church, and in winter 2002, he gave his life to God.

“I don’t want to take my job in golf too seriously,” Johnson said. “Knowing that my foundation lies in Jesus and what He has done for me is what is important.”

Surviving tough times

It’s almost 5 p.m., and as Chambers leaves the weekly River Bandits chapel service, the 21-year-old right-fielder walks toward the field at Modern Woodmen Park with a smile. He reflects on his journey not only as a baseball player, but as a man with faith.

“I remember feeling terrible,” he says to himself. “I remember where I have been.”

Chambers is talking about the most trying time in his life, in 2005, when he started having personal issues.

He eventually found the fellowship at Mississippi State, and turned his life to God. He remembers the sermon that changed his life. Chambers watched the fellowship counselor hold a sponge over a bucket of water, talking about how people should be like the sponge by soaking in God’s words.

Since then, Chambers has soaked up everything he can about his Christian faith.

“I wanted to know everything,” he said. “I know anything is possible. God is not going to give you anything that you can’t handle.”

Dillard looks at players such as Chambers and says he knows the athletic world is not just about games anymore. With the chapel service at Sunday home games, Dillard knows his club can be a part of religion.

“It’s good to see,” he said. “That’s the way you know the gospel is being heard.”

Chambers finishes his memories and hits the field running to find his 10 fellow Christian brothers in River Bandits uniforms.

The entire group gets down on one knee. They bow their heads toward the green grass in a tight circle and hold hands. The 11 are praying to God for the usual — a good game, good health and a thank you for the opportunity to play baseball in God’s presence.

An amen is harmonized, and each player gets up, ready to play ball.

For just moments, sports and religion in the Quad-Cities come together.

Nate Taylor can be contacted at (563) 383-2477 or ntaylor@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.