We were able to talk with with NFL special teamer, Darrell Stuckey, to talk about how he is living in the increase of Christ, his faith journey and the mentors that have been in his life. Here’s what he had to say.

What effect does your faith have on your lifestyle?

Faith is the power of influence. I want to be intentional with my actions, representing who a Biblical man should be and that includes rejecting passivity, standing firm in what I believe in, and leading courageously. In order to be this man I need to be a man of faith.

Describe how your Journey with Christ began.

I was raised in a single-parent home; my first memory was my father leaving our home. I grew up going to church because my mother always stressed the importance of going to school and church but I struggled with anger because I didn’t have a father—I had to be the one to help my mother work and support our household of nine people. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I started to ask God to really show Himself to me. Up until that point I had been trying to find my identity and security in football. During my senior year in high school I finally decided to pursue God for myself and take ownership of my relationship with Him. I wanted not only to be a Christian but to be a Kingdom soldier and servant of God.

Who have been the mentors in your life? How did God bring these people into your life?

I know that God has strategically put people in my life throughout the years to mentor and build into me. Growing up, my mother was my biggest example of sacrifice in my life. As a single mother, she always put her children first and served us so well. As a kid, my mentors were mainly the football coaches that I had—they acted not only as coaches but they were great role models as parents as well. The FCA director in San Diego, Colin Sinclair, is a great mentor for me currently as well.

What does the Increase of Christ mean to you?

We are always in a battle of the flesh but when we let Christ increase in our lives we can overcome that battle. I want Christ to show up in my life so that I can walk with Him, modeling more of Jesus and less of myself.

What is your Life Verse? Why?

2 Corinthians 4:8-12 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”

– This verse means so much because it is the life of Christ that I aim to have shine through me.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

– The truth of this verse is the power of Christ at work in and through me.

See Darrell’s Increase Profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/darrell-stuckey/ 

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