We were able to talk with with NFL fullback, Tyler Clutts, 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 gives me perspective and humility; without faith, it’s easy to get lost. In the profession of football, we tend to live in a fantasy world—we get to play a game for a living. It seems like people constantly want to serve us, the players, and for some reason they put us on a pedestal. But my faith really puts things in perspective for me and reminds me that I am not the center of the universe, instead I am here for a greater purpose. I have been given a platform to share God’s grace on a grand scale.

Describe how your Journey with Christ began.

I have a fairly common story: I grew up going to church, my grandfather was a minister and I was around the church community a lot but I was only talking the talk. I wasn’t living a life of faith and I didn’t have a personal relationship with God—I was just trying to be a “good person.” It wasn’t until my first year in the NFL when I went to my first PAO Conference in March 2012, that I found myself challenged to take a good look at my life. It’s then that I realized that I needed a relationship with God. Listening to the wisdom, knowledge and faith of so many great Christian leaders and speakers was amazing. Being completely surrounded by God and other Christians who were pursuing Him for those four or five days was what I needed to surrender to Him.

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

Brad Bell, the pastor of The Well Community Church in Fresno, has been a huge influence to me. Likewise his wife, Jen, has been a great mentor to my wife, Tiffany. This couple has been an incredible example of what it looks like to be a godly couple as well as godly parents—we love doing life with them. Recently I have been really blessed by Jonathan Evans, the chaplain of the Cowboys, who has become a great mentor in my life.

What does the Increase of Christ mean to you?

I think it goes back to what faith is in my profession. Sometimes we lift ourselves up because of positions that we’re find ourselves in but the Increase of Christ is about decreasing ourselves so that God’s purpose can be fulfilled. It’s humbling to realize that if it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t have these opportunities. Because of this I want to use these opportunities to honor Him.

What is your Life Verse? Why?

Proverbs 3:5 -“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”  

– As I’m nearing the end of my career in football, I’m learning to really trust in God and let Him take the reigns for my future. Often we have a plan for our lives but God’s plan is always better and His will prevail.  

Check out Tyler’s Increase profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/tylerclutts/

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