Carolina Panther Mike Minter finds safety in Christ

Standing in front of his locker with one sock on and one sock off, Carolina Panthers strong safety Mike Minter is barraged with questions from just about every sports reporter in town. Everyone wants to know the plan of attack for the next football game.
   
He answers their questions with the confidence of a player on a team with eight wins under its belt, 10 games into the season. The 29-year-old rising star in the NFL ranks as the Panthers all-time leader with 572 tackles, 13 forced fumbles and 271 interception return yards.
But his exceptional stats aren’t what Minter seems to like to talk about most.
   
When asked about his reported faith in Jesus Christ, he takes a seat and his eyes light up.
   
Minter’s story of faith begins clear across the country during his junior year at the University of Nebraska where he played college football.
   
The Lord was working on the sidelines of Minter’s life while his name was on the Huskers’ roster. The birth of his first son kindled a desire to know God, and then Christian coaches faithfully stoked the fire.
   
“The Holy Spirit is always working, priming you up,” Minter said.
   
He wondered what kept Huskers Head Coach Tom Osbourne so steady and focused in the midst of adversity in his life. Minter discovered that it was Osbourne’s relationship with Jesus Christ that made the difference. “I’m no dummy. I know when there’s a good thing out there; I’m going to go get it,” Minter said.
   
Conversations with Ron Brown, who coached the receivers, soon followed.
   
“He (Brown) would sit down and explain (the faith) to me,” Minter said, adding that Brown encouraged him to begin reading the Gospel of John.
   
He took the advice. At home one day, Minter made the decision to follow Christ.
   
“I said, ‘Lord, I’m ready,’ and that was it,” Minter said.
   
Minter’s newfound faith surprised his wife Kim who, like her husband, had no religious background.
   
“When you first get saved you’re just like a kid in a candy store; you want to bring everyone in,” he said. She began to see the change.
   
Minter’s faith began to affect every area of his life. For instance, Minter said he used to listen to rap music all the time. “About two weeks after my salvation the Holy Spirit just touched my heart and told me to give it up,” he said. “I bagged up all my CDs, (and I had a whole lot of them) and threw them away. My wife looked at me like I was crazy!”
   
The CDs that spin in his home and car today all have contemporary Christian and gospel labels. “Straight Christian — that’s all I listen to  period,” Minter said, adding that he loves CeCe Wynans in particular.
   
Several months after his conversion, Minter’s wife also became a Christian. They have two sons ages eight and six, and two-year-old twin daughters.
   
Minter says he strives to live out his faith whether he’s around the breakfast table with his family, on the field at Ericcson Stadium in front of thousands of fans or in the locker room speaking into a reporter’s mike.
   
Minter says he doesn’t hide his faith from the media when opportunities arise to share Christ. “There’s no situation where I prepare for it,” he said. “That’s who I am.” (EP)