Maintaining a Christian witness on and off the field important for UA players from FBC Cullman

Like most churches, First Baptist Church, Cullman, supports its students in their collegiate pursuits. And like most churches, it has a mix of members who answer the question “Who are you for?” with the words “Auburn” or “Alabama,” denoting their preference for either the Auburn University (AU) or the University of Alabama (UA) football teams.
   
Unfortunately for its Auburn fans, First, Cullman, has four students who are playing for the UA football team in Tuscaloosa — Brian Bostick, Wesley Britt, Taylor Britt and Justin Britt. But the Auburn fans don’t let it get to them.
   
“I love them, but not that much,” joked church secretary Brenda Ward when asked if she had “converted” because of the players.
   
But Ward and the other church members still support the guys.
   
In fact, Ward’s mother-in-law, Sue Ward, is one of the Britt brothers’ biggest fans at church, said Wesley, who will be playing as a senior left tackle this fall. “She’s the sweetest lady and the biggest Alabama fan.”
   
Justin added that “She’s been a blessing to us. She always tells us she’s praying for us.”
   
Wesley said he appreciates those prayers, because he and the others feel the pressures of athletes trying to live Christian lives.
   
“Every decision I make I feel responsible to be a role model,” he said, noting that was why he turned down the offer to be part of Playboy’s 2003 All-America Team.
   
Edwin Hayes, pastor of First, Cullman, said that decision made him proud of Wesley. Hayes added that the young men are “solid Christians in a quiet way.”
   
There is a sense of pride in the church that all four have stayed grounded in their spiritual values, Hayes said, noting the Britt Brothers and Brian often come home and attend First, Cullman.
   
“This is a role model for the young people of the church to see that star athletes can be godly young men,” he said.
   
These four young men also feel the responsibility to be role models to their teammates and friends at UA.
   
“People don’t just look at you, they look at what you’re doing,” said Taylor, who fulfilled his lifelong dream of playing for the Tide when he transferred from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2002. Taking the field as a right guard, Taylor said, “I’ve made mistakes in the past and I realize they not only hurt me, but they hurt my family. It not only hurts my witness, but my brothers’ witness, too.”
   
Taylor said he hopes the combined Christian witness that he, his brothers and Brian offer, will lead others to Christ.
   
Justin, who recently moved to Tuscaloosa to enter UA as a freshman and joined the team as defensive tackle, said his brothers and Brian have been a source of inspiration to him.
   
“They’ve been great role models to me and shown me what I need to be like when I get to where they are,” he said.
  
“It would have been much harder these first two to three weeks if they hadn’t been here.”
Being the youngest, Justin said he looks to his brothers to lead the way.
   
“I’ve always looked up to Wesley,” he said. “I hope I can be as good a role model as he is.”
   
Wesley said there are many temptations to face in college, which is why it helps to have friends and brothers close by.
   
Taylor agreed. “You can’t go off and do what you want to do,” he said. “If (one of us) is not living right, we sit each other down and talk.”
   
Although the talks are hard to take at times, it is “all done out of love and care,” said Brian, who is UA’s placekicker. “If you get out of line, they’re more likely to tell you than someone you haven’t known long.”
   
For some students tasting freedom for the first time could make accountability a burden. But that’s not the case for Taylor. “It’s awesome to live out my dream like this,” he said. Living with his brothers has made them “definitely closer now.”
   
Wesley said the accountability reaches into the physical realm, too. He said he pushes his brothers and friends hard in workouts, so “I have to live up to my word.”
   
Justin said not only does Wesley push hard in workouts, but also in academics and keeping up with housework. Wesley is also willing to help, even with math homework, Justin added.
   
Brian said as seniors, he and Wesley try to take a strong leadership role on the team, which he hopes extends past football.
   
“The Lord has blessed us so much,” he said. “Hopefully (youth) look to people like us to see what life can be like if you work hard and stay grounded in the Lord.”
   
These young men credit their home church for giving them a firm foundation to steady them as they go through life.
   
“[Pastor Hayes] has always been there for me as I was growing up,” Brian said. “He was always there for me to talk to and there when I needed him.”
   
That foundation has been extended by having each other in Tuscaloosa.
   
“I’ve grown up in a great Christian community and family and I’m blessed to keep that down here,” Wesley said.