THIS IS EPISODE 270 OF THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
Joe Champion is the founder and pastor of Celebration Church in Austin, Texas.
He grew up in a football family with his dad, Jim, coaching in both the NFL and CFL. While a football player at Louisiana State University, Joe considered following in his father’s footsteps with a career in the NFL, but entered full-time ministry in 1989 after a life-transforming experience with Christ. Joe’s son, Connor, has continued the football coaching legacy as an assistant at Arizona State under Herm Edwards.
A husband and father of four, Pastor Joe is a globally recognized leader and speaker who serves on the boards of One Hope and Oral Roberts University. He is also part of the Lead Team of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), an international church planting organization. By example, Pastor Joe equips and empowers ministry leaders to take hold of God’s calling on their lives with an emphasis on the importance of maintaining Christ-like integrity and character.
On this episode of the podcast, we learn the story of Joe Champion coming to faith in Christ at the Atlanta Falcons training camp, how playing football at LSU shaped his faith, and the powerful story of the best day and worst day of his life being the same day.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING FRASER ELLARD
Fraser Ellard is a left-handed relief pitcher with the Chicago White Sox. He was selected in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft by Chicago and made his MLB debut in July 2024 against the Kansas City Royals.
Today on the podcast, Fraser Ellard shares about his journey of faith, navigating grief after losing his father at a young age, and how that shaped his understanding of God. He discusses the importance of finding purpose in adversity, the role of spiritual disciplines in his life, and the pressures he faced during his MLB debut.
Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud smiles on the practice field, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Texans superstar quarterback C.J. Stroud regularly gives back to the people of Houston on Sundays in the fall with his spectacular plays and record-breaking performances. Yet even in the NFL offseason, when the spotlight on his life retreats for a time, Stroud still finds ways to give back to the city that has embraced him as its own.
Most recently, the youth at Space City Church were the beneficiaries of the third-year quarterback’s generosity.
Some of the kids at Space City Church were in need of financial assistance to attend a church camp in Waxahachie, Texas, later this week, so pastor Vaughaligan Walwyn decided to reach out for some help. He typed up an email to the C.J. Stroud Foundation, and not only was it answered, it was answered with a promise that the fees for seven kids (the same as Stroud’s jersey number) would be fully covered.
“It means the world,” Walwyn, affectionately known as Pastor Von Won, told KPRC 2 in Houston last week. “For C.J. and his foundation to pay those fees and help us in any capacity, it’s a blessing. It can be a big pressure sometimes, and the last thing we want is a parent stressing out. Church camp impacted my life in a huge way.
“Ultimately, it’s a blessing to see the C.J. Stroud Foundation help us. We seek God to work through them and give us the fuel we need for ministry.”
This story really started last September, however, when Texans team chaplain Mikado Hinson invited Pastor Von Won to speak at the team’s chapel service ahead of its Week 4 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston won the contest, 24-20, following Stroud’s game-winning touchdown pass with 18 seconds remaining.
Walwyn’s message from the night before hit home with Stroud, so much so that it was still on the mind of the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in his postgame press conference.
“[Pastor Von Won] was talking about, ‘You gotta go through the mud before you get to the miracle,'” Stroud said. “That resonated with me. Not only just in ball but just in life. It’s not always perfect but, you know, the mud makes you who you are. I think the mud we have is self-inflicted mud, but I feel like that kind of motivates us in a sense. It motivates me.”
Last August, in the lead-up to his second professional season, Stroud joined the Sports Spectrum Podcast to discuss his identity in Christ and his boldness to speak His name publicly.
“People will assume that since I proclaimed Christ that I’m perfect,” he said on the podcast. “I am far from it, and we all are. We all are striving to be more Christlike. … I’m flawed just like everybody else, but I do believe in the perfect One. And He’s the One who keeps me humble. He’s the One who gave me my talents and He will get the glory for it right back.”
In January, he said his goal for 2025 had nothing to do with football.
“Really just locking back in with the Lord. … That’s really my 2025 goal,” he said. “It’s just to be locked in with the Lord as much as possible. Fasting and praying, being a part of getting discipled.”
Stroud has quickly endeared himself to the people of Houston with his leadership, his play on the field, and his community involvement off of it. As millions of adoring fans look on, Stroud will seek to continue to live boldly for Christ and bring glory to Him.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING JARED ALLEN
Jared Allen played 12 NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by Kansas City. Over his career, Allen led the NFL in sacks twice (2007, 2011), was named to five Pro Bowls, and was selected as an AP first-team All-Pro four times. After his retirement in 2016, he was named to the Vikings Ring of Honor, and in 2025 was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Today on the podcast, Jared Allen speaks to Jason Romano at the Arise with the Guys event in Minneapolis, where Tony Dungy named Allen his Uncommon Award winner of 2025. We ask Jared about being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his testimony of faith in Jesus, and playing with Matt Forte in his short stint with the Bears.
THIS IS SPORTS SPECTRUM’S WHAT’S UP PODCAST
WITH ANNABELLE HASSELBECK
On today’s episode of Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast, we have NC State defensive end Isaiah Shirley.
Isaiah shares about his journey to play football at NC State, serving with Athletes in Action, and crash-course life lessons he’s learned along the way.
