Interview: Two Texas A&M Baseball Players on Following Christ

By Lee Warren, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Texas A&M baseball players Jacob House and Troy Stein recently spoke to The Christian Post about their faith. The interview was conducted before the Aggies’ exist from the College World Series this week.

House is a junior first baseman on the team. He made the Big 12 All-Tournament Team, leading the Aggies with 51 RBIs this season. Head coach Rob Childress says House is as good a defensive first baseman as he’s had in 20 years. And House is poised to take over a Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle soon.

CP: As you prepare to take over the FCA huddle, what has God been saying to you?

House: I think one thing God has really put on my heart is just to embrace the time we’ve been given. The opportunity and platform is something that can’t be explained enough – just to be on such a big stage. When you have a chance to share your faith in a group or in your community it’s great, but when you are put on national television in front of so many people, it’s such a great opportunity to give God glory for the abilities we’ve been blessed with.

CP: It sounds like you have a strong core of believers on this team. How does that help when things are not going well on the field or otherwise?

House: It creates a calmness – just peace within our locker room and dugout. If we’re down, if we’re up, we all know that we’re going toward one goal. It starts with Coach Clement – an assistant coach on the team who leads a voluntary team Bible study]. When you have a coach like that who can really help you out, it helps with personal relationships and the closer you are with your teammates, the more comfortable and better you can be.

Stein is a freshman backup catcher. As a senior at Medina Valley High School in Castroville, Tex. in 2010, he captured first team all-state, academic all-state, district MVP and FCA Athletes of the Year honors. He also lifted the Aggies to a 2-1 win over Kansas earlier this season with a pinch-hit, walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

CP: You won FCA Athletes of the Year honors last season. How instrumental was the FCA in your walk with Christ?

Stein: I’ve been a part of FCA since I was in middle school and it’s really been a helpful thing to start my Christian life and really know what it is like to get involved with God as he leads you along the path.

CP: How important has the core group of believers on the team been to you?

Stein: Me and Jacob are involved in the FCA and Coach Clem does a great job of leading Bible studies. We have a pretty good group that shows up to study the Bible and is willing to get real with each other.

CP: During your team study, has there been a particular Bible passage that has spoken you?

Stein: This fall we started going through Philippians and Coach Clem did a great job going verse by verse. It was really fun to go through the entire book that way.