CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman junior basketball player Kaylee Johnson is so blessed and grateful to have God in her life, and despite some challenges that she has faced in her life, He has helped her stay grounded in her faith. She leans on a certain Bible verse and a certain Christian song to help her get through every day life.
“Having God in my life helps me stay grounded, and knowing I have a relationship with Him helps me get through the tough moments in life. God has changed my life completely. He’s shaped who I am, how I handle challenges, and how I see the world, giving me purpose, strength, and hope every day,” Johnson said. “My favorite verse is Romans 12:2. It helps remind me that the world is going to show you all these things that may seem good on the outside, but in reality are going to hurt you, and to not change and conform to the world’s identity, but find your identity in Christ. We are so much more than just basketball players and student-athletes. We are God’s creation, and He is where our identity is found. One of my favorite songs is At The Altar. It reminds me that I can bring everything to Him, and He is always going to be there for me, no matter what.”
It’s not only important for Kaylee to help people of all ages find God, but she also wants to be that kind of role model for so many younger kids.
“It’s our duty as God’s children to spread His word to all ages and all people across the globe. It’s always been my goal to show the love of God to everyone I meet, because I might be the only light of Christ that person may ever see,” Johnson said. “When I was younger, I would find that one person, and I would look up to them for everything. I want to be just like them, act the way they acted, and just be them. I want to be that person for kids, and when they see the love of Christ radiating from me, they say, ‘I want to be like her.'”
She’s blessed to have some great Godly role models in her life, and she has changed so many kids’ lives at youth rallies at her church.
“My role models are my parents. They were the people who helped me build a relationship with Christ. They showed me what having a relationship with Christ is like. Samantha Craven, my small group leader at church, has helped nurture my relationship with Christ. They have helped me grow into the Christian woman I am today. They have helped me further my relationship with God and helped teach me how to go tell others about Christ,” she said. “We have done youth rallies at church, and doing those really help others build that strong relationship with God, of if they’ve never had a relationship with Him, it helped them see the love of Christ and planted the seed. Having those events is so important, because the younger generation needs to see who God is and how He works in other people’s lives.”
Kaylee has a blast with her teammates this past season, and their faith helped them in a big way on and off the court. She wants to use basketball as a platform to help so many more people get closer to God.
“I had so much fun playing with my teammates this past season. We always uplift one another, and we’re always so happy for each other. We all gained knowledge from each other in everyone’s walk withChrist,” she said. “I just show Christ in everything I do. Whether it’s losing a game and showing good sportmanship to the other team, or winning a game and not being a sore winner, I want to show the world what it’s like to having a relationship with Christ.”
She gave advice to those people who are either struggling or are new when it comes to having a relationship with Christ, and God helped her get through a really tough time in her life. She goes through some rituals before games, and she has learned so much during her walk with God.
“I would tell them to just keep pursuing and praying about it. There are going to be hard moments, but once you get through them, it’s worth it. When my grandad passed away from cancer a year ago, I was hit with grief. God really helped me get through that moment and how to find beauty through the pain,” she said. “I always take the time to say a prayer before games, and I always pray with my point guard to help calm her nerves. I’ve learned that He is constant. When everything else changes, God remains the same.”
