VINEMONT — When it comes to high school athletics, leadership is very important to a team’s success.

But having positive role models provide leadership isn’t only important on the playing field. It’s also a pivotal part of life.

According to members of the coaching staff at Vinemont High, having a positive work environment can help athletes become stronger leaders. So when Cullman-area athletic trainer Steve Johnson said he could create that type of environment, the Eagles’ coaching staff let him take the reigns.

Throughout the years, Johnson has built a reputation as one of the top strength and conditioning coaches in the Cullman area. During the summer months, Johnson typically holds a series of team-based speed and agility camps for high school athletic programs. But this summer, the Cullman-area trainer decided to add a new twist.

As a person that’s very vocal about his faith in Jesus Christ, Johnson decided that he wanted to devote his summer speed and agility camps to Jesus Christ. And according to Johnson, that was possibly one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

“We had Christian-based speed and agility camps at Vinemont, West Point and Susan Moore high schools,” said Johnson, who is best known as the personal trainer for former Alabama football star Wesley Britt. “Every one of those camps were great, and the athletes loved it. These weren’t school-related camps, and it was the kids’ decision to participate. But at every camp we held, we had great turnouts. And best of all, everyone that participated grew stronger spiritually because of it.”

The general idea of the camp was to create a positive environment for Vinemont’s athletes to train. But in the end, the camp turned out to be an event that helped influence four young men to make a decision that they believe will change their lives forever: Being baptized in the name of Christ.

After soaking in the information that was provided by the guest speakers at Vinemont’s speed and agility camps this summer, Cody Copeland, Isaac Yarbrough, Trevor Yarbrough and Anthony Pace all decided to realign their priorities and devote their lives to Christ through baptism.

“It’s the greatest decision that I’ve ever made,” said Copeland, who is a member at Faith Baptist Church in Vinemont. “Honestly, this was something I had been fighting for a long time. I knew what I needed to do, it was just the matter of doing it.

“But one afternoon we had a guy from Daystar (Greg Davis) come up here and speak. And what he said really hit home. After I thought about what he had said, I went and spoke with our youth minister (Scott Carpenter) at Faith Baptist. That’s when I decided it was time to make that change.”

Powerful Words

At this summer’s speed and agility camp, Vinemont’s athletes would open and close each session with a prayer. The Eagles also gathered twice a week for a devotional that usually featured a guest speaker, such as Davis — who is the youth minister at Daystar Church.

Davis said he doesn’t remember the exact conversation he had with the athletes at Vinemont, but what he does remember is how he felt after leaving the school that afternoon.

“What they were doing out at Vinemont this summer was special,” Davis said. “The message that I wanted to get across is that there’s more to life than athletics, sports are just one of the many joys we have in that time of our lives.

“Not everyone can play professional sports, so it’s not something that will last forever. But something that does last forever is our relationship with Christ. I just wanted to challenge that group of athletes to make God a priority.”

Davis said he didn’t get to stay for the end of that afternoon’s camp, but he did receive a phone call from Johnson on his way home.

“When Steve called, he said ‘Man, I wish you could be here to see this, these guys have really responded,’” Davis said. “This whole thing was Steve’s vision, and it’s really turned out to be something positive. The coaches at Vinemont were responsive, the athletes were responsive, and there were just a lot of good things happening over there.

“Anytime you can help young people realize the importance of having Jesus Christ in their lives it’s special because it’s going to help them become an overall better person. I’m thankful the people at Vinemont have given their young people an opportunity to be involved in something like this, and hopefully more people will follow.”

During the early weeks of the camp, Johnson challenged different athletes to memorize a bible verse and recite it to their peers, and he wanted a different person to lead the group in prayer each night. But at the first couple sessions, only a few athletes responded.

But according to Copeland, Vinemont’s athletes became more and more responsive as the summer camp progressed.

“It’s the whole idea of leading by example,” Copeland said. “When you see your peers admitting their faith and standing up to lead prayer, it helps give you the confidence to do the same thing. By the end of the summer, more and more different people started stepping up and taking that role.”

Becoming Leaders

While one of the goals of the speed and agility camp was to help Vinemont’s student athletes become bigger, stronger and faster, the Eagles’ coaching staff also wanted to help their players become stronger role models.

According to Vinemont baseball coach Doug Webb, the Eagle athletes not only reached the camp’s goals, but they have now redefined what a team leader should be.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Vinemont baseball coach Doug Webb said. “These athletes have even been an inspiration to me. You can go out and watch the way they are carrying themselves now, it’s unbelievable at how far they’ve all come. Everyone has really responded to the positive message that’s been sent, and I think this will really help our young people become better.”

One of the four athletes that was saved this summer not only was surrounded by Christian influences at the speed and agility camp, but also had the same type of guidance coming from home.

Anthony Pace was baptized early in his life, but this summer the Vinemont freshman decided he wanted to recommit himself. And Anthony’s main source of inspiration was none other than his brother, Joey.

Joey Pace was a multi-sport athlete that graduated from Vinemont this past school year. And even though Joey was known as a tremendous athlete for the Eagles, people close to him know him better as person with a good personality.

According to Joey, he has always been a strong believer in his faith and is willing to talk about it to anyone. That also includes his brother. And through Joey’s guidance, Anthony decided he needed to make a change in his life.

“I’m very open about my faith, and that’s something my brother and I have talked about,” said Joey, who is a member at Faith Baptist. “He knows how I feel, and he knows how proud I am that he decided to do this.”

While Joey wants to be an inspiration to the people around him, the recent Vinemont graduate isn’t alone. In fact, Copeland wants to affect people the same way that Joey did.

Now that Copeland has been saved through baptism, the Vinemont senior has devoted himself to spreading the message. Copeland said he is more than willing to discuss his faith with any of his peers, and he wants to encourage them to take the next step.

“After I was baptized, words can’t describe the way I felt,” Copeland said. “It was like all the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. It was unbelievable, and I want everyone to have that feeling.

“Now it’s time for me to be a leader, and that doesn’t just mean in sports. I want to be a positive influence, and help anyone anytime I can.”

Carpenter, who is the youth minister at Faith Baptist, said he is pleased to see young people choosing to openly discuss their faith. He believes that the teenage years are an important time in the spiritual growth of young people, and having events — such as Vinemont’s speed and agility camp — where young people can discuss faith with their peers is huge.

“That’s really a great thing,” Carpenter said. “When I see young people making decisions like that, it just gives you a good feeling inside. There’s really nothing like it.”