Christian Canadian Sports Magazine

Q & A with Jude St. John of the Toronto Argonauts
By GLENN ALLAN

Q Jude, you are a native of London, Ontario, a graduate of Western university now playing for the Toronto Argonauts. What was your life like growing up?

A. Well Glenn, I grew up in a wonderful family. My parents got separated when I was a child. I spent most of my childhood with my five brothers and sisters. We were a close family. I was nine years old when my parents separated and I was probably too young to understand. My mother was a good communicator though so she made it easier on us.

Like most families we had our share of difficulties and I think a lot of kids think when they have problems that they are the only ones in the world with that problem but I guarantee you that others are going through the same thing. I think it’s really important for young people to find people to talk to, to share things with. I have three kids now myself and the last thing they need is to have to carry my baggage.

Q. When did your Christian life start to take shape?

A. When we were moving out of our house in London we were being moved by five men who were helping my mother out. The group was led by a guy that was a pastor and we ended up going to his church. At about six I was invited to go to a Christian camp and it was then that I made a commitment to give my life to the Lord. By the time I was in high school I was prepared to make decisions like not drinking alcohol. My friends all understood that if we went to a party that I wasn’t drinking and they respected that. Sometimes you have to make hard choices but if you have already prepared yourself for those choices then it gets a lot easier. .

Q. Jude, would it be safe to say that if you are grounded with your walk with Christ, does that negate the negative peer pressure?

A. It doesn’t negate it but it lessens it incredibly. If you surround yourself with like-minded people then you’re going to be successful with your choices.

Q. What are your thoughts on bullying and racism today?

A. Many people say that things are really just the same as they were when we were kids. I don’t believe that to be true. The escalation of issues today like violence in schools and guns and drugs is just crazy. When my wife and I had kids we had a discussion about what kind of world they were going to grow up in and did we want to put them through that. You know it’s only by the grace of God that we can have kids and his grace will be sufficient to get us through it but it’s still tough.

Because we are in a first-world economy many people think that we don’t have many problems but obviously we do and so it’s even tougher today for kids then it was a few years ago.

Q. When you were in high school you were voted London’s graduating athlete of the year in 1990. Talk about humility for a guy that was pretty well grounded. Did you take it in stride?

A. To say that my head didn’t get a little bit big would not be entirely truthful but the voting was an in-depth process. I became good friends with the other guys that were running for the award and I realized that the thing that separated me from them was the things that I did for the Church, the Mission work, teaching Sunday school, doing work in my community as a Christian and through my church. Looking back on it now I find it real interesting. It was God in my life and he was impacting me directly.

At the time I was pretty proud of myself and I’m sure that I let it get to my head but looking back on it you see God’s hand in your life and the blessings that he gives you in spite of yourself.

Q. What was it like playing at Western?

A. It was great. I had a whole lot of fun. Some guys might argue with me but it’s the best program in Canada statistically. I lost more games my first year in the CFL than I did in four years at Western. I had a great time there, a really fun time and culminating my four years there with a National Championship was incredible.

Going in I had a similar situation my first year that I had in high school. I had to stick to my guns with my beliefs and not get caught up in all of the side stuff. This meant all the difference for me for the next three years. Unlike the CFL there were not a lot of Christians on the team but I surrounded myself with really good people who became really good friends. My particular beliefs carry high standards and they had the same sets of values.

Q. What do you tell the guys and girls that are getting ready to leave home unleashed?

A. Sure, well one thing that I did that is contrary to a lot of people’s thoughts is that I stayed at home. I stayed until I was married. (laughing) And, I’ll be honest. That helped a lot. I’m not a huge believer in moving away from home just for a new experience. Many people do move away from home and by no means am I saying there is anything wrong with it but if you decide to do that then just make sure that you surround yourself with strong Christian friends. If you are around people who share your values it will help a lot. But, like I said before those decisions should be made long before you are faced with them. If you are out one night with a beautiful girl and she has feelings for you and you have feelings for her, making decisions at that time can be really tough. But if you have already made the choice that you are not going to have sex until you are married you will be able to stop and think about the consequences of pre-marital sex and the emotional baggage that you will carry with you the rest of your life. If you believe that Christ abides in you and with you and similarly your partner shares the same values the decision is an easy one.

Q. What do you think of yourself as being a role model?

A. You know, I don’t walk through life thinking I’m a role model but I guess I know that I am. It amazes me how much people look up to professional athletes. I mean, I’m an offensive lineman. They don’t have a clue who I am and they rarely see me. They recognize the running backs and the quarterbacks but if they meet me, wow, I’m put up on a pedestal. I realize that I’m recognized but as I mature I’m learning to use that for God and to help kids.

Q. How important is daily prayer?

A. You know, it’s interesting you bring that up. If I could give a young Christian kid just one thing to do it would be to read the Bible. And to pray daily. The greatest times in my spiritual growth was when I set aside time to talk to God and to read his word. My motto is “do whatever you have to do to do it daily.” Do it while your walking or running or whatever. I’ve heard that some people even type it out on their computer. Whatever works for you, find the time.

Q. What were you like as a kid?

A. Well, what I remember most is that I was kind of running around without a purpose, not having any idea of what I was all about or what I was going to do. Since I have begun my relationship with the Lord I have had a growing sense of purpose and a better sense of why he has created me.. I know that the more comfortable you become with “why you are here” the better life gets.

Over the years and by the grace of God I am overcoming a lot of pride and I am becoming a lot more humble.

Q. What message would you send to the youth and to the parents?

A. The message that I would send is that everything in life is meaningless without God in your life. So, do all you can, everything you can to strengthen you relationship with Christ.