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Chizik shared the praises for Chette at the FCA banquet. He talked about when he and Chette began their relationship in 2002. He said he cherished the times when Chette would come to his hotel room on nights before the game when he was nervous and they would pray together. “I cherish all these times together, the good and the bad.” Then in 2010 when Chizik returned as head coach, the two became very close, having Bible studies together. Chette shared, “I work not just with the players, I also minister to the coaches. We go through so much together. We go through life. I have babysat Gene’s kids and he has babysat mine, when they were young.” And, yes, he is there for the coaches’ families when they go through the good times and the bad. He said, “I have officiated weddings for them, funerals, I have performed baby dedications and even home dedications. I stand with these guys and not just them, but with others in the Auburn family, like the Rod Bramblett family and their needs.” Chette has been mission minded and taught players the benefit of helping others. He and Malzahn have provided ways for players to be more conscious of others’ needs by taking those who wanted to go to minister to the needs of children in the Dominican Re- public. In 2010, CamNewton and a group went to build a church in the village they visited. Daniel Thomas shared his experience on his second trip to the Dominican Republic at the FCA banquet, “It was such a humbling experience for me, I hate we had to go all the way there to understand how to be thankful for all that we have…I thank God for humbling me.” Malzahn likes taking the players who wish to go. He said, “The walls come down, the cells phones up for awhile, and you get to communicate. You don’t have all that extra stuff that we deal with every day. It gives you a chance to share with each other.” So many people have shared how blessed they are by Chette Williams’ extraordinary ministry. His experiences from his child- hood and youth have helped to shape his gifts to touch people in an authentic way. When this writer interviewed Chette, he talked about how he feels about his job and ministry. “I look at my job as I am a pastor to these teams, coaches, and players. I have to be transparent and real with them, so that I can be effective. If I tried to protect myself because some are only here for a short time or even if they are here for the long haul, I have to go all in. It’s like pastoring a church.” Chette is a humble man and will tell you it is not about him, but it is about God. “He [God] gets all the Glory,” After graduating from Auburn University, Chette attended the New Orleans Theological Seminary. Upon graduation, he started with ministries and churches in New Orleans and then was called to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for an urban ministries program. Chette thinks back and said, “I had no idea that when I started with the churches and ministries in New Orleans and then in Spartanburg what God was preparing me for when bringing me to Auburn.” When asked about looking ahead, Chette falls back on what Coach Pat Dye told him a long time ago right after Kyle Collins, the FCA guy lead him to the Lord. It is his life quote: “One day at a time.” “At the end of the day, God’s got my back,” Chette said. “This is huge for me. So, I know no matter what, I can depend on him like the verses of Proverbs 3:5-6 read, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” n Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019 19 .....................................................................................................................................................................