Former pro football athlete and current author, motivational speaker and actor T. C. Stallings said the Lord shifted his passion from sports to acting, and he deliberately has managed that part of his career through film representation that protects his faith. "God is author of my life, and the director of my movies," he proclaims.
In a recent interview on WADE-O Radio Show, Stallings explained he grew up with a Christian mother, but not in a Christian household. He said his mother sang in the church choir. "I got introduced to church through her happiness and that was just a seed that birthed in me," he said.
"I became a full, complete Christ follower later down the line."
He entered ministry in 2003, and has since been a keynote speaker in and out of the United States.
After playing football professionally in the Arena, Europe, and Canadian leagues, in 2004, he landed a spot on Animal Planet's King of the Jungle, a reality show in which he emerged as the show's champion. He then got the role of "T.J." in the 2011 hit movie Courageous, which was his major motion picture debut. He then relocated to California. He then performed as "Tony Jordan" in the 2015 hit film, War Room, which soared to No. 1 in the box office in its second week. He also was seen in national TV commercials with companies, such as Golden Corral and the NFL.
On Dec. 1, 2015, Stallings released a book, "The Pursuit: 14 Ways in 14 Days to Passionately Seek God's Purpose For Your Life."
If Stallings was going to work within Los Angeles movie industry, he said he thought he would only do it a way that kept his morals intact.
He said he evaluates roles by first reminding himself about what sent him to Hollywood to begin with: his "God-given purpose."
"If you lack wisdom, just ask God. I ask Him if each role is part of his plan that was written for me," said Stallings.
"If I'm ever confused about something, my default is: If Jesus Christ is looking through the lens at what I'm doing, whether it's a Christian or secular movie, would He as director of the film, say 'I love it, T.C.' Would He be on set with me saying 'I love what you're doing.'"
He said it's easy to discern to not get involved with profanity and sex scenes. "Everything doesn't always have to say Jesus, Lord, God and all that, but it can't dishonor my Jesus."
He said some movies' scripts and stories may not real spiritual, but "at least they're clean."
Stallings has a new devotional book that he said he really wrote for athletes, but that he did it with a sensitivity that other people may read it, too. "Playing on God's Team" is a 21-week bible study and devotional guide. He said he learned in college that Jesus couldn't just be his savior, but he must also be his Lord.
"I didn't understand the difference at first. I was a believer, running around doing Christian-habit type things. But I wanted to match up what a true follower is," he said. "Being a Christian athlete is more than just bounding your chest and pointing up to the sky. Or just talking to God on Sunday. You got to live that throughout the whole week."
He said the book is designed to help teams of all sorts, in different industries.
"At first, I was failing my God team. I didn't know my play book that well, which was the Bible. I wasn't focused on my coach like I should've been. That's prayer when you're a Christian. Your effort needs to be given all to God, and not your leftovers," said Stallings.
He said he hopes the book will be a "game changer" for a lot of people.
