Having a team chaplain available to me has meant the world, as Johnny serves as a great mentor, leader, father, and role model. Coming into the Virginia Tech Football program as a complete unknown can be a very daunting task, intimidating, and can lead you to second guess your motive for being there. Having Johnny at every practice, around team meeting rooms, and always having an open door, really made this new experience easier and more accepting than I had first expected. I often found myself talking to Johnny during practice about family, faith, friends, girls, and experiences that I had encountered at Virginia Tech. His wisdom and insight really opened my eyes to the life that Christ wants us to live, as well as highlighting the small things we can do to get on the right path.
I remember Johnny being one of the first people I sought out to talk to after learning about my mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer. After receiving the devastating news I knew that Johnny was someone I could lean on and really use as support to help me accept this terrible disease. He reassured me that God ultimately had a plan, and I needed to trust in that plan.
I am so grateful to have a team chaplain like Johnny Shelton in my life. It has opened my eyes to the life Christ wants us to live and he has lead by example about how to live that life. What a blessing he has been to me as well as the entire Virginia Tech Football program.