John Kasay

Longtime Carolina Panther John Kasay Shares Testimony at Gardner-Webb

John Kasay admits he has made many mistakes in his lifetime, but the former Carolina Panthers kicker now uses the lessons his decisions taught him to inspire youth and young adults to make the right choices in their lives, starting with God.
The longtime National Football League (NFL) athlete recently shared what he calls the three most important life priorities with the Gardner-Webb community during the University's Dimensions program on Feb. 3. "You get to choose your master, your mission and your mate, and the order of those choices is very important," Kasay offered. "I've seen a lot of people make a lot of really bad choices in their lives, and I live with the regret myself of some really dumb mistakes."
The son of a University of Georgia football coach, Kasay grew up around college-age athletes. He later played college football at Georgia before beginning his professional football career. Now, he serves youth as the athletic director at Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, N.C. "I've been able to live with and work with people exactly your age for my entire life," Kasay said. "I want to leave you with some things that I'm positive will make a huge difference in your life."
Kasay said that God gives people the opportunity to choose who and what they follow, what they do with the gifts God provides and who they marry and spend their life with. "You've got to get the master part right," he added. "Once you make those decisions, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, as the saying goes. I've watched many people throw God's plan away with their decisions."
In his own youth, Kasay discovered that he couldn't run, throw, block or tackle to reach his dream of playing football, but he realized God gave him the "curious gift" to be able to kick. He used that gift to build a career that spanned more than two decades and ended with him ranking seventh all time in NFL field goals made. However, he said he discovered his master and his true life mission before starting his job as a professional athlete.
"When I became a believer I was going into my senior year of college," Kasay shared. "My mission is very clear -- I'm helping bring people to God. We can have all our plans, all our ideas, all these things the world says are a good idea. At the end of the day it's only going to be us and Jesus one on one with him saying, 'What did you do with what I gave you?' God has a plan for each one of your lives. Your master is very important."
Located in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb University's purpose is to advance the Kingdom of God through Christian higher education by preparing graduates for professional and personal success, instilling in them a deep commitment to service and leadership, and equipping them for well-rounded lives of lasting impact, Pro Deo et Humanitate (For God and Humanity).

Photos by Mark Houser/Gardner-Webb University