NATCHEZ — Some athletes might feel that sports define them, but Adams County Christian School senior Kevin Campbell said he’s defined by a much higher calling than a game.

Campbell plays several different sports for the Rebels. He’s an offensive lineman in football, a striker in soccer and a discus and shot put thrower in track. But all of those things take a backseat to what matters most to Campbell: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And often times, Campbell’s not in the audience at church, but behind the lectern, delivering a sermon at whichever church has invited him to speak.

Campbell said he’s been speaking in front of crowds since he was 12 years old, but May 24, 2010, was his first time to stand in front of a large crowd and preach.

“It really just stemmed that, one day (ACCS girls basketball) Coach (Melanie) Hall asked me to speak at chapel, and I said sure,” Campbell said. “She told me to let God work with you and give me something to say.”

From there, Campbell’s preaching vocation was birthed. ACCS Bible teacher Warren Whitaker, who is the head pastor at Fort Adams Baptist Church, invited Campbell to speak that May. Overall, Campbell has spoken at nine different churches, being invited by people that he knows, he said.

It was July 15, 2011, that Campbell said he finally surrendered to the idea of being a minister. He was at the Mississippi Baptist Youth night in Jackson, and Campbell said the preacher’s topic was being who God called you to be.

Campbell said he went down to the altar to pray after the invitation, and Campbell asked God what He wanted Campbell to do for the rest of his life.

“Through Holy Spirit, He told me, ‘Kevin, I want you spending the rest of your life teaching my word to people,’” Campbell said.

But Campbell’s preaching of the Gospel isn’t limited to within the church walls. Campbell said he uses his athletic career as a means of preaching the good news to his teammates, usually by trying to lead a good example.

“I try not to ram Jesus down their throats,” Campbell said. “That’s the biggest turnoff. The easiest way to do it is by your actions. When they crack the door, then you beat it down.”

One of the ways the door gets cracked is by people asking him questions, Campbell said. Often times, people will ask Campbell if God speaks to him.

“I say yes, but I say that He talks to you in different ways,” Campbell said. “I don’t think He speaks audibly anymore — not that I know of anyway. He speaks through the Holy Spirit, and in the world today, that’s your conscious, telling you right from wrong.

“He also speaks to me through things that happen, and through music. When I’m out cutting weeds, I’ll ask him what I need to talk about if I’m supposed to speak.”

Another question Campbell said he gets asked is which denomination does he preach.

“I don’t claim any denomination,” Campbell said. “In this world, when you say Baptist, Pentecostals might not invite you, for example. I just claim to be a Bible-preaching preacher.”

One of Campbell’s focal main points is to show love in how he lives, which is a bit contradictory when it comes to football, since he plays a position that often requires a bit of a mean streak.

“There’s a difference between being physical and being a jerk,” Campbell said. “A general rule I have is, if you knock someone on their butt, help them get back up.”

Campbell, who has a 3.94 GPA and scored a 26 on the ACT, said academics is another arena where his faith is put into action. He said his reason for that stems from the Bible verse Colossians 3:23, which says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

“You’re to do your best in all that you do,” Campbell said.

And Campbell said God has shown him a lot of favor in regard to his schoolwork.

“It just comes naturally,” Campbell said. “I’m blessed with a schedule that gives me time to study. I have first period, then two periods off to catch up, then the last three periods.”

Campbell is the son of Duck and Wanda Campbell. He plans to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College and Alcorn State.