That’s a great question because that’s kind of what Tony Dungy said in his quote. I asked him to perform with Sandi Patty during the season in Indianapolis, and he said, “I had to think about it for a second, but then I realised that I know Ben can handle it.” I really can handle it. I’m not going to let it interfere with football. I know that that’s where the Lord has me at this time in my life. I’ve told people already in Cincinnati that when the season starts, it’s about the season. I’ll minister through the season because that’s my heart. But as far as going out and doing shows … football is my ministry platform once it starts.
I’ve heard that you sing at some sporting events. Have you ever sung at your own game?
I have on a couple of different occasions. In college, I sang the national anthem after 9/11 at our football game, which was really, really hard to do. But it was very special at the same time. Usually our coach didn’t allow us to do that, but because of the situation, it was a special thing to do.
I also sang at a pre-season football game in Indianapolis against the Buffalo Bills. It was fun; I don’t think the crowd knew what to do. It was probably pretty surprising.
You mentioned singing with Sandi Patty, and I know you’ve also worked with Jeremy Camp. How did that come about?
It’s such a God-breathed aspect of my life because when I moved to Indiana to play with the Colts, I was just a rookie player who didn’t know anybody. And in a matter of two to three years, through unique circumstance, the Lord brought Bill and Gloria Gaither, Sandi Patty who became a second mum to me, into my life. And then I got to meet Jeremy after a concert in Indianapolis. We just clicked immediately, and now he’s my best friend in all the world.
We got a chance to co-write on this last album. We kind of finish each others’ sentences. So when writing the song, which is called “Rescue Me”, we were at his house in Lafayette and it happened so quickly. Within a half an hour we had already gone into a studio and laid down the music and laid down the idea and lyrics. It was really awesome how fast it came together. We have very similar backgrounds and testimonies, so we were able to write that song together pretty quickly.
Did your friendship with him help guide you to pursue your music career?
It was definitely confirmation from God. Often my prayer was, “Lord, I don’t know where You’re going with this music thing. If You want me to continue to pursue, continue to bring people into my life that can help me do that.” So when He brought three of the moguls of Christian music into my life, I thought “Okay, I’ll keep trying.”
Jeremy has been a massive spiritual accountability partner. He’s really kept me grounded and kept me understanding the business side of it as well, because there’s an aspect of being an artist where you have to understand how difficult it is. It’s just like playing in the NFL. Very few people can do it and make it a career that can provide for your family. He gave me a lot of truths about the reality of being a successful artist that I probably didn’t know before.
