KALISPELL — Faith. Family. Football.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson vocally leads his life with those three principles.
"It's in that order," Wilson said at the Flathead County Fairgrounds during the Stillwater Christian "For Such a Time as This" fundraiser on Wednesday evening. "Faith is why I'm here today."
Stillwater Christian's event is typically headlined by prominent men of faith.
Past featured speakers have been former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (2012), former presidential candidate and former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee (2015), as well as Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson (2014).
Wilson addressed roughly 1,000 people — many of whom were donning Seahawks regalia — for nearly an hour.
"I thought it was a big success," Jeremy Marsh, the assistant head of school for Stillwater Christian said. "I thought it went really well. It was a great night. Everybody who came seemed to really enjoy it. There was a great vibe in the room with Russell Wilson here.
"... It was a great message. The theme for the night was faith, family, football and Russell Wilson was very inspiring in what he had to say."
But Wilson hasn't always been outspoken about his Christian beliefs.
During his remarks, Wilson said he vividly remembers when that changed.
Wilson said he was looking out the right side window of his mom's purple minivan when he was 14.
"I remember Jesus speaking to me," Wilson recalled.
In that moment, Wilson knew two things.
He said he knew he was going to be wealthy, but that he was going to give back.
"I knew in that moment that God was going to prepare the things that he had for me. And I had to be obedient and try to do everything that I could to just love Him as much as could and do everything I could to surround my life around that.
"Over the years, I've realized ... I'm outspoken about my faith because it's my gas. It's the thing that, I can't drive a car with out my gas," he added, before joking about electric cars.
Family
Wilson is married to Ciara, a multi-faceted woman in the music industry. Together they have one daughter, Sienna. Ciara also has a son, Future, from a previous relationship.
Wilson discussed how his family time is precious to him, despite having a lot to balance with his work life. For example, Fridays are date nights and Sundays, at least in the offseason, are family days.
"The biggest challenge is time," Wilson said. "We only have 24 hours in a day. ... What are we going to do with it? There's a few fundamental things I think in my life, and I think everybody's life should be really important."
One of those things, Wilson said, is making sure to be all-in with whatever he's doing.
"I have to carve out time for my family, my kids," Wilson said. "I don't want to be half-in watching my film and spending time with my children or half-in spending time with my wife or half-in on business or half-in on anything. I want to be all-in for that moment."
Much of Wilson's family values come from his parents, especially his father who passed away when Wilson was in college.
Wilson's addressing family values resonated with people of all ages in the audience, including Marsh.
"His message really landed," Marsh said. "... To have the youngest to the oldest to hear what he had to say about parenting, love, service and the example he lives out in that, I think really landed in powerful ways."
Football
Like his realization with faith, Wilson remembers his first game of football clearly too.
In seventh grade, Wilson wasn't the starting quarterback. He was second-string.
The starting quarterback went into the game and dropped back into the pocket to pass. The defense blitzes on the left side, hitting him so hard that he ruptured his spleen on the first play of the game.
"True story," Wilson said after sharing that anecdote. "I'm trying not to smile. I go in the game and I don't know any plays."
So, Wilson draws up plays in the dirt.
"We won 60 to 7."
Wilson is far from his days of not knowing the playbook.
Wilson, as a Seahawk, is a Super Bowl champion, a 4-time Pro Bowler and a former NFL Rookie of the Year.
And he's aware of just how special his athletic career has turned out to be.
"I am one of 32 men in the world that get to do what I get to do. Think about that. There's 7.5 billion people in world and I'm one of 32. When I think about that, there's a responsibility. There's an accountability for me to love and give back and show what I've learned and show the tough times and the good times."
There have been the good times, like winning the Super Bowl in 2013.
There have also been tough ones too. Like losing the Super Bowl in 2014 by just four points.
And in both times, Wilson turns to his faith. One of his favorite verses, he said, is James 1:2.
"'Consider it pure joy when I go through trials and tribulations,'" Wilson read from memory.
Wilson believes good things are on the horizon for his Seahawks, who recently selected Bozeman native Will Dissly in the NFL Draft.
"I'm excited about making it happen. We're looking forward to it. We're going to have a great team this year," Wilson said. "I really believe that. You should see how hard we're working right now."
Naturally, the countless dozens of Seahawks fans followed that up with a Seahawks chant that echoed throughout the fairgrounds.
