TESTIMONY | Mason Stancliff | ETBU Football

A FanWord Feature Story

When Mason Stancliff talks about football, he lights up—but not in the way you might expect. For him, the game isn’t just about touchdowns or tackles. “Jesus is my why,” Mason said. “He is the reason that I play football and the reason that I do everything.”

That conviction didn’t come from a lifelong faith. In fact, it’s a story that began just days before he ever stepped on campus at East Texas Baptist University.

Finding Faith on the Edge of College

Growing up in Burleson, Texas, Mason’s world was sports. He played football and baseball, made good grades, and went to Catholic church “every now and then,” but faith wasn’t front and center. “I did not grow up in the church,” he said. “All I cared about was sports. All I wanted to do was play sports.”

Then came a breakup after high school that sent him into a spiral. “It sent me down a spiral that was going in the wrong direction,” he said. That summer, something shifted. He started reading the Bible, going to church, and searching for answers. On a Wednesday night in August 2024—just before leaving for college—he was invited to a youth night. The person who invited him never showed, and instead of a youth night, it turned out to be a prayer night.

He stayed anyway.

Football Led Him to ETBU—God Kept Him There

Mason’s path to ETBU was as unlikely as his faith story. He posted a short highlight reel online—just two minutes long because he only played four games his senior year—and didn’t reach out to any coaches. But one day, a former ETBU football coach showed up at his school and offered him a spot on the team.

He visited campus and loved it. Soon after, he called Coach Ru and committed. “ETBU was my only offer to play football, so I just took it,” he said. “I was not a Christian when I decided to come here, but man am I grateful that God did bring me here.”

At ETBU, Mason found something he didn’t know he needed: a community that would help his faith grow. Bible studies, community groups, and close friends surrounded him. “God surrounded me with an amazing community and the best friends that I could ask for,” he said. “This place helped me become the man that I am today.”

Faith on the Field

For Mason, football and faith go hand in hand. He believes God has placed him on the team for a purpose. “He has elevated me to be a leader on the football team,” he said. “That has allowed me to have a voice and be able to share the message and love of Jesus with those on the team.”

His story resonates with teammates who didn’t grow up in church or who are searching for something more. “I believe God has used me to resonate with people who also didn’t grow up in the church and helping them feel welcomed and loved,” Mason said. “I do my best to represent Christ and just pour out His love that He pours onto me.”

A Community That Keeps Him Going

While football brought him to ETBU, faith is what keeps him there. “Football is not the reason why I’m still here,” he said. “I’m still here because ETBU has helped me grow in my faith and my walk with Jesus so much. The community here is amazing. I just couldn’t have asked for a better place to be placed by God.”

His leadership extends beyond the field, too. He’s taken on roles in men’s ministry and continues to look for ways to serve others. Through it all, he credits the people around him—especially his girlfriend, Catherine DeLotto—for helping him grow. “She had helped me grow more than anyone else has since becoming a Christian,” he said. “She has helped me love her better as long as everyone else around me. I’m so incredibly grateful for her.”

Today, Mason’s story is one of transformation—of a young man who came to ETBU for football and found faith that changed his life. “He is my light, my joy, and my salvation, and He is where I find my peace,” Mason said. “He means absolutely everything to me.”