While Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has come under scrutiny recently for his intertwining of faith and football, Pitt quarterback Chad Voytik and 20 other Pitt athletes are on a mission to share their Christianity.
Voytik, who is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is leaving Sunday for a mission trip to Haiti with seven of his teammates: wide receiver Chris Wuestner, linebacker Mike Caprara, defensive lineman Khaynin Mosley-Smith, linebacker Bam Bradley, running back Isaac Bennett, defensive lineman David Durham and wide receiver Dontez Ford. They’ll stay in an orphanage, where they’ll spend most of their time playing with underprivileged kids, building projects, painting, playing soccer and helping out the community in any way they can. They will return May 3.
“It’s been a really good experience, getting to know all of these people and these athletes,” Voytik said. “They go every year and I’ve been wanting an opportunity like that to step out of my comfort zone and share my faith, and this is the perfect opportunity so I had to take it.”
Pitt coach Paul Chryst said he had no problem with his projected starting quarterback leaving the country for the mission trip.
“That’s something that fits who he is,” Chryst said. “Chad’s smart. There’s a bigger world, and he’s been blessed and has a great family and I think him wanting to do those things truly fits who he is.”
The athletes are traveling as part of a Christian outreach group that is not associated with the school and the participants do fundraising to pay for their trip.
