BAKERSFIELD, CA - Like every NFL quarterback, Bakersfield native Derek Carr has faith he will one day reach a Super Bowl.
And no doubt, that faith helped Carr stay focused through a challenging rookie season with the Oakland Raiders, posting a 3 and 13 record.
But whether he is in or out of the locker room, Carr expresses his love for god.
He kicked off his Super Bowl sunday at his home church, Liberty Christian Center in Bakersfield.
Raiders fans and churchgoers cheered as Derek Carr took the podum this Super Bowl morning.
His light-hearted message had the crowd laughing and intently listening to the story of his life -- and how he has transformed.
More than 1,000 people turned out to hear him speak.
"They are getting to hear, not from a pastor, not from a youth pastor, but from a sports icon, a franchise quarterback, that those positions come from the following of Christ," said Tim Barton, youth pastor at Liberty.
Church members and devout members of Raider Nation equally enjoying the message.
"He was very positive and wanted to give a good message to these young kids that look up to him," Carlos Gonzalez, Raiders fan.
"He's very nice, like really nice, and really really cool," said Carlos Gonzalez Jr.
"It doesn't matter if you're a celebrity or what you are doing at all as long as god is in your heart and you stay humble then good things come to you," said Gabriel DeLarosa, church member.
Carr brings the light of Jesus Christ everywhere, even the black hole.
"I try and be someone there that people can look to and say they wanna be like that and I can say this is how you do it," said Carr.
On and off the field, Carr keeps it 100.
"You know i'm here to represent Christ, you know, there are a lot of other people here to represent Christ. I just happen to throw a football and people like to watch that on TV," Carr said.
