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<p>LUZERNE &#8212; Former Penn State star and NFL veteran Leo Wisniewski told men gathered at the Hope Center on Sunday that his life is defined by faith and not by football.</p><p>Not that Wisniewski would come up short when it comes to the game. As a senior in 1981, he was co-captain of the Nittany Lions team that finished No. 3 nationally. His son, Stefen, was an offensive guard on this year&#8217;s Philadelphia Eagle&#8217;s team that won the Super Bowl.</p><p>Still, Wisniewski, in the midst of the accolades of playing college football and the partying opportunities of a large campus, remained unfulfilled until he came to faith at 20.</p><p>Wisniewski, now executive director of Locking Arms Men, now shares his faith with men, many of them sports aficionados, encouraging them to put all aspects of their lives &#8212; work, family, friends and athletics &#8212; in the context of being strong, moral men.</p><p>&#8220;Most men tend to compartmentalize their lives. You have problem at home and you go to work and forget about it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But men need to be consistent in their character.&#8221;</p><p>Ron Hillard, executive director of the Hope Center, said the event was the first of many inviting people to the facility for community outreach.</p><p>Hillard said the clinic has, since moving to Luzerne about three years ago, served many physical needs of area residents.</p><p>&#8220;Now its time to address the spiritual needs of people, body, soul and spirit,&#8221; said the center&#8217;s Dave Roberts</p><p>Ted Mike, of Shavertown, said he attends a Catholic church and appreciated the interdenominational spirit of the event.</p><p>&#8220;I went to Penn State and enjoy hearing stories about the team,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I also enjoy hearing about inspiring men.&#8221;</p><p>Brian Lewis, also of Shavertown, said it was nice to hear about players that set aside their own interests for the benefit of the team.</p><p>&#8220;When Carson Wentz was out as quarterback and (Nick) Foles came in,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Wentz encouraged him, prayed for him before the Super Bowl.&#8221;</p><p>Mike said he had never followed professional football, but now considers himself an Eagles fan.</p><p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t an Eagles fan, but I am now because of their Christian witness,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Wisniewski encourages small group Bible studies called &#8220;huddles&#8221; to gather men together for fellowship and encouragement.</p><p>The Hope Center sponsors a &#8220;huddle&#8221; at 7:30 a.m. every Monday morning.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re know studying 30 principles for a good life,&#8221; said Roberts. &#8220;One of which is &#8216;you reap what you sow.&#8217; If you plant corn, you can expect corn and not pumpkins. If you do the right thing, the right things follow.&#8221;</p><p>At the event&#8217;s end, Wisniewski was heading up to Chase Correctional Institute to offer a Bible study for the men there.</p><p>He took time to share the importance of family and his experience of being at the Super Bowl with his son playing on the team.</p><p>&#8220;It was surreal, there was confetti everywhere,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Although my wife and I weren&#8217;t able to go down to the field after the win, we looked down and we could see my son with his wife. It was an amazing moment.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wisniewski shares a laugh with members of the audience Sunday night at The Hope </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_hope_center4_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wisniewski shares a laugh with members of the audience Sunday night at The Hope </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_hope_center2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wisniewski was co-captain of a Penn State team that finished third in the nation in 1981. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_hope_center2_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wisniewski was co-captain of a Penn State team that finished third in the nation in 1981. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_hope_center1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Leo Wisniewski, a former Penn State and NFL player, spoke to a group of men about his Locking Arms Men ministry Sunday at The Hope Center in Luzerne. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_hope_center1_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Leo Wisniewski, a former Penn State and NFL player, spoke to a group of men about his Locking Arms Men ministry Sunday at The Hope Center in Luzerne. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Former Penn State star Leo Wisniewski delivers message of faith at Hope Center