Faith shines on the baseball field
WINNIPEG—Vince Harrison talked about the many ways his faith gives his life stability. Zach Baldwin spoke about how hard it can be to find a regular church when he's on the road every other Sunday. And Ace Walker made sure the crowd knew that if their priorities were in the right order, life could be a piece of cake.
On June 4, at Canwest Park in downtown Winnipeg, it was Faith Night at the Ballpark as the Winnipeg Goldeyes took on the visiting Schaumburg Flyers.
More than 900 members of various church youth groups throughout southern Manitoba had purchased tickets to the ball game and more than 100 youth and adults gathered under a tent in the Canwest Park picnic area to hear a pre-game talk from three of the Goldeyes' finest Christian ball players—third baseman Harrison and pitchers Walker and Baldwin
"I've always believed as long as I have my priorities straight, I'll be alright," Walker said as he took off his cap and showed it to the assembly. "I write it down inside my ball cap: '1. God, 2. Family, 3. Baseball.' I write into all my ball caps. I live that every day of my life."
The talk, which was taped for broadcast by Nathaniel Willsie of CHVN Radio, took the crowd into the lives of three players who regularly take part in Baseball Chapel, conducted every Saturday night the Goldeyes are at home by Athletes in Action chaplain Lorne Korol. The crowd hung on their every word.
"It's a great night," says Korol, who now holds chapels for all three of Winnipeg's professional sports teams: the Goldeyes, the Blue Bombers football team and the Moose hockey team. "The church groups come in, we bring down three players and the give the fans a pretty candid insight into their backgrounds and their journeys of faith. The young people really learn how faith helps these athletes make sense of their lives."
For the Goldeyes, it's a night that combines an outstanding youth outing with a fun night at the ballpark, and many of the young fans are first timers.
Paul Duque, the Goldeyes staff member who organizes Faith Night each year, is quite pleased at how the evening has grown into a highlight of the summer for youth groups from all over the province.
"We had always been doing Youth Group Night or Church Night and we decided to open it up to a broader group," says Duque. "While Christian groups make up the vast majority of the people who attend, it is open to synagogues and mosques and we want to expand it to anyone who wants to enjoy a night of fellowship at the ballpark."
Less than a decade ago, Youth Night drew about 200 participants. This year, Faith Night attracted more than four times that number.
"I had a couple of friends who were youth group leaders and they mentioned to me that they were looking for a special Friday night activity," Duque explained. "There is nothing better than a trip to the ballpark, but of course, the big draw was getting the players to come out and talk about their faith."
No doubt those players impressed the members of Morris Baptist, Carman Pentecostal, Emmanuel Lutheran and Eastview Community Church, the four youth groups which made up the majority of attendees at the pre-game players talk.
"When you're on the road as often as we are, it's really tough to find a regular church to attend," Baldwin said. "That's why I make sure I find a few minutes every night to get on my knees and give my thanks."
It was a message that was well received.
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
