This is a special All-Star edition of my Play Ball series – the 19th entry in my collection of Christians in professional baseball. Tonight, I focus on my favorite team – the Boston Red Sox, and their All-Star first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez.
There are several Christians in the Midsummer Classic this year including some I have featured in this series (Brian Wilson, Clayton Kershaw, and Heath Bell). Chad Bonham at Inspiring Athletes has listed the believers who made the rosters . There are a lot of great stories about God at work in the lives represented by those names.
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Our focus for today will, as mentioned, be on Adrian Gonzalez. Last December, when the Red Sox traded some prospects to the San Diego Padres to acquire Gonzalez, I was filled with cautious optimism. The Sox had paid a steep price, but all the reports and evidence suggested that having Adrian Gonzalez join the team would be great for Boston. And now, 3 1/2 months into the season, and after watching his runner-up display in the Home Run Derby last night, I think it was a good trade to make.
Bringing Gonzalez in looks even better when you get to meet the man inside the #28 jersey. He is a star player who, like so many that I have written about in this series, know that baseball is a means to a greater end. The ultimate goal he has for his life is to be a way for others to encounter Christ. He says that success and failure is not determined by the box score of a game, but rather by the attitude he has and his relationship with Jesus.
It was fun to watch Gonzalez pounding the ball in the All-Star Home Run Derby last night. Though he didn’t win it all, he did great. God has granted him a certain measure of success on the baseball field and Adrian is proving faithful by using that success to share his belief in God.
God is changing lives through Gonzalez, too. Check out this great story from Idols Aside Ministries about Gonzalez sharing his faith with a young fan and his mom. The video is about 12 minutes long, and also includes Gonzalez’ own story of faith.
As they say in the video, “this is what it is all about” – Not home runs, batting average, flawless infield or anything like that, but rather being available to be used by God, and seeing His Kingdom grow. God chooses to use us to draw others to Him, and what an exciting thing it is to be a part of someone coming to make this decision.
Athletes in Action also featured Gonzalez in an article last fall. In this article, we read about the importance he places on being a representative of God, not just to fans, but also to teammates. This provides accountability, encouragement, bible study opportunities and strengthening of faith.
Adrien Gonzalez is an outspoken man of God. I hope and pray that he will have ample opportunity to share God’s love with others whether on a field with 30,000 people watching, or one-on-one with a fan or teammate. Here are some other opportunities he is using to help others with baseball and with knowing Christ.
Gonzalez Sports Academy is a conditioning, training and skill center for athletes in many sports located in Chula Vista, CA. It was started up and is operated by Gonzalez’ brothers David and Edgar along with his parents. They have clinics, and camps as well as a top notch training facility. Adrian and his brothers teach kids baseball fundamentals and also about God’s love.
Unlimited Potential Inc. is an organization that uses baseball as a platform to tell others about God around the world. Gonzalez, and many other players have taken part in these missions trips over the years.
Baseball Chapel is an organization that organizes chapel services for teams, umpires, players wives and even ball park staff.
Selfishly, I am glad that Adrian Gonzalez plays for my favorite baseball team. But above that, I am excited that he and I are on the same team in the game that really matters. We both believe in the God that created everything and that desires a personal relationship with each one of us.