The Baseball Chapel

Do you ever wonder where Mariano Rivera, a devout Christian and born-again believer in Jesus Christ and a pretty good relief pitcher, goes to church on a Sunday morning. Half the Sundays during the season, he is home and the other half he’s in cities all across the country. Even when he is at Yankee Stadium, he still can’t attend a service at 10 AM and expect to be in uniform by noon. What does he or any Christian ballplayer do to worship the LORD on a Sunday?

Well, it’s not as hard as you think, thanks to an organization known as the Baseball Chapel.

In 1973, Watson Spoelstra, a Detroit sportswriter, approached then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn with the idea of organizing a chapel program for every major league team. Kuhn granted approval and the Baseball Chapel was created.

At the start of 1975 all major league teams had a chapel program. A minor league program was established in 1978 and chapels were first held during winter ball in Latin America. Baseball Chapel is a non-denominational Christian ministry committed to the spiritual development of people throughout pro baseball.

Chapel programs are established for all 210 teams in the major and minor leagues and many independent league teams.

Approximately 3,000 players, coaches, managers, trainers, office staff and other team personnel, umpires and members of the media attend each week.

Chapels begin in spring training and end after winter ball. Hundreds participate regularly in Bible studies that are conducted with many teams during the week.

Their statement of faith is very similar to ours. 

Their doctrinal statement represents the truths of Scripture on which the basis for all ministry shall be established and carried out.

It is by no means exhaustive but is intended to accurately reflect the truths of Scripture that believers have accepted as followers of Jesus Christ from the time He walked the earth.

It includes the dogmatic beliefs of the church, specifically centering on the Triune God and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Their statement mirrors the desire for unity that should exist among all who proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

New York Yankees pitcher, Andy Pettitte gives this testimony:

“Pitching in the World Series was a thrilling experience, but the most exciting event in my life was when I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. That happened in 1983 when I was 11 years old. Each of us make many decisions every day, but there is no decision more important than where we are going to spend eternity. God provided a way for us to live forever with Him in heaven when He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross. Since none of us is perfect, we all sin and fall short of perfection in God's sight, we need a Savior. Accepting Christ's payment and trusting only in His death as the means to bridge the gap between you and God is the most important thing you'll ever do. It's an awesome thing to recognize that God loves you and paid the price for your sins. But you can't just accept His free gift of salvation. The peace and fulfillment He gives is greater than anything in life. Greater than any ball game, even the World Series. Trust Christ today for your salvation, it's the only way to heaven.“

New York Mets pitcher, Mike Pelfrey echoes the same:

“During the 2006 season with the Binghamton Mets through our Baseball Chapel leader, I came to understand what the Bible teaches. I learned that my sins separated me from God. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). But the Good News is that Jesus died in my place to pay for my sins, and by placing my faith in Him alone I would be forgiven and have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that He gave only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Now I have a personal relationship with God and know that someday, I’ll be in heaven.

“Being able to play baseball has been great! It was what I had dedicated my entire life to; now, however, living for and serving Christ is the most important thing to me, and this has given real purpose to my baseball career and everything else I do. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). Yes, I still love playing baseball, but now I seek to play - and live - so that I honor the LORD Jesus in all I do.”

In first grade catechism, I remember distinctly the question, “Where is God?”, and the answer was “God is everywhere.” He visits us here at Gospel Community on a Sunday during service and He is present in the clubhouses in the Major and Minor Leagues of baseball throughout the season.

For more information on the Baseball Chapel and other player testimonies, go to http://www.basebllchapel.org

What a great God we serve. Amen!