Missionary on a Baseball Field

John Wasdin in action.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Cake6)

Sometimes, one comment can change everything.

John Wasdin was originally drafted by the New York Yankees and he went on to pitch for seven other teams in the major leagues from 1995-2007, plus a stint in Japan. He went 39-39 with a 5.28 ERA in the majors as a middle reliever. He bounced back and forth between Triple-A and the majors his entire career (which ended in 2009). He was 77-42 with a 3.84 ERA in his minor league career.

I interviewed him in 2006 (he was 34 at the time) while he was with the Texas Rangers and during that interview he admitted to wondering at times why he had to bounce around with so many teams, and ultimately why it had been so difficult for him to stay in the big leagues. Someone made a comment to him while he was pitching in Japan and it changed his perspective.

“Someone said, “Man, you’re a missionary on the baseball field.’”

It gave him new purpose.

“For 14 years, I’ve got to share who I am, be who I am in Christ, and they’ve got to see that,” he said, referring to his many teammates. “Instead of witnessing to one team for 14 years, I’ve got to witness to many, many teams in the major leagues and in the minor leagues.”

This looked different depending on the team he was on.

He recalled being in the minor leagues with Texas the prior season (2005) and meeting with fellow Oklahoma City teammates to discuss the book Every Man’s Battle, which allowed them to be open and honest about their struggles.

One of his Oklahoma City teammates was a new believer and they decided to work their way through the book of Acts together and they kept at it, even after Wasdin got called up to the big league club. They called each other every day and discussed what they had read in Acts during their devotions.

The Rangers released Wasdin seven weeks after our interview. But he took his missionary outlook with him and I am sure he continued the work of the kingdom in the places he played after that.

I’m wondering if you might feel the way Wasdin did. Maybe your career hasn’t turned out the way you planned. Maybe you’ve been laid off multiple times, or downsized when the economy turned south and you wonder why you can’t seem to get your feet under you. What if God is moving you around because he wants you to be a missionary in the banking or real estate industry or some other field?

If that’s the case, then don’t miss your chance to walk a new believer in your current place of employment through a book in the Bible. You don’t have to be highly trained. You’ve been reading your Bible for some time now. Start where you are. If you are working your way through the book of Ephesians, then invite a receptive male co-worker to read through the same passages so you can discuss what you’ve read over lunch.

Even if you move on to another company for one reason or another, you will have left a lasting spiritual legacy that will bear fruit long after you are gone.