One thing I’ve loved about getting to experience several different types of ministries is meeting people that operate within their specific gifting. It takes a special person to stay up all night with a dozen orphans that all have the same sickness, or walk into a plaza where at least 10 different gangs are all just waiting, or even hang out with junior high students for more than 15 minutes. These past few days, I was introduced to a ministry that has a very distinct calling on a very distinct few. Some may see the glamor in this ministry, but as I talked with Brian, my heart broke for the men he ministers to.
Brian Hommel is the chaplain for the Arizona Diamondbacks and works with Unlimited Potential Inc. (UPI), which brings professional baseball players to more impoverished areas of the globe to teach baseball. As a former professional player, Brian can relate with the guys he ministers to, but he can also lead them to areas they may not set foot in on their own. I knew who Brian Hommel was before I met him, but as I walked into breakfast and saw him sitting with Russ Ortiz, I couldn’t help but get a little excited knowing I had a chair at their table.
Any nerves I expected to have when I sat down were nonexistent, and as Brian told me about the ministry, I couldn’t help but thank God for the work they were doing. Some people see the glamor in professional sports, but Brian and Russ both see the real life behind it. Not only do these men struggle with the typical things any man struggles with like lust and greed, but they also have to balance pride and fame. On top of that, they also travel in one season more than most people do in a lifetime. I can’t imagine the physical and emotional toll that takes when home could be over a dozen places. When I heard about Russ’ family and his three kids, I couldn’t help but say a prayer for this daddy and the valuable time he does have with his kids.
Brian and Russ told a few more stories about the clubhouse and the potential ministry that happens there. There are many athletes that see Jesus as a good luck charm and will come to meetings out of superstition or ritual (sound familiar?), but there are others that long for and need this deeper, intimate relationship. As a shepherd, mentor, minister, or whatever you want to call him, Brian has the distinct mission to call out the disciples within them and not allow them to settle for “Superstitious Jesus”. It makes me think about Dennis Haysbert’s character in Major League, Pedro Cerano, and all the rituals he went through. While most players aren’t that outwardly extreme, Jesus can sometimes play that very role in their lives.
As these two men traveled in and out of the provinces, teaching baseball and preaching the Gospel with their lives, I was overwhelmed with thanks and praise for the Body of Christ. Most true life change is done through a lifelong relationship, but men like this can help empower the Filipino people and also open doors for them to start long term relationships. Also, as Brian brings these men out of their comfort zones, he’s able to develop an even deeper connection with the disciples Jesus has entrusted to him, and also help them to use their strengths for God’s glory.
I pray for Brian’s ministry with these players because we need good role models. That may put a lot of pressure on athletes like this, but with or without that pressure, people will still follow them. So we need people like Brian to shape and mold these men because they will essentially shape and mold the youth of this world. Most of the time, the public will still know the athlete’s name before Brian’s, but my prayer is that the work and ministry from men like Brian would be evident in the lives these players lead.
So this season, I’m praying for the Arizona Diamondbacks. I’d love to see them have a successful season, but above that, I would love to see some men use their position to truly glorify God. They have a platform that many of us will never experience, but if we all play our role in the Body of Christ, then we can’t help but glorify God. Matthew 11:12 says, “the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent men take it by force.” That is our charge, so I pray that we will play our role and continue to forcefully advance the kingdom of heaven in this next season…
