At the Institute we have the opportunity of having our staff also being our teachers certain weeks. Chad Hampsch taught this week over Church History. He is Vice President of Operations at the Kanakuk Institute. Another fun fact is that his wife, Cat, is my small group leader and they are expecting their third child! This week was a refresher course of my Christianity History class I took at Dallas Baptist. History is a subject I enjoy, but there is a plethora of information and I have a difficult time remembering what event or person goes with which time period.
One individual I learned about was William Ashley “Billy” Sunday. He lived from 1862-1935. For eight years he was a professional baseball player for teams in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. He set records for stealing bases and became the first player to run the bases in fourteen seconds. He left the world of professional baseball to take a position in ministry. His salary as a baseball player was $400 a month when the average worker of the day made $480 a year! The ministry position he took paid him $84 a month. Later baseball teams offered him $500 a month and even $2000 a month. However Sunday chose to stay faithful to where God had called him. At one point he was even offered $1,000,000 to be in the movies, but declined to continue evangelizing. I think this goes to show that money can’t buy happiness. He became a follower of Jesus Christ through the outreach of Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago. Harry Monroe from the PGM was out preaching on the street when Sunday heard the message and gave his life to Christ. Street evangelism puts me outside my comfort zone, but I’m thankful that there are people who have the boldness to proclaim God anywhere and everywhere. Side note that is one way you could be praying for me, that God gives me boldness in my life.
Sunday passed away at age 73 due to a heart attack. Today he is known for his powerful and enthusiastic evangelism and passion for Christ. Christ gave him talent and success in the world of sports and ministry. I wonder what his baseball buddies said about his conversion and decision to leave the world of professional sports. I wonder if it impacted any of them to follow Christ. Today it encourages me that there are men like Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and my brothers who are in the sports world living for Christ. Looking at Sunday’s life showed me that we all will leave a legacy. I want my legacy to be similar to his in the idea that I followed God’s calling and was passionate about serving him even if it contradicted how the world’s ideas of living. I learned that God can reach people in any way he chooses. If it is street evangelism, a sermon on TV, a dream, or through a friendship he will bring people to him. But God is looking for faithful servants to make his name famous. Matthew 28:19 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (NIV). Also it says in 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (NIV). I’m carrying the banner for the Lord’s name. “Ain’t it a fine life carrying the banner through it all?” Newsies anyone?
