Baseball brings people to church

We invite you to share the following story with your congregation. It should take no more than 2 minutes to read aloud. You might also wish to include the story in your church newsletter. This story is part of Equipping #48 July/August 2004.

Erwin Wiens, Mennonite Church Canada Witness worker in South Korea, has a passion for baseball. He also loves children! Erwin began playing with a few kids and soon found baseball to be a helpful way of connecting with children. It didn’t take long, when one of the mothers saw how good it was for her son, that she offered to ‘find more kids’. They soon rounded up enough children to get a regular game going on a weekly basis, while Erwin plays the coach.

He writes: “Interestingly, this weekly fun time is growing into an evangelism opportunity. One baseball mom and her two sons have been attending church for several weeks now. Last week another family came. This Sunday three church families will join us as we host four of these baseball families for dinner and an opportunity to share God’s love and invite them to Jesus Village Church.

I just have to mention “Jack”. He’s the littlest guy on the team so he gets put way out in the outfield. But he is so teachable. He always comes ready to play with a huge grin and happy greeting. I just love his kind of players. And now that he’s coming to church regularly, we get to love him twice a week.”

As Erwin & Marian continue their ministry in Korea, please pray that God’s love will flow through them to all those they meet, and may the same be true for all of us.

- by Kathy Fast with Erv & Marian Wiens, Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers in S. Korea