I would challenge everyone that loves the game of softball to get involved with the DOC. I have played softball for 30 plus years and just thought I was having a good time. When I volunteered to go play in the prisons, the lord opened my eyes to a different kind of softball. It was an experience that I will never forget. Our team was not playing for a trophy or t-shirt. We were playing a game that we loved to play and trying to make a difference in people’s eternal life decision.
It did not matter if you hit a homerun or struck out, we are playing for God. God gave us the ability to play the game and now he has given us the opportunity to share his love and salvation with people that have made wrong choices in life. All of us have talents that God gave us, we just need to be willing to step up to the plate and not be scared of the outcome. God will never forsake us or leave us. He will arm you for the situations that will come if you just trust in him and him alone. The devil will use anything to keep you from getting involved in God’s work, I remember before I made my first trip with DOC how the devil was putting thoughts in my mind, “what if these people decide to riot and kill us while we are in the prisons. We won’t be able to defend ourselves in this place”.
God’s word tells us to put on the armor of God and go forth. The game of life will come to an end for us all at one time or another as humans on this earth, it won’t matter how many homeruns you hit or how many catches you made, it all comes down to this: “did you accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior”? God’s word tells us to be fishers of men, you will be rewarded in heaven for doing his work.. I challenge everyone that reads this to get involved in God’s work and not get caught in the sins of this world. Your talent may not be playing softball in prisons or teaching Sunday school, But Gods word tells us that he has given all of his children talents to use for the glory of his kingdom. I pray that everyone of us will use the talent we have been given for his glory.
Pat Parker