“Man with A Plan” 

Zach Hample has a rare gift — catching baseballs. As a 23 year old student from New York City, Hample wrote a book, “How to Snag Major League Baseballs.” Over the previous 11 years, he had personally brought home 1,680 major league baseballs. To date, he has collected over 11,000 baseballs. At one time, he had a streak of 264 games in which he had caught at least one ball. Amazingly, Zach Hample averages around 6 balls a game. That is six times in a span of just a few hours for what most of us would consider a once in a lifetime event. 

How does he do it? As he explains in his book, “Use your head!” In other words, be in the right place at the right time. Zach knows when every major league ballpark opens for batting practice, so he is always the first in line to catch a batting practice foul ball. He has even memorized where certain hitters are likely to foul off pitches. And, if you want to catch a baseball at a game, who should you sit next to? Zach Hample suggests, “Look for a family fascinated by the JumboTron, or trying to sit next to very old people.” Hample has faced criticism from sportswriters, players, and fans, some of whom have pointed out that he has been seen bumping children out of his way in efforts to grab baseballs. The New York Post referred to him as “baseball’s most hated fan.” If only the Church of Jesus Christ devoted half as much research, time, and energy to making disciples as Zach Hample devotes to snagging baseballs. 

Friends, I believe that the church is the place for personal disciple-making. To be the one that helps another person become like Jesus Christ should be the norm for every congregation. It doesn’t have to a one size and one style fits all. Some people may learn best in the classroom. Others may need a one-on-one private study. Mentoring can take many different shapes and forms. One thing is for sure: Discipling is relational, as people learn how to experience, love, joy, and peace better in the context of a mentoring friendship, which is what I will be preaching about on Sunday. 

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, June 13. We will be in person outside at 8:00 am on the FLC lawn (inside the sanctuary if it rains). If you attend at 8:00 am, you will be able to sit in your car and listen via the FM transmitter on 102.1. At 10:30 am, we will be in the sanctuary, while also broadcasting on Zoom, Facebook Live, and Youtube. 

Pastor John