How can ministry effectively breach the eventful schedule of a college athlete without forcibly dragging him from the practice field to the pew? Will an ultimatum of “Sunday morning church or else” really win the heart of a non-believing teammate for Christ?
The Baptist Student Union at the University of Southern Mississippi recognized that the gospel, godly fellowship and discipleship could meet students where they are, even in a dugout.
Sharing a meal, hearing a devotion
Twenty-five years ago, the USM BSU started a weekly Monday luncheon that allowed players during the baseball season to share a meal together and hear a devotion from various speakers, including many Mississippi Baptist pastors and leaders.
The team chaplain, Lloyd Lunceford, who has served in his position before the luncheon’s inception, ministers to the young men throughout the week and organizes the weekly lunch.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lindsey Williams and originally published by the Baptist Record.
