"The Reluctant Save"

Back in 1998, when I was 14 years old, I was not a Christian or even a good person. That summer, July 11, 1998 to be exact, my friend, Brian, persuaded me to come to a Cardinals game with his church. When he told me it was “Christian Family Day”, I wasn’t so sure about going, but he was persistent and what sold me on the idea was the baseball game. When I found out I’d have to listen to people speak about God afterwards. I wasn’t very happy about that, but I went anyway.

I probably still would have made a big fuss about having to stay, but the Cards won, so I was happy. As it turned out, one of the post-game speakers was then-Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny. He told a story of a boy with a blind father who had never been able to see his son play football. The boy’s father passed away and rather than grieve and sit out of his last football game, the boy played. He played well and people asked him why he decided to play after losing his dad. The boy said, “My dad is in Heaven, and this is the first time he’s been able to see me play football.”

The Holy Spirit used that story, and grabbed my heart. When they got to the part of the day where they lead you through the prayer of salvation, I realized, I just how tired I was of feeling so alone and unhappy. So, I prayed the prayer and felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. They then asked for those of us who prayed that prayer to raise our hands. Scared to death, I raised my hand half expecting to be mocked and teased, but it was quite the opposite. Brian simply grabbed me and gave me the biggest hug ever and told me, “That is the best choice you’ve ever made.” He was right.

Ten years later, my life in Christ continues to be amazing. On June 7, my wife, Jennifer, and I celebrated our one-year anniversary. We both teach children in a small school in Bunceton, MO. We hope that our lives are an example of the power of Christ’s love.

If you work with youth or would be willing to take your church’s youth group to a Cardinal game please take them to Christian Family Day. Encourage your kids to bring their lost friends. The worst that can happen is that they just keep being not saved. The best that can happen is they find their eternal salvation and are able to feel the same freedom from sin that I feel everyday thanks to Brian’s faithful and sometimes annoying, perseverance in getting me involved in a church and attending my first Christian Family Day.

Garon Overfield