Baseball

Orioles players share testimonies of faith in Christ during franchise's 1st-ever Faith Night

By Kevin Mercer Aug 15, 2024
Fans listen to worship music at the Orioles' first Faith Night, Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo courtesy of X/@jbenowitz1831)

Tuesday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore saw the Orioles fall convincingly to the Washington Nationals, 9-3, but what happened afterward was by far the most important victory of Baltimore’s already-impressive season.

That’s because the organization held its first-ever Faith Night event. Six Orioles players — Trevor Rogers, Jordan Westburg, Ryan O’Hearn, Gunnar Henderson, Danny Coulombe and James McCann — boldly shared their testimonies of faith in Jesus Christ while thousands of fans crowded into the lower sections between first and third bases to hear.

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In addition to the players’ testimonies of faith and moments of prayer, the worship band from Reach Church in Newark, Delaware, led those assembled in a time of worshiping God through song.

With Tuesday’s event, the Baltimore Orioles have now joined numerous other major league franchises in hosting similar nights dedicated to glorifying God; according to Religion Unplugged, 18 of 30 teams sponsored faith nights last season.

Rogers, Tuesday’s starting pitcher who was traded from the Marlins just two weeks ago, explained how he saw God at work in his recent trade.

“The timing — the first Faith Night, my first start in Baltimore, that’s God right there,” he said, according to the Baltimore Sun. “To be around such a good group of guys, such good Christian guys … this is really fun, and I’m so happy to be here in Baltimore.”

At 71-50, the Orioles are on their way to their third consecutive winning season and are jockeying with the New York Yankees (72-50) for first place in the American League East. Yet none of the players who spoke on Tuesday said on-field success is what has been most memorable about the 2024 Orioles. Instead, they pointed to the abundance of faithful followers of Christ that God in His sovereignty has brought together on the team.

Coulombe, a 10-year MLB veteran who shared that his relationship with Jesus deepened while he was pitching collegiately, said, “This is the most faithful team I’ve ever been around.”

Injured first-year infielder Jordan Westburg agreed, saying he’s “never been in a clubhouse with so many players who love Jesus Christ and follow Him every single day.” He added that he plays “for the glory of God.”

In a preview of the Faith Night event, Westburg said, “My faith means everything to me. It’s who I am, who I identify as. I don’t identify as a baseball player. … It’s my number one reason. Everybody asks, ‘What’s your reason?’ That’s mine.”

Veteran catcher James McCann revealed that as many as 15 Orioles players regularly attend chapel services. McCann also delivered perhaps the most dramatic moment of the evening by including some audience participation.

He asked those in the crowd to close their eyes and imagine a young couple whose first child was born stillborn, and whose second child — while still in the womb — was given only a 25% chance of surviving. If the child did survive, doctors said, that child would be severely disabled.

The parents chose to continue the pregnancy and put their faith in God.

“Open your eyes. I was that child,” McCann said. “From day one, God has been protecting me.” He continued later: “My goal is to share what God has done for me.”

Tuesday night was also an important moment for O’Hearn, as the first baseman said the Faith Night event was the first time he’d ever spoken of his faith publicly. He overcame the nerves, he said, not by relying on himself but by casting all his anxieties on God, just as God’s Word directs in 1 Peter 5:7.

“Living in the Word” is also how All-Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson seeks to operate day by day. He often reads daily devotionals, and he set a goal in early July to read at least one chapter of the New Testament each day.

Henderson was also instrumental in making the Orioles’ Faith Night a reality.

“It’s important to me, and I feel like a lot of guys in here, to just express our love for God,” he said in the days leading up to the event. “To be able to incorporate it into our daily lives, which is kind of tough in the baseball world. … So being able to show that and help bring somebody else who might not know who He is, is important.”

The Orioles, many of whom are faithful followers of Christ, are back at Camden Yards on Thursday as they begin a four-game home series with the Boston Red Sox (63-56). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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