By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged
SAN DIEGO — At 8:15 p.m. on a recent Saturday, Texas Rangers catcher Mitch Garver swung and missed at an 86-mph slider from San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader.
Garver’s strikeout secured a 4-0 victory for the home team in front of 42,677 fans at Petco Park.
Three minutes later, an electric guitarist and a keyboardist from The Rock Church — an evangelical megachurch in San Diego — stirred on the Gallagher Square stage behind center field.
The church’s pastor, Miles McPherson, sported a pinstriped Padres jersey as he grabbed a microphone.
“What’s up? What’s up? Y’all ready to worship the Lord?” said McPherson, a 1980s-era San Diego Chargers football player who developed a cocaine habit before dedicating his life to Jesus Christ during his NFL days.
About 3,000 men, women and children — almost all clad in Padres hats and attire — bought special tickets for the team’s annual Faith and Family Night.
On a 74-degree evening, in the shadow of statues honoring Padres greats Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman, attendees listened to praise music, heard testimonials from Padres and Rangers players and lifted their hands toward heaven in prayer.
“It’s very nice to be able to celebrate our faith in public without criticism,” said one of the fans, Nicole Soto, who is not related to Padres star Juan Soto.
Roughly 19 hours later — and 125 miles to the north — a similar scene played out at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
This story appears in the online magazine Religion Unplugged. Christianity Today republished this story.
Related: For baseball star Clayton Kershaw and his wife, faith provides a foundation (reporting from Los Angeles)
Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 