“The Year Of The Decade” For 9th Inning Ministry-2009
August 2009
Omaha, NE—The 2009 College World Series was our 10th and finest year for 9th Inning Ministry. Several key statistics were:
College Baseball Breakfast
The Omaha Baseball Breakfast with Brian Hommel as the keynote speaker resulted in numerous decisions for Christ. His message was a great, impactful message of Adam and Eve and the power of Christ in our lives today.
We had about 400 folks attend and it was a great time. Prizes were given away, and two North Carolina players shared—Mike McKee, senior catcher, and Adam Warren, pitcher (fourth-round draft pick of the New York Yankees).
Chase Jones, North Carolina catcher, and Larry Gallo, North Carolina Assistant Athletic Director, attended and were also recognized with six other North Carolina teammates.
Andy Stankiewicz, assistant coach for the Arizona State team, introduced his eight team members attending. In an interview, he told of his better life since Jesus Christ. Andy spoke at our seventh annual Omaha Baseball Breakfast and instructed in the 9th Inning clinics. He spoke highly of the impact 9th Inning Ministry has made over the years and its major impact around the College World Series.
Also Khiry Cooper, Husker wide receiver and fourth-round draft pick in baseball to the Angels, was interviewed by John Knicely, WOWT Channel 6 anchorman, who has served as our emcee for nine years. John always does a great job.
Baseball Clinics
We held four baseball clinics and had over 413 in attendance—277 kids and 136 adults—at the clinics this year. God blessed with great weather both in Omaha and Lincoln. What a great time! Results were also very impactful with many of them accepting Jesus Christ. Brian Hommel, former Milwaukee Brewer pitcher for five years; Eric Christopherson, first-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants and pro player for nine years; Bob Herold, former professional player and Kansas City Royals hitting coach and currently coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha; and Eric Newman, Husker pitching coach, spoke to the kids/parents at the Zorinski clinic. All did a great job and great work for Christ.
Hospital visits
Brian Hommel, Eric Christopherson, and Bob Herold, all former professional ballplayers, visited 38 patients at University of Nebraska Medical Center and prayed with them and their parents. The patients were given autographed baseballs, testimony cards, and crosses. What a wonderful and faithful witness these professional ballplayers had on the staff at UNMC as well!
Hospitality sites around Rosenblatt Stadium
We had our five sites open during the entire College World Series. Thousands upon thousands received their bottle of ice-cold Thirst No More water and had an opportunity to read the gospel message on every label. We handled over 60,000 bottles throughout the series. We will hand out water at Faith and Family night for the Omaha Royals game later this summer.
Volunteers
This year was the year of new volunteers making the 9th Inning Ministry a success for reaching people for Christ and exhibiting the “Fruit of the Spirit.” We had several groups from outside the city and as well as from Omaha helping. They were: First Baptist Church of Elmhurst, Illinois; First Baptist Church of Leakesville, Mississippi; and West View Baptist Church of Paragould, Ark.
Omaha groups were: Life Spring Church; Morning Star Lutheran; Harrison Street Baptist Church; Chandler Acres Church; Calvary Temple; Westside Church; Grace Fellowship Church; and Children’s Square, USA, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
More than 400 volunteers helped hand out water during the series and helped at the clinics. Grand total for all the volunteers this year was over 750.
We thank all our sponsors this year including the SBC churches in Nebraska and outside the state for sending their teams to Omaha for this ministry. We also thank all our business sponsors, including many new ones this year.
And of course, we remain very appreciative to our major supporters: Eastern Nebraska Baptist Association; KNCSB; North American Mission Board; Scott and Charlyne Nelson and family; LifeSpring Church in Bellevue; New Covenant Church, Lincoln; and Westside Church, Omaha. We thank our other 100-plus sponsors made up of individuals, churches, ministries, and Christian businesses in Omaha and Lincoln.
And a special thanks to Salem Communications for over 50 free radio spots for 9th Inning Ministry and over 60 giveaways on the air for us as well four complimentary trucks provided by Woodhouse Auto Family and Atchley Ford, and the shuttle van furnished by Westside Church.
Results for 10 years
- Over 2,214 salvations and follow ups for nine years
- 47 baseball clinics held with 7,515 attendees
- 4,400 fans attending the ten Omaha Baseball Breakfasts
- 227 patient visits at the local hospitals by professional ball players
- Over 620,000 bottles of Thirst No More gospel-message water handed out to fans
- Distributed more than a quarter of a million Bibles, pamphlets, tracts and Bible read-through guides
- Utilizing over 6,650 volunteer spots filled over 10 years
- Over 200 individuals, churches, ministries, and Christian businesses sponsoring 9th Inning Ministry over 10 years.
God bless all those 2,214 people saved as a part of the believers in Christ as a result of so many people’s prayers and hard work during these 10 years of the 9th Inning Ministry. Thanks Be To God!
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