Torch, Spring 1991

A Former Professional Athlete Contending For The Faith • hen the Cincinnati Reds signed Frank Pastore to a professional baseball contract right out of high school in 1975, his dreams were on the way to realization. Three years later, at 21 , he hit the "bigs" and was the ~oung­ est player in the National League m 1979. Eventual Hall-of-Fame catcher Johnny Bench pulled him aside afte~ his opening day appearance and gave _him this advice, "Kid, there are two things I need to share with you. One, it's harder to stay in the big leagues than it is to get here. Two, never get too cocky.... You're always just one pitch from humility." Little did the rookie realize how pro– phetic these words were. Even as a promising young profes– sional, Pastore sought God on and off. "I was a moral family man. I played by the rules. I wasn't into drug or alcohol abuse. I was more into 'churchianity ' than Christianity, so I still had this incredible void in my life." Then in July 1984 the truth of Bench ' s words became reality. Los Angeles Dodger Steve Sax rocketed a !Lne drive that cracked off Pastore's right elbow causing serious damage. It was the beginning of the end of his dreams and hjs career. " I had prayed to God before," he recalls, "you know, those ' 911 ' prayers when it's an emergency. Now I really needed help. I had built my whole self– esteem upon my athletic performance." Four days later Pastore reluctantly attended a Reds Bible study where he was confronted by three books that ultimately changed hi s life: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Scientific Creationism by Dr. Henry Morris, and Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell. Pastore, like McDowell , had set out to invalidate the Bible. Instead he came face to face with God. He devoured those books and the entire Bible that summer. For the first time in his life, he understood the void in his life. He was missing Jesus Christ! The Bible could be shown to be the Word of God. The facts were irrefu– table. Evolution was a fraud. The resur– rection was defensible; moreover, it was true! Jesus Christ is not a good role model; He is either Lord, lunatic, or liar. The trilemma leaves no options. In August 1984 Frank Pastore received Jesus Christ into his heart as Sav10r, Creator, and Lord. Physical rehabilitation took months. In 1986 he was signed by the Minnesota Twins for his final year as a player. In the fall of l987, Pastore enrolled in college and completed four years of business school in only two , graduating summa cum laude. He will enter law school in August 1991. Currently a missionary with Athletes in Action, he is in demand as a motivational speaker by high schools, business groups, churches, camps, and conventions. "Young athletes can be very difficult to witness to, especially if they are exceptionally talented and on the fast track to fame and fortune, " he says. "They have never been humbled. They have few felt needs. I call these athletes in 'pursuit mode. ' They are chasing what they think will bring happiness and success in life, only to be repeatedly disappointed. "A 25-year-old kid making a million bucks a year can have just about anything he wants--girls, cars, houses, . drugs , you name it. As long as his ego 1s being stroked, who needs God? "A businessman on the rise can be in pursuit mode and hardened to the Gospel, as well. For the athlete it is so intense, so compressed. Today 's athletic stars often have reached the top in their 20's and early 30's. The sad truth is, they have worked so hard to be good at what they 'do,' they have failed to develop 'who they are.' "One day they all get humbled, just like I did. Maybe it's a slump or an injury. They begin to think , 'What if I can't play any– more? I've got no job skills. I can ' t even type. I'm just a name. I've believed my own myth, my own press reports. Wow, apart from baseball I am nothing.' "I know guys who will probably make it to the Hall-of-Fame who are totally inse– cure in their ' value ' apart from baseball. "My experience is that players are more open to the Gospel at this point. They feel incomplete for the first time. And as a result they are being reached for Christ." Pastore 's message to unsaved teenagers, athletes, and business professionals is that the Bible can be believed. It is reasonable to do so in light of the overwhelming evi– dence. Creation, the Tower of Babel, Jonah, the Flood-Pastore can defend each issue with the skill of scholar, lawyer, and diplomat all in one. . "Every believer must be an apologist for the message of the Bible," he says with con– viction, "not just the pastor. When I was with the Reds I persecuted the Christians with gusto. I especially went after the guys who couldn ' t explain or defend their faith. "So I tell Christian audiences, 'Answer your own questions about the Bible first. Become comfortable with your answers. Then go witnessing. If you get asked something you don 't have an answer for, great! Get the answer and get back to the asker. Don ' t be a wimpy witnesser who can only explain your beliefs in terms of a syrupy, ethereal faith. Our Christian beliefs are based on facts that are historical, believable, and life changing. And true! The evidence is there for the proclaiming.' " Pastore believes this current generation is particularly in need of a believable, intellectua!Jy satisfying Gospel. "Our parents were raised in a time when t~e belief in God as Creator was given hp service, especially in schools. Thus, today secular humanism and evolution have totally replaced God in the training of our youth, and they ' ve bought the lie. Students ask, 'If there is no God, who's going to tell me I can't live with my girlfriend? Who 's going to tell me I can't abort my baby? Who's going to tell me it's wrong to cheat on my boss? I can be my own judge.' " Pride again , the origin of all sin. According to Pastore, Christians who cannot give a reason for their faith are_ vulnerable to being dismissed as fanatics. He hopes to help change that as he chal– lenges believers to defend their beliefs by knowing for what they stand. And WHY! Frank Pastore is special projects director for Athletes in Action in Mason, Ohio.