In my final years of playing organized baseball, I was the leadoff hitter, which means that I was the first batter up to the plate. My job was to get on base. Physically, I was a “late bloomer”, standing around 5’4” tall and weighing somewhere in the 130 lbs. range. When I’d take a pitch, I’d be crouched down a little, ready to recoil and swing. This made my strike zone really small for the pitcher to hit, resulting in my being walked more than average. My batting average was over .400, too, which meant I was a dependable hitter…too small to expect much more than a single out of me, but remember, my primary job in the batting order was to get on base. I was also a fast runner, which meant a couple of things: I could bunt and outrun some infield hits. Once on base, I’d often be looking to steal second base, if possible, before the second batter on my team had even finished his turn at the plate. A fast runner on second meant that a hit into the outfield from a batter at the plate would often result in a run being scored. Since this isn’t meant to be a baseball clinic, suffice it to say that a lot of good potential was in place if I just managed to get on base.

To summarize, getting on base as a leadoff hitter was the primary goal (as opposed to, say, hitting home runs). With a high batting average, a high base-on-balls (walk) average, speed to outrun throws to first and advancing the bases later, our team’s chances of scoring were optimum. A good coach looks for the player with these qualities when they make up the team batting order.

Jesus is the perfect coach. If His family, the Body of Christ, were a baseball team, and the “score” was a tally of saved souls, it’s very likely that He’d have His ordained evangelists batting first. Given how many “playing fields” there are in this giant world we live in, it’s no wonder the spiritual gift is given to a multitude. An evangelist’s job is to get on base…to plant a seed in the soul of an unbeliever. As I’ve taught from my pulpit, conversion may take some time, maybe even years, but planting that seed is oh so crucial. Jesus chose Paul to be a prominent “leadoff hitter”. Being a team player, Paul taught that he wasn’t the only “player” involved in scoring.

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
— 1 Corinthians 3:5-7

Paul and the other apostles were wonderful leadoff hitters, getting on base in a variety of settings. They were also part of traveling teams, planting seeds in a vast geographical area. As in baseball, every “team” is different, and if you’re traveling, the opposition may have home field advantage. Or maybe your opposition has a great pitcher. A good leadoff hitter will adapt. There are many ways to “get on base”, and a true heart for evangelism will do whatever it takes to increase the team’s ability to score runs (save souls).

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; 

I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

— 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

We may not all be ordained evangelists, but we are all asked to play the role of leadoff hitter from time to time. It may seem like a lot of pressure, knowing the importance of getting on base, but we mustn’t let that dash His will for us. If we’re standing in the batters box taking the first pitch of the game, then we must accept that our perfect coach put us there. Even Jesus didn’t have a perfect batting average with the Gospel (many rejected Him), so why should we be disappointed if we fail to get on base? Such is the nature of the game.

Remember also that not every game is played the same. Not everyone’s on a traveling team (e.g., missionaries). Not everyone’s playing under the lights in a nationally televised game (e.g. broadcast evangelists). Not everyone’s standing behind a pulpit or has a whole team right there with them (e.g., a church setting). Rather, some are called to form ad-hoc teams in the streets of destitution, swinging broomsticks or crooked sticks. Others are called to set up a “pulpit” at the local watering hole, or at the gym, or at the grocery store. None of us are the Apostle Paul, but neither is he any one of us.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

— 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

“Play away,” says the Great Umpire in Heaven, our Father. There are many, many ways to “get on base”, so learn to be open to whatever circumstances present themselves to you. Life throws you a fastball? - swing early…a curve? - wait for it…a knuckleball? - well, good luck ;)…a wild pitch? - don’t bother swinging. Whatever. Never lose sight of why you’re standing in that batter’s box in the first place. God is using you, my friend…what a privilege it is to be chosen to be a part of His team.

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins