While thousands of sun-baked College World Series fans were braving the near-100-degree Nebraska humidity, a team of volunteers from one ministry was proactive by literally offering a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.
OMAHA, Neb. (BP) – While thousands of sun-baked College World Series fans were braving the near-100-degree Nebraska humidity, a team of volunteers from one ministry was proactive by literally offering a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.
Throughout the eight-day event, the Ninth Inning Ministries volunteers who traveled from as far away as Arizona distributed 65,000 bottles of water to thirsty and mostly-grateful fans. Attached to each “Thirst No More” bottle was a message explaining how to have a personal relationship with Christ. Each bottle label also included the “Thirst No More” web site address, which fans could visit to find out more about Jesus.
“We’re not only meeting a physical need but also allowing others to see Christ in us,” said Jay Dess, founder of Ninth Inning Ministries. “Since everyone has baseball fever for the entire week in Omaha, we use this as an evangelistic event to reach others with the gospel.”
Reactions varied when fans were offered the free water. Some expressed their gratitude with a simple “thanks” while a few people even offered to pay for the cold beverage.
Aaron Householder recalled an exchange with one fan who was bewildered once he discovered the water was free.
“I told him the water was free just like Jesus’ gift of salvation,” said the pastor of Southview Baptist Church in Lincoln, Neb., who participated in the effort for the first time.
Householder said the creative outreach event was attractive to fans because the water was free, compared to other eating establishments which charged between three and five dollars for bottled water and other beverages.
“The iced water bottle is a modern equivalent of the cup of cold water in Jesus’ name,” Householder explained. “It’s a servant evangelism project that anyone can do.”
Another first-timer, Jackie Mahr, was elated to be a part of the water distribution.
“We’re meeting a need physically and spiritually,” Mahr said. “Plus, we’re giving that hands-on touch.”
Meanwhile, Amber Vesley participated in the effort because of the spiritual seeds the water distribution planted among those who received the bottle.
“We did this so we could quench the thirst of those who are thirsty for the Word,” said Vesley, a member of the Omaha-area Fellowship of Christian Athletes, one of countless partners with Ninth Inning Ministries.
Other partners included Southern Baptist and non-Southern Baptist churches, the North American Mission Board, the Eastern Nebraska Baptist Association and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. Dess said the cooperation among the various denominations was unification at its best.
“At any given time on a water distribution site, we may have 12 people from six different churches,” said Dess, who also serves as a ministry evangelist consultant with the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. “This is a true intermingling of all evangelicals. It’s amazing how God uses Christian volunteers from all denominations for this effort to win others for His Son.”
In addition to the water distribution effort, Ninth Inning Ministries coordinated baseball clinics in Omaha and Lincoln and sponsored an evangelistic breakfast featuring College World Series players and former Major League pitcher Kent Bottenfield. Other ministry efforts included local hospital visits by professional and College World Series players and a Bible study for the series players.
The two baseball clinics drew more than 330 children, 142 of whom made professions of faith in Jesus. Dess said the event not only changed the children’s lives but also greatly affected some of the parents as well.
“Some parents left the ball field with tears running down their faces,” Dess said. “They saw a real change in their kids’ lives and hopefully they’ll see a need for Christ in their own lives, if they haven’t already become Christians.”
Ninth Inning Ministries began in 2000, after Dess resigned as an executive for ConAgra Foods and member of the College World Series board to serve on staff at Westside Church (SBC) in Omaha.
“Because I understood how the NCAA and the College World Series worked, God put it on my heart that I should evangelize those attending the tournament and its festivities,” Dess said.
Soon, he was able to convince various businesses to purchase the “Thirst No More” water bottles. An executive committee also was formed to handle various logistics such as publicity, baseball clinics, water distribution and the baseball breakfast.
Seven years later, Dess said God continues to bless Ninth Inning Ministries’ efforts, one game at a time.
“This is such an amazing way to reach those who come from throughout the country to attend this event on an annual basis,” Dess said. “God has provided for us in every way and we are amazed at what is to come.”