Faith in Action: The Power of God’s Word
It has been a while since I’ve been here, and I just want to say—I love this church. I love this church for a couple of reasons. One, because you support SCORE International so faithfully, and I want to express my deepest gratitude. The reality is, ministry doesn’t run on smoke; it takes support from faithful, available, and teachable people—F.A.T. people, as I like to say. Your church has been incredibly faithful in supporting us, allowing us to continue our mission.
SCORE International stands for Sharing Christ, Our Redeemer Enterprises. We started as a sports ministry, and while we still do a lot of sports outreach, our mission has expanded in so many ways. Just recently, I took Abilene Christian University’s baseball team to the Dominican Republic, and soon, I’ll be taking the Venice High School baseball team there as well. But our work doesn’t stop at sports—we go where we are called to share the Gospel.
Right now, I’m in Eutaw, Alabama, coaching baseball at Greene County High School for the next three and a half months. You might ask, “I thought you were a missionary?” And you’d be right. But I’m using the platform of baseball to reach kids in one of the top five poorest counties in the United States. These kids face extreme poverty, high dropout rates, teenage pregnancies, and rampant substance abuse. They have nothing. When I arrived, we provided them with bats, gloves, shoes, shirts, shorts, and baseball pants—because they didn’t have any equipment. But more importantly, we are there to share Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20 tells us to “Go”—and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We are going and giving, and I know this church does the same. You give, you share Christ, and you pray. If that doesn’t get the job done, nothing will.
The Transformative Power of God’s Word
I want to share what God’s Word has done in the last two years of my life. Two and a half years ago, I went to Hildale, Utah, to run a baseball camp. This town, controlled for 50 years by the FLDS cult under Warren Jeffs, had no public schools—just fundamentalist Mormon teachings. The people there were trapped in a system of polygamy and religious control. I went there, God got a hold of my heart, and the public school invited me to coach baseball. I told them, “I’ll come, but I’m going to pray before and after every practice, and I’ll have a Bible study on Thursday nights.” They agreed—though later, some had issues with it.
These kids knew the Book of Mormon inside and out, but they didn’t know God’s Word. They didn’t know about David and Goliath or Joseph’s story. But when we introduced them to the Bible, transformation began. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword.” God’s Word is powerful.
Lives Changed Through Scripture
One of those changed lives is Jonathan Timpson, whose father was an FLDS elder. He was lost, stuck in a life without hope, but through our ministry, God opened his heart. He got saved and baptized, and today, he is attending Gardner-Webb University, walking with God and joining our weekly Bible study.
Another life transformed is Carter Steed. He had no parents to support him, raising his special needs sisters and taking care of his grandmother—all while walking miles just to get to school. He initially rejected God, but after months of seeing God’s love in action, he finally broke down, accepted Christ, and found hope.
Then there’s Rulon Barlow, another kid from Hildale. His family was kicked out of their home multiple times by the FLDS leaders. He was lost, scared, and unsure of his future. But through God’s Word, he found salvation. Today, he’s at a junior college in Utah, running track and growing in his faith.
God’s Word Brings Hope
God’s Word doesn’t just change individual lives—it gives hope. In 2012, I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. In 2018, I was given 12 months to live after it spread to my bones. But I refused to let fear take hold—because my days are in God’s hands, not cancer’s. Then in 2019, I had a stroke, a blood clot, and a brain bleed. But here I stand today, still preaching, still ministering, still trusting in God’s Word.
Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.” I will not let cancer or any obstacle deter me from fulfilling God’s mission. If God can bring water from a rock, He can take care of me.
Do You Know This God?
If you stood before God today and He asked, “Why should I let you into My heaven?”—what would you say? 1 John 5:13 says, “These things have I written that you may know you have eternal life.” I know where I’m going, and I want you to know too.
God’s Word is still good today. It still produces fruit. It still transforms lives. It still gives hope.
If you don’t know Christ, now is the time to find Him. Because when you have His Word in your heart, you have everything you need.
