19 / 36
Join the team
testimony and share Christ. I think we have an opportunity to do
some great things here at CIU.”
CIU President Dr. Mark Smith says that Johnson is a great fit for the
university.
“As he has coached the last few years, he has helped place 33
players in the Major League Baseball Draft,” Smith noted. “He is
also leading a ministry that reaches several thousand Cubans for
Christ each year. God has gifted us for this moment.”
Prepared For This
And what young athlete would not want to be coached by a former
Major League pitcher who has gleaned from Hall of Famers and
has himself stared down some of the best on the diamond?
Johnson recalls his days with the San Diego Padres in 2002 and the
passionate rivalry between the West Coast teams. “It’s electric” is
how Johnson describes it. He came out of the bullpen to protect a
ninth-inning lead and finish a game against the
Los Angeles Dodgers who were
fighting for a playoff spot. Even
though the Padres were out of the
playoff picture, Johnson and the
Padres wanted to play spoiler. After
getting two quick outs, Johnson
faced two-time All-Star Shawn
Green.
“Struck him out with a breaking ball
down and in,” Johnson reminisces
with a smile. “I can remember that
at-bat like it was yesterday.”
That’s just one moment in the life of a
man who sounds more than ready to
“Play Ball!” at CIU.
“There are so many things I’ve done for
the last 20 years that have prepared me
for this. I’m so excited I wish we could
start games next week.”
Years later, fans still request that he autograph baseball cards for
them. But the accolades don’t compare with his desire for ministry.
That is why he is at CIU.
“I’m just excited to be a head coach at a college that loves the
Lord and is intentional about ministering, and doesn’t just have a
Christian name on their billboard, but actually does ministry and
really sends people out and makes a difference for the Kingdom
across the world,” Johnson said. “That’s what I’m about.”
Honoring the Father Ministries
Johnson is the founder of Honoring the Father Ministries, sharing
the gospel in Latin America through various venues, including
baseball in Cuba where the sport is popular. Johnson travels there
with talented teams who compete with local teams and then share
the gospel.
“If the players were just taking Bibles and tracts up and down the
street, the Cubans wouldn’t even hear them out,” Johnson
explains. “But the fact that they go out and compete with
them, they get respect because they’re showing them they
are just like them.”
Johnson says at the end of a game the teams gather
at the pitcher’s mound. The visitors share the gospel,
invite the Cubans to a local church, and “give them a
chance to accept Christ.” Johnson reports over 30,000
salvations last year alone. The converts are discipled
at one of five training centers. A seminary has also
been established.
“This has been fabulous!” Johnson adds with
excitement.
Christ-Centered Camps
and Clinics
It is that kind of excitement that Johnson wants to
bring to the Columbia area where he is already
well known for coaching at the high school level
for six years; first at Dutch Fork High School and then
at Ben Lippen School, CIU’s Pre-K to 12thgrade Christian
school. He was head coach for the summer collegiate team,
the Lexington County Blowfish for five seasons. For three
years, Johnson served as recreation minister at Riverland
Hills Baptist Church.
With the popularity of baseball in the Columbia area,
Johnson is looking forward to organizing Christ-
centered camps and clinics on the CIU campus that
focus on the fundamentals of baseball.
“If we can do that we’ll have the opportunity to share
Christ with so many high school players who are in
a transitional time of life and encourage them,”
Johnson said. “I can bring in a lot of my buddies
that were my teammates in the big leagues and
love the Lord and can come in and share their
Join the excitement as CIU is fundraising
$1
million for a new baseball field
!
Contact CIU Advancement at (803) 807-5000 for more
information on how to play your part in CIU history
when the Rams take the field for the first time.
J
t
ciu.edu
|
CIU Today
|
19