Last week I showed up at the Yale Club in NYC at a ridiculously early hour, dressed like a perfect businessman for an outreach event titled, “Breakfast with Bobby Richardson.” Our guests and speakers were Bobby Richardson, who won numerous World Series with the Yankees; Brian Doyle, who also won a world series with the Yankees; and Billy Rose, who is part owner of the Yankees and a Jewish believer. Despite the fact that I am an Orioles and nationals fan, I was pretty excited about this event.
Breakfast was great and conversation was interesting at the tables; many people had brought their Jewish non-believing friends. Bobby Richardson took the stage and told stories about baseball and his teammates. He explained how he came to faith and even his interaction with how Mickey Mantle also accepted the Lord. He was unapologetic about his faith in Jesus, and all of the non-believing Jewish people heard. Then Billy Rose got up to speak – a Jewish boy from New York who bought in to the Yankees at an early age. He became a very successful businessman and got involved with drugs and many women, which eventually led to his separation from his wife. He then told how Bobby Richardson visited him and shared Yeshua, and how he eventually came to faith. It was an awesome testimony, and especially wonderful for the Jewish people present.
After the breakfast was over and everybody was schmoozing (mingling and chatting), I had the opportunity to speak with a Jewish lawyer named Rick (name changed) who was a Yankees nut. He said really enjoyed the stories told by these dynamic men, and talked about how much he loved the Yankees. Then I asked, “What did you think about Bobby’s and Billy’s journeys of faith?”
He responded, “Well, I don’t know about Jesus; I wouldn’t say that I believe in Him.”
I followed up with, “It was surely an encouraging story about how Jesus was able to help Mr. Rose restore his life, give him hope, and rekindle his marriage, wasn’t it?”
He agreed, and we continued our conversation. I could see he kind of wanted to avoid the subject of Jesus, but was intrigued by the stories he’d heard that morning. A few other Chosen People Ministries staff members also spoke with Rick, and we are following up with him.
I really like how Chosen People Ministries uses many different and creative ways to share the message of Messiah with Jewish people. Please pray for Rick and for the other Jewish professionals who came to the special breakfast.
– Submitted by Ryan K.
