The Mission Ball: A Testimony

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Every so often I hope to highlight a local ministry on here.  Today's spotlight is on The Mission Ball, founded by Torrey Babb.  This excerpt comes from their August newsletter and is a testimony you must read!  For more info on this ministry and/or to support them in their mission, just click on the link above.  And, you can 'like' them on Facebook too.




July 24th and 25th...we were at Ignite Festival in Schaumberg, Illinois. I'd like to share a brief testimony that someone shared with me.

On Sunday morning, a lady came up to me (we'll call her Pat since she never shared her name). Pat asked me if I had a youth boy, about 13ish, working with me named Jeff. I told her it was just me, my wife, and 2 children, none of whom is Jeff, and none 13. Pat then spent a few moments telling me about her young son, we'll call him Chad. Pat said she did not think that Chad was a Christian; she said he was a good kid but he doesn't exactly fit in at school. He is the target of much ridicule, harassment, and torment from other kids. For this reason Chad doesn't like school and he was already starting to get depressed and worried about the approaching school year.

At some point on the previous day, Chad saw a Mission Ball on the ground, he picked it up and started reading it... he kept reading it. In fact he didn't know whose ball it was, so Chad walked to a quiet spot all by himself and sat down to read the ball. Jeff saw all this happen. Jeff was a 13 year old kid who spent $20 of his own money to buy that Mission Ball the previous day. Jeff followed Chad and started to talk to him. Jeff was simply there to talk to Chad, as Chad read the words on The Mission Ball. Jeff and Chad talked, they spent a few minutes together, and when they were ready to depart...Jeff told Chad he could keep the ball. 13 year old Jeff had enough compassion and love for the Lord that he simply gave up his Mission Ball so Chad could have it.

As Pat is telling me this story I could see the tears start streaming down her face. She told me how she longs for her son to love the Lord, and for him to find his identity in Christ. Pat told me how when her son Chad came up to her, with his new Mission Ball, and told her what had happened he had an extra "bounce" in his voice and a "twinkle" in his eye. As he turned away from his mom to go back to playing in the field, his word's echoed in Pat's soul... he told her "mom, I think this year is going to be different, I think I don't have to be so scared anymore." And with that, I was the one struggling to hold back the tears.

I don't know who Jeff was, and I don't think I ever met Chad. I don't presume to think that Chad became a Christian by simply reading the Mission Ball and talking to Jeff.

I don't do the saving, The Mission Ball doesn't do the saving, God saves people who cry out to Him. But maybe, just maybe... on this rainy wet day on a baseball field in Schaumberg Illinois, the Lord had His hand on The Mission Ball, on Jeff, and certainly on Chad.

Will you please pray for all the "Chads" of the world... searching for their identity.

May they soon find comfort and rest in the arms of their Creator.