A Bat for God

A young man from Bellevue, PA, named Justin McGurgan, spent the last eight months living in Cambodia teaching baseball to kids. In his short time there, baseball became a hit among the children, and he found that his passion, knowledge, and abilities in baseball could be transformed into a very viable platform for children to come to know Jesus Christ.

Stepping out in faith, with the financial and spiritual backing of his parents, pastor, and local church, Justin embraced a vision to spend one year teaching baseball, creating Christian baseball camps, and developing a Christian Youth Athletics program for public schools in Cambodia.

The SEAPC global community began to support and pray for this vision and for Justin. Justin’s pastor, Rev. Don Brown of New Life Church in Bellevue, entrusted Justin into a discipleship program with local and international children’s missions leader, Pastor Tim Blanarik of REACH ministries. Pastor Tim worked closely with New Life Church’s children’s ministry, Justin, and his brother Shaun for a couple years  to prepare Justin for the mission field.

Upon his arrival into Cambodia, Justin submitted into the leadership of SEAPC-Cambodia President, Pastor Sinai Phouek and Fellowship Word of Life Church led by Pastor Vanna Srun. It didn’t take long for Justin to fall in love with the children he was serving and to find the opportunity to lead young people to Jesus.

The Lord has honored Justin’s obedience and faithfulness to go and serve His purposes. Justin has successfully completed two SEAPC sponsored baseball camps. The first of which was held in conjunction with players from the Cambodia National Baseball team. From its success, Justin was contacted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Western Pennsylvania who had just that year been asked by FCA International to adopt South East Asia as a region of focus. FCA asked if they could bring professionals from around the world to come and serve alongside Justin’s vision. Furthermore, Geneva College, who took a shot on Justin years ago and made a way for him to play college baseball, signed a MOU with SEAPC to bring Christ-based educational support to SEAPC’s Banteay Meanchey Arise program. Opportunities that were unimaginable just two years ago are all around Justin McGurgan today.

Our God is a good God who hears our prayers and looks for men and woman to live for Him, submit to his church, and live by faith. Is that you? Are you someone who is willing to follow your dreams for the glory of God? If so, the South East Asia Prayer Center has a place for you. We exist to prayerfully prepare the platform for you to find fulfillment in Christ and for the people you serve to find a hope in Jesus.