Dan O'Dowd and the Rockies' Mission

An article was published a few years ago about the tight bond between the Rockies, and the high concentration of Christians on the team. Lead by general Manager Dan O'Dowd, the Rockies organization sought to put a higher emphasis on player development and team chemistry built through finding and acquiring players of high moral character. O'Dowd acknowledges the high ratio of Christians compared to non other teams, but he asserts that he simply tries to find men of good ability and good moral character. No player was ever questioned about their faith, and the players attest to an accepting atmosphere regardless of religion.

We can take a good lesson here. Everybody in baseball knows that the Rockies tend to have a lot of Christians--the players attending Chapel, the general manager, former manager Clint Hurdle, and even the chairman of the team claim faith in God. This doesn't stop them from trying their best to remain accessible to the places they were called and live as examples to those around them. When I heard Heath Bell speak at Giants Fellowship day some months ago, he spoke of how when things turned sour in his life, he was embraced by the Christian guys on the Padres and how he felt the love of God through those men. We can only try to live like such men; where our faith in Christ guides us with such a strong moral compass that when it comes that people need a rock to lean on, they find Christ using us to help them out.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. -- Colossians 3:12-14