Unorthodox Approach

Unorthodox Approach

Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you. Isaiah 38:3

Clint Hurdle can’t be accused of doing everything by the book.

He certainly got attention when his Colorado Rockies made their 2007 run to the World Series by winning twenty-one of twenty-two games to close out the season, making the playoffs, and eventually facing the Boston Red Sox, in the franchise’s first World Series appearance. Clint often avoids traditional approaches to the opportunities God places within each of his days.

His recent choice to become the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates rather than explore other jobs in bigger baseball markets stemmed from two things: what he thought would be best for his family and the attraction of a city like Pittsburgh with its young and improving ball club, the Pirates. It was a decision that surprised many people, especially since the Pirates hadn’t had a winning season since 1992.

One of Clint’s less-than-traditional ideas is a “text ministry” that he began a few years back, shortly after he was fired by the Colorado Rockies. Each day, he types a text message—usually spanning several messages, actually—and sends it to a list of more than five hundred people. The list has grown through the years, as it has spread through word of mouth with other teams, as well as with many people both in and outside of baseball.

The seeds for several of the entries in this book even came from Clint’s devotional texts.

It’s a challenge for him to type on his phone, and the daily regimen takes time. He even considered quitting at one point. But Keli McGregor, the Colorado Rockies’ late president, encouraged Clint to stick with it. “If that’s where God has you helping people, maybe that’s something to weigh in favor of continuing it,” Keli suggested. Keli had had to make the difficult decision to fire his former manager, but they were still close friends. After thinking about Keli’s words, Clint agreed.

And today, over five hundred of his texting friends (at last count, but growing) are grateful.

Uncommon Key > Be innovative or traditional, but find a way to serve God and lift the lives of others. But be prepared. God often works in the strangest ways, through folks like you and me. All He asks for is commitment.