Serving the community has been one of Jay Sullenger’s goals for the baseball program since he was selected to head the Biola University baseball team last Spring. Sullenger’s desire is to create a competitive atmosphere while enhancing the team's ability to serve the Kingdom.

After a recent game, Sullenger took the Eagles to a local elementary school to help move heavy objects around the school that needed to be moved as a service project.

“It [volunteering] really creates a cool atmosphere,” said Sullenger. “We want to be able to be plugged into the community here and continue to see needs that there are in this area — whether it be an elementary school or something in inner-city fashion.”

The team partnered with Biola’s Tijuana Ministry and traveled to an orphanage in Tijuana to minister to orphans for a day. In addition, they taught at-risk kids about baseball, school and the Bible at a clinic at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.

“We want to reach out and serve and for that to be a regular thing for us,” said Sullenger.

Not only does Sullenger care about the player’s baseball skills, but he treasures their relationship with God. The team begins each practice and game with reading scripture and prayer. The team recently finished the book of Philippians.

“For me as a coach, one of the things I like most about coaching are the moments when you get the chance to really get to know different guys,” said Sullenger. “And you get a chance to also really impact them from a baseball perspective and also from a faith perspective.”

Before he began coaching at Biola last fall, Sullenger spent 11 seasons at James Madison University (JMU), initially as a volunteer assistant coach and ending his time as associate head coach through the 2011 season. In 2011, he left and served as minister of Recreation Outreach at Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla.

 

Written by Emily Joy Johnson, media relations intern. For more information, contact Jenna Barlto, media relations specialist, at 562.777.4061.