Felipe
Alou
j
' ' in South America
by Don B. Rood, Pocket Testament League
Felipe Alou T h e a b o v e c a p t io n headline in one of the leading newspapers o f Caracas the day following Felipe Alou’s arrival in the Venezuelan capital symbolizes well the effective and bold witness of the San Francisco Giant baseball star during his eight-day evangelistic tour o f Venezuela. Alou, a member o f one o f the teams o f the Pocket Testament League now working in Venezuela, has returned to his home in the Dominican Republic, convinced that the eight days he recently spent in the South American republic represented the “ greatest week of his life.” “ It has been a tremendous thrill to bring the Gospel o f Jesus Christ to the people of this land. I couldn’t believe that I would have •such a wonderful time. I hope to come back to Venezuela some day to see the result of the seed-sowing o f the Pocket Testament League. I hope to return not just for a week but after my days in baseball, perhaps for the rest o f my life. I’ve met so many wonderful Christian missionaries and native Christians who did so much to help us. I’ve had a chance to talk to many thousands of people who do not know Christ as we know Him. It has given me such a good feeling to be able to bring this Book and its message to so many people. This has been the great est week o f my life.” The words o f Alou bear even greater weight when one realizes that he has just come through the biggest year o f his baseball career. Felipe is one of the six top hitters in the National League. He was the leading hitter on the National League Champion San Francisco Giant Baseball Club and was acclaimed by Ralph Houk o f the New York Yankees as one o f the best outfielders he had ever seen perform in Yankee Stadium. He is considered by some authorities as second only to Willie Mays as the most proficient all-around outfielder in the National League. One o f the highlights o f Alou’s visit to South America was the manifested interest o f the secular press. Feature stories announced his arrival through all o f the major newspapers o f the republic o f Vene zuela, the most baseball-conscious country in Latin America. At the time o f his arrival, the local Caracas team was fighting for the Venezuelan League pennant. Felipe’s younger brothers, Matty and Jesus, were vital cogs in this pennant drive and this added to the inter est. Felipe’s arrival could not have been better timed! Numerous questions o f varied baseball interest would be asked of Felipe by the reporters, but almost every interview would be concluded with the question: “ But Felipe, why have you come to Venezuela? What is this missionary organization with which you are work ing ?” This was the question that Felipe wanted most to answer, for it afforded him the opportunity to share with the press his own Christian convictions with ref erence to the place the Bible should have in the life
A lou . on Venezuelan evangelistic tour. o f the individual and the nation and also made it possible for him to tell the press and radio interviewers what the Christ o f the Bible actually meant in his life. “ I’ve had many wonderful thrills in my day,” Felipe would tell the Press, “ but the greatest thrill I have ever had took place in San Francisco, California back in 1958 when Christ came into my life.” There are many here in Caracas who feel that Venezuela has received perhaps the most effective witness for Christianity that has ever gone forth through the newspapers and radio facilities o f the land. Felipe Alou’s week with the Pocket Testament League began in the Central Baptist Church of Caracas. Monday night he spent in the City o f Porta La Cruz where a large mass meeting was held on the grounds of the YMCA. Tuesday evening he spoke in the baseball stadium o f Cumona, with between three and four thou sand people present for the service. Wednesday and Thursday he spent in the industrial center o f Valencia. There he was invited to throw out the first ball and speak at a Valencia game attended by around 9,000. Several baseball clinics were led by Felipe during the two days spent in this city and in each a Christian witness was given. School meetings were an added feature. A t the public preaching mission held in Valen cia, hundreds listened to Felipe’s message and as in all o f the meetings, the printed Scriptures were pre sented to the people. Alou would urge the crowd to read the Book that was being given to them. “ This Book provides the answers to the great questions and problems o f your life” he told them. One full day was spent in the city of Maracay, the military training center o f the republic. Here Felipe spoke in eight different meetings in the one day, including sessions in four schools, a prison and at the large A ir Force academy. The day included another o f the baseball clinics with several hundred youth participating. The day closed with an evening evangelistic session held at the city-managed Athletic Club grounds, a meeting that the resident missionaries acclaimed as perhaps the greatest evangelistic opportunity that had ever come to their city. It is quite certain that the people o f Venezuela will not soon forget the visit o f San Francisco Giant base ball star Felipe Alou, the man who came “ with his Bible but not with his bat.” The feelings o f thousands can be summed up well in the expression o f one o f the native Christian leaders who, in wishing Alou God-speed, said: “ It is our prayer that if God wills, you will have a great batting average with the Giants. We are most certain that you will even have a better batting average in Heaven!” All who know Felipe Alou are quite sure that this will be so.
APRIL, 1963
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