“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18
One of the best players in modern baseball is Albert Pujols. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Angels, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is an eleven-time all-star player and has won the National League Most Valuable Player three times. Albert Pujols is one of the best hitters in baseball. His hitting records are comparable to Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, and Willie Mays. There is little doubt that he will be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Recently, Albert Pujols added a new award to his long list of well-deserved honors. At the 2022 ESPN “ESPY” awards, Pujols was awarded the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award. This award is given to the athlete who, “continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a measured positive impact on their community through sports.” There is no doubt that Albert Pujols has excelled on the field, but he has also helped others thrive beyond the stadium.
Albert founded the Pujols Family Foundation in 2005. The purpose of this foundation is to help the people of the Dominican Republic, his home country, and to help children and families living with Down syndrome. His daughter, Isabelle, has Down syndrome. Pujols spends a significant amount of time helping these families with both his finances and his time. He works hard to make sure that these families have a chance for all people to live the fullest life possible.
During his speech at the ESPY awards, Albert Pujols said, “As great as my career has been, my passion is what I do when the season is over. And that’s to serve and give back. That’s how I want to be remembered.” Albert Pujols understands that he has been given a great gift. His baseball talents have opened the door for him to bless so many lives. We do not have to be an all-star athlete to serve and give back. Like Pujols, we simply must take the extra time we have in our schedule and look to help those who are in need. When we use our time and our gifts to help others, we build a better world.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
