Ten years ago, I stepped onto the Reagan High School baseball field in Northeast Austin believing that those Reagan baseball players needed a place to play baseball.
Very quickly, I learned what those Reagan kids needed most were consistent, enduring relationships. Relationships with people and a relationship with God.
For God so loved the world.
Ten years later, I am truly shocked at what has transpired. I would have never imagined that what started as a summer baseball team for 15 East Austin kids would have turned into a year-round mentoring community for 1,491 kids from nearly every under-served community in Austin.
Ten years later, I look up and RBI Austin is leveraging baseball and softball to engage kids in a Christian community of support. RBI Austin is bridging some of the gap created by fatherlessness. RBI Austin is giving kids a place to hope, belong, and believe.
For God so loved the world.
What makes RBI Austin different?
Our Local Impact
Local impact. While youth sports participation is declining nationally, especially for kids from low income homes, RBI Austin has grown from 15 baseball players in 2009 to 1,491 girls and boys in 2019. Because of RBI Austin, youth sports participation is increasing in some of Austin’s most under-resourced communities. This helps create stronger and healthier schools, neighborhoods, and families.
For God so loved the world.
Our Focus on Eternal Impact
Eternal impact. While many organizations teach youth important life lessons such as teamwork, perseverance, and the value of education, RBI Austin goes a (big) step further and teaches kids about their God-given purpose in Jesus Christ. In Matthew 16:26, Jesus Christ says,
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
We fully expect to see our RBI Austin kids graduate into adulthood, to be successful, to be first-generation college students, to pursue career paths that will set a new trajectory for their families. Yet, if we only teach our kids how to be successful in this life, and they lose their souls, then we have failed.
Laced into our programming like seams on a baseball, are gospel seeds sown by coaches, mentors, and staff. Our kids are hearing the Good News that the Creator of the universe loves them and has a purpose for their life. They matter because their Creator says they matter.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16].
This is the focal point of a life well-lived, and eternally more meaningful than any wealth or fame in our short lives could offer.
Final days to give in 2019
Tomorrow is the final day of 2019.
As I invite you to make a year-end gift to support RBI Austin, I am inviting you to prayerfully consider making a year-end gift that will make an eternal impact in someone’s life.
Your gift to RBI Austin will make a local and eternal impact in the lives of 1,491 kids right here in Austin.
Your gift today or tomorrow will go toward our year-end need of $116,526. Thanks to your support, $63,587 has been already been raised, leaving $52,939 to meet our year-end giving need.
My prayer is that the Lord will multiply your gift. I pray that He would multiply it ten-fold, thirty-fold, a hundred-fold, not just in this life, but in the eternal life to come for those who believe in God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.
How to give
You may make your year-end gift online or by mailing a check to RBI Austin, 313 E. Anderson Ln, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78752. For those giving through a Donor-Advised Fund, please note RBI Austin’s new Tax ID (82-3961043) as of this year.
Thank you for being on our team. We’re honored to call you our brothers and sisters.
Blessings to you and yours in 2020,
Matt Price
Founder & Executive Director, RBI Austin
P.S. To qualify for a 2019 tax deduction, be sure to make your year-end gift by tomorrow at 11:59pm.