Good sport. (Making a Difference).

On June 14th, Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Smoltz registered his 20th save of the year, becoming only the fourth major league hurler to win both 20 games in one season and save 20 games in another. In 1996, after posting a 24-7 win-loss record, he received the year's Cy Young Award for pitching. His Major League Baseball Players Association biography describes him as "One of the best 'big game' pitchers of his era," who is "well known for the intensity he displays on the field or in any activity where W's [wins] and L's [losses] are posted."

World magazine for August 3rd devoted its cover story to Smoltz, describing not only his impressive sports achievements, but his Christian faith and his role in establishing a successful Christian school. Smoltz told World editor Marvin Olasky that though he had been steeped in religious ritual and good principles of conduct while growing up in Michigan, he had never developed "a personal relationship with Christ." That changed in 1996, however, when he "began to understand that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. I started to have a peace about things." The new outlook enabled him to keep the subsequent arm troubles that sidelined him for almost two seasons, and continued to plague him until late last year, in perspective. The 35-year-old father of four told World, "Now I know that whether I win or lose, God loves me just the same. Doesn't mean I won't put all my effort into the pitch -- God wants us to compete, hard. But being a baseball player is not who I am, it's a product of who I am, so I don't have to worry about losing my identity. Without fear of losing, I can concentrate all my attention on the moment, and that makes me win more often."

Off the field, Smoltz has become a key player in the Christian education movement. In the late 1990s, he was asked to serve on the board of an established Christian school but initially declined due to time constraints. In the wake of surgery on his pitching arm, however, he had little to do, so agreed. Subsequent disagreements about school policy led him and a few likeminded board members to establish a new school more in line with their religious convictions and educational goals. Unable to pitch during 2000 and most of 2001, Smoltz focused on launching King's Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, a suburb of Atlanta. "Building a school takes an incredible amount of time," he told World. "In one sense, I'd rather have another surgery on my arm than go through all this again. But it's been very rewarding ... especially when I see how God brings good out of bad." His happiest day of 2001, he recalls, was not when he began pitching effectively once again toward season's end, but September 4th "when I walked in and saw our school opening. I almost broke down.... Through Christ, we had overcome so much." King's Ridge will soon begin its second year with an enrollment of around 300.

World notes that Smoltz "is committed to going the distance with King's Ridge. His excellent pitching late in 2001 led the New York Yankees to offer him a $52 million contract to work up north from 2002 to 2005. He almost signed it but, wanting to stay in Atlanta and see King's Ridge develop, instead re-signed with the Braves for $30 million over three years: 'Financially, I'll also be a big part of the school. I think that may be the reason God kept me playing.'"

While some Christian schools downplay athletics, Smoltz is planning to develop an intensive sports program at King's Ridge.