Faith Night Is For All

Faith plays a big role in the Orioles clubhouse. Even though the Orioles typically play six or seven games a week, they always make time for chapel. Usually held on Saturdays or Sundays, it presents a time where they can come together, away from baseball, to connect with one another, pray, and hear God’s word. It presents an opportunity for Orioles players, and baseball players across the league, to have open and vulnerable conversations about their faith and what matters most to them. Orioles players want to share the experience with others.

That is why the Orioles are hosting Faith Night on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, following a matchup against the Washington Nationals. Emceed by Orioles sideline reporter Rob Long, Faith Night will take place after the game, allowing those in attendance to have the opportunity to interact with one another in a way that is different than watching a baseball game together. The night will include player testimonies, moments of prayer, and the opportunity for fans to share their experiences with players in attendance.

Gunnar Henderson, Orioles’ infielder and 2024 All-Star, experienced his first Faith Night last year in Minnesota. He, along with some of his other teammates, stayed after the game to participate and thought it was a really cool experience. That gave them the motivation to bring the idea back to Baltimore to see what they could do.

Fellow Orioles infielder and 2024 All-Star, Jordan Westburg plans to join Henderson as one of several O’s planning to be in attendance at Faith Night. Westburg is looking forward to the opportunity to connect with fans in a different way.

“I think it’s our opportunity to impact others,” said Westburg. “Other than your usual charitable things that everybody can do, any opportunity that I can give back and at least try to spread some love and some hope, by all means I’m going to try and do.”

Professional athletes have the ability to create an incredible impact on the field, but for many of them, what they accomplish and how they are remembered off the field is even more important. These nights allow fans to see them in a different light and allow the players to use their platform to make a difference outside of baseball.

“We’re people just trying to do the right thing in this world in our own eyes,” said Westburg. “I understand some people have different philosophies and beliefs but that’s the cool part about the freedom that we have as human beings.”

Therein lies the allure of Faith Night. Some of the best athletes in the world will come together with fans to share their own beliefs with one another, opening the door for different conversations about what matters most to them.

That is why it is so important to Orioles players that they are there next Tuesday night.

“It’s important to me, and I feel like a lot of guys in here, to just express our love for God,” said Henderson. “To be able to incorporate it into our daily lives, which is kind of tough in the baseball world because of the schedule. We’re playing every day of the week, so being able to show that and help bring somebody else who might not know who He is, is important.”

Faith means different things to different people and that’s what makes it so unique. That is what makes it worth having a conversation about. Everyone has a different reason why. Faith Night at Oriole Park will allow Orioles players and fans to share theirs.

“My faith means everything to me,” said Westburg. “It’s who I am, who I identify as. I don’t identify as a baseball player or a person just drifting through this world. I believe I’m held to a higher standard, and I’m called to be something more than just aimlessly wondering why I’m here or have an idea why I am where I’m at. So, it’s my number one reason. Everybody asks, ‘What’s your reason?’ That’s mine.”

All are welcome at Faith Night. It is not a night focused on what you do or do not believe in, it is a night built on the idea of community and bringing people of all backgrounds together because baseball is for everyone.

Faith Night is open to all fans with a game ticket and does not require special admission. To purchase tickets to the August 13 game, visit Orioles.com/singlegametickets.