Mariano Rivera says good-bye to Yankees; Hello to serving God more.

 We say “Thanks” to baseball great Mariano Rivera decides to step away from baseball!
By Wade Wacker, Reasons for Hope 
Reasons for Hope* would like to give a shout-out to Mariano Rivera, the New York Yankee reliever who announced his retirement this past week.  Arguably, Rivera was the greatest closer to ever play the game.  He was awarded the 1999 World Series MVP Award, but more  importantly, he  is an incredibly humble Christian.  Rivera has built churches in his home country of Panama, and plans to continue funding church plants in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, California and Florida.   
Rivera is currently building a church in New Rochelle, New York. In 2011, he purchased the abandoned historic North Avenue Presbyterian Church from the city and is currently investing over $3 million to renovate it.  “It’s my way of serving the Lord and giving back to this community,” he told the New York Magazine. [1]   
According to the Christian Post, Refugio de Esperanza, or Refuge of Hope church,  is still under construction and is expected to be completed later this year. 
“Refugio de Esperanza is a church committed to the revitalization of its community and its aim is to do so through projects and special programs delivered with a genuine demonstration of God’s love. The church will provide food, clothing and resources to those in need and is currently developing a learning center for New Rochelle’s children and teens that will offer educational help, sports programs and after school activities. 
“Since 2009, a small group of individuals has been meeting for a time of prayer and sharing at their home, but it wasn’t until they experienced rapid growth that they realized they needed to organize a local church. ‘My house is kind of small,’ said Mariano Rivera to New York Magazine earlier this year . ‘We only fit like 50 people, 60 people tops. Forty, average. We have whites, we have blacks, we have Hispanics. We’ll have all kinds. It don’t matter. As long as you love Christ, we in it. And if you don’t love him, we will work with you so we put you on the right path,’ he adds.”  [2]  
The 43 year old  Rivera did not brag or seek attention for anything he did on or off the field.  He was just committed to his Lord and to his life.  In his retirement from baseball, Rivera plans to fund more church plants.  
The New York Magazine interview earlier this year, shared how Rivera was finishing his baseball career:  
“As part of his farewell tour, Rivera has been visiting with small groups of people connected with opposing ball clubs on the road—thanking hot-dog vendors and the group-sales guy for working hard. I saw him do this at Citi Field, on Memorial Day, before the first game of the Yankees’ series against the Mets. “It’s an honor and a privilege,” he began.   
“For seventeen years, Rivera has been perhaps baseball’s humblest hero, always thanking God in an understated way.  
“‘I don’t want people to think that I do [church work] because I want attention,” he told me. “I don’t ever want that. I do it because it comes from my heart and not for the publicity.’” [3] 
Rivera is a refreshing light, as far too many athletes are in the news for their sin rather than for their Christianity.  We congratulate and admire you, Mariano Rivera, for your service to God and your witness for Him — on and off the field.
 [1] http://www.christianpost.com/news/yankees-pitcher-mariano-rivera-will-retire-to-start-a-pentecostal-church-98476/#JE3sfhG57jw8FHby.99[2] Ibid.[3] http://nymag.com/news/features/sports/mariano-rivera-2013-6/