Elizabethton's Ryan Presnell and "The Letter That Still Roars"
See the end of this story for a reading of the letter!
A diamond shined beyond imagination on May 18, 2018.
Bulletins weren’t handed out and a choir didn’t sing, but a sermon would be preached before the high school baseball players left the field on a memorable spring evening.
The heart-thumping final pitch still resonates today, but it wasn’t only an athletic achievement making the night stand out.
Perhaps the game story could have been written about then-sophomore Evan Carter, who nobody could picture at that point as a “Jesus Won” World Series hero just five lightning-quick years later. But Carter’s smash — perhaps it could have been an inside-the-park walk-off homer in the spacious Thomas Stadium with his burgeoning speed — became a loud out because of a crazy sliding catch by Corryton Gibbs outfielder Zach White.
God’s sovereignty is not a puzzle we can put together as human beings, but rather a vision seen through a glass darkly. But in hindsight, picture a still, small, push of Carter toward becoming a Christian man.
Why? Perhaps in a small way because his coach, Ryan Presnell, wore the name of Jesus and stood on his faith, finishing a letter some 20 hours before Logan Estep created the Cyclones’ version of “Go crazy, folks!” with a blue blazer to right field that sent Corey Russell safely home from third base for the winning run in a 3-2 extra-inning decision that earned the Cyclones’ fourth state tournament berth in school history
That’s all of the game talk for now because what happened in the aftermath was a man who put his players’ souls in front of their hearts and minds. He didn’t steal their joy. He added to it in an immeasurable way.
THE ROCKS CRIED OUT
And the most beautiful part about it? People all across Northeast Tennessee, and beyond, listened. Presnell wrote a letter and delivered it to the media instead of doing his usual postgame interview. The letter, crafted in Matthew 5:16 beauty, went viral and was viewed by over 12,000 people. The city of Elizabethton has a population of around 14,000.
“It was good to see something positive go viral,” Presnell said. “To me it was everything that was right with social media. Being able to broadcast a message quickly to a large audience.”
To this day, Presnell still uses the letter with his players.
“I definitely share it with the kids today because I talk to them a lot about using our platform for positive things,” Presnell said this week. “God can use anything and everything, whether it’s good or bad, for his purpose (Genesis 50:20 says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today”). We always prefer for it to be the good situation, like winning a sectional game. But sometimes God is going to manifest himself the most in a bad situation.
“Something on my mind as a coach. How can we use what God gave us to make the world around us better and to witness to people. To look at that letter and see the impact it had across East Tennessee, and probably further than that, is a good example that these kids are a lot more important than they think they are when it comes to building God’s kingdom.”
FIRM RESOLVE
Presnell said he wrote the letter in advance of the game as an act of faith.
“I had faith in ourselves every time we went out that we were going to win, but still something was different about that game,” Presnell said. “As a head coach and assistant coach, I had lost four or five sectional games. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to win one of those games. And the thing that continually came up to me was thankfulness. I wanted to make sure I captured that.
“I wanted to share my coach’s heart for Christ, and I couldn’t imagine a better way to do it than to write it down. Because in the moments after the game I figured I would be so emotional I wouldn’t be able to get that across. It was a statement of faith for the entire coaching staff: Joe Diaz, Ryan White, Reid Casey; and (former Cyclones’ head coach) J.P. Nix had come back into town. They suggested a few changes, and I made those changes.”
As the game progressed, Presnell said the letter stayed on his mind.
“On my way to the park, I folded it up and put it in my pocket,” he said. “I remember several times during the game feeling it, and it was kind of burning a hole in my pocket. I knew God’s purpose would have been served if we lost, but I didn’t write a letter for if we lost.”
Presnell said he hoped media members like Ivan Sanders of the Elizabethton Star would understand why he didn’t want to do the traditional postgame interview.
“I did worry about making people angry with it,” Presnell said. “But God comforted me through that. To see the reaction, I’m really glad I trusted His plan for that.”
Presnell said the game was an important part of Elizabethton baseball history, but …
“It was an obscure game in the larger context,” Presnell said. “And God was able to use that one game with one piece of paper for His glory.”
WHERE THEY GO NOW
These days Presnell is still coaching the Cyclones. But as much as his baseball acumen is among the best in his profession, Presnell said he wants to keep the main thing in focus.
“We need to be sensitive to the fact God tells us throughout the Bible, ‘I’m with you wherever you go.’ I depend on God to guide me through all of this. It’s a complicated world we’re coaching in. It’s very hard.
“But I need to have the purpose and understanding that every pitch and every inning and every bus trip, Christ is with me. And His purpose is playing out. No matter how I may view it as imperfect, his purpose is perfect.
“And one game can make a big difference in the lives of other people.”
— Listen to “The Letter That Still Roars” … at the end of this story. —
CALL TO ACTION
Presnell said part of today’s challenge is believers who have their wheels spinning in place.
“We have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us wherever we go,” Presnell said. “I run into kids who have a faith that’s just not active because they aren’t pushing it.
“I tell kids going and sitting in a pew on Sunday morning is an important part of our Christian faith. But if that’s all you’re doing then no wonder you’re bored and disenfranchised. Checking the boxes doesn’t get you there. You will never check all of the boxes. Jesus said He loved you so much He would check all of the boxes for you and be perfect. And He sacrificed himself for your sin, so you can do big things — and it will be you and the Spirit.”
Presnell said young believers need to drown out the noise of people who point fingers and say you’re not who you say you are.
“I sometimes don’t represent Christ well,” Presnell said. “But he’s going to use this bad for good and turn this thing around. I have faith in that.”
Sure, it takes a little courage, Presnell said.
“I think one of the biggest reasons people are scared to step out is because they are afraid they will mess up,” he said. “I know I will mess it up. But having the courageous faith and being willing to step out, that’s when it is exciting. We need people stepping out. We need people mentoring kids through tough times.
“Coaches need help. We’re doing this by ourselves. We need people in the community to step up. I have a man who has agreed to lead optional Bible studies with my guys. I need people to come talk to our guys, love on them and feed them spiritually and physically. Make the call and be bold.”