An unusual game giveaway, the dolls were featured on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” series and in many printed publications including USA Today, Sports Illustrated and The New York Times. And except for one “tiny” letter to the editor in the local Nashville newspaper, all of the responses were positive.

 “I've been really surprised at the lack of resistance,” said High, who is in his third full season with the Sounds after serving as a youth pastor in Nashville. “I was bracing for backlash. I knew we were over-straddling the line to a degree when it came to the secular world, but I felt like it was something that needed to be done, both from a business standpoint and a ministry standpoint. It worked exactly as we hoped.”

Part of the increase in number also is attributed to a change in the Faith Night format. What started out as a parking-lot, pre-game Christian concert now has turned into a full-blown rally, complete with player testimonies, Bible giveaways, music and corporate sponsorship.

 “Looking at it, there’s there's to be a reason for the growth,” said High. “I know in my heart it's because God wants these things to happen. It's not a youth rally, and it's not an ambush evangelism event. It has become very relational, and people are learning that it is a great opportunity to introduce somebody to the Savior. If they use it the right way, they can take that opportunity and go into further detail and discussion either at the ballpark or when they get home.

 “Every day we are telling church leaders that there are people who would never set foot in their churches because maybe they have had a bad experience with organized religion. But they'll be glad to come to a ballgame with the same people from the congregation and sit in section G, row 9, seats 7 and 8.”

According to High, that's exactly why FCA is such a great fit for the Faith Nights. It combines two of the most powerful influences on society—faith and sports. And he knows firsthand how powerful the two can be when put together properly.

After being introduced to FCA in middle school by Todd Johnson, brother of Texas FCA Area Representative Ben Johnson, High gained much of his spiritual foundation by attending FCA Camps and Huddle meetings.

 “Everybody's life is just a collection of pieces that they pick up—some things stick, and some things don't,” said High. “Many of the things that have stuck with me have been through FCA.”

One of High’s daily prayers, the “BBO prayer,” he learned from FCA Multi-Area Director Steve Robinson. The prayer, which stands for “Burden, Boldness, Opportunity,” states, “Lord, give me a burden for the lost. Give me boldness to share my faith. And give me the opportunities to share it.”

Another foundational discipline that High learned through FCA was the importance of a daily quiet time with God—something he discovered at a Black Mountain (N.C.) FCA Camp.

How can your huddle get a Faith Night started with a local minor league team?  Visit www.thirdcoastsports.com and familiarize yourself with the people who coordinate Faith Nights around the country.  Then, contact the general manager of the local team and find out if they are aware of what is going on with Third Coast.  Lastly, put in your suggestion and make them aware of your interest. But most importantly, pray for the opportunity.

 “I feel like FCA has done so much for so many people, myself included,” said High. “People like Steve have had an eternal impact on my life and on my soul, and they have no idea to what degree. I think that situation is playing out many, many times over and over again in lives around the country.”

For this reason, High desires to see the Faith Nights become a great outlet for FCA around the country. Already he as worked with local staff, including Steve Robinson and FCA Area Representative Greg Hart, and will watch as the Sounds offer their first area-wide FCA night in conjunction with one of the Faith Nights this summer.

High also has high hopes for other Faith Nights around the country as they begin to catch on.

 “I see this as a huge opportunity for Christianity as a whole,” he said. “We're called to be ‘fishers of men,’ and this is just one more area where you can fish. For so long, especially in the minor leagues, it's been a place where alcohol has been king. This is a chance for Jesus to be the King of the minor leagues.

“It's been incredibly humbling to be a part of and to see,” he continued. “I'm confident that this will continue to grow. We'll see the impact it's made one day when we all get to Heaven.”