Dyersville, Iowa — A major league baseball star who’s now a pastor is the headliner for a faith-based event at the Field of Dreams movie site this weekend.
Darryl Strawberry, a power hitter for the New York Mets and New York Yankees, played on four teams that won the World Series, but he was suspended three times during his playing career for substance abuse. Sioux Center resident Mike DeJong is the organizer of this Saturday’s “Revival at The Field” in Dyersville, and he says Strawberry is a born again Christian with a powerful message.
DeJong says in his past, Strawberry had addictions, he had many other things that he dealt with, but he underwent quite a life change. DeJong terms it “quite a story of hope and change.”
Strawberry lives in the St. Louis area and released a book last year titled “Turn Your Season Around: How God Transforms Your Life.” DeJong met Strawberry a decade ago, while DeJong was on his honeymoon.
DeJong says watching Strawberry’s life today is just incredible, what he’s gone through, so the two developed a friendship and have done some ministry together over the years. He calls Strawberry a “wonderful guy.”
DeJong is an area representative of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The revival event he’s organized at the Field of Dreams this Saturday is to start at 1 p.m. and ends after sunset. Each vehicle at the site will be charged a $20 parking fee, but DeJong says there are no other fees for participants.
