Our Team
Living the Mission Beyond the Mound
We’re Not Just A Team, We’re A Family.
Ordinary people. United in Christ and the game.
Our mission grows through collaboration. Every devotion, event and conversation is designed to strengthen families and build lasting faith. In addition, we support teams as they travel, compete and worship together.
As a result, Bibles and Baseball is growing into a community where sports and faith come together. We’re honored to walk beside families as they grow in both life and spirit.
Driven by discipleship. Grounded in grace. Fueled by baseball.
We’re coaches, parents and believers—serving one mission, one game, one God.
Called to serve on and off the field
Meet the Team Behind the Mission
Together, the team brings unique experiences that guide families on their spiritual journey. Baseball is more than a sport. It’s a powerful way to teach teamwork, character and perseverance.
We come from many places and play different roles. What unites us is bigger than baseball. We are dads, coaches and friends changed by the love of Jesus. We share that love with families on and off the field.
Bibles and Baseball is more than a ministry. It’s a community built on faith, family and the love of the game. Therefore, we’re honored to walk beside families as they balance practices, tournaments and their faith journeys.
This isn’t just about running a program. It’s about showing up, living with purpose and creating a space where faith and fellowship thrive in every inning.
-
Ryan Lawson, President
Ryan leads with a passion to see lives changed through faith and community. With a heart for ministry and a mind for impact, he brings clarity, creativity and contagious energy to everything he does. He believes that combining biblical truth with everyday experiences—such as the game of baseball—can open powerful doors for connection and transformation. As a result, and under his guidance, Bibles and Baseball is growing into a nationwide platform for hope, discipleship and purpose.
-
Josh Deacon, Vice President
Josh serves with a deep conviction that the game of baseball—and the families connected to it—desperately need the hope of Christ. As a devoted husband and father, Josh brings a family-first mindset to his role. He wants athletes, parents, and coaches to encounter Jesus in a real way both on and off the field. For Josh, baseball isn’t just a sport—rather, it’s a platform for eternal impact.
-
Justin Penland, Executive Director
Justin combines his financial leadership and a heart for service to the organization's mission. With a background in fiscal management and a deep commitment to faith-based community outreach, Justin ensures that every dollar supports meaningful impact. His stewardship helps connect sports and scripture to transform lives on and off the field. “There is a great need in the baseball community, as within all communities, for the Gospel. I enjoy seeing children and parents alike, experience the gospel for the first time, or just be reignited in a desired relationship with the Lord!”
-
Rob McGuffey, Secretary
Rob blends a lifelong love for the game with a deep calling to share the gospel. After serving in Guatemala for 3 years, Rob sees baseball in the U.S. as a mission field—where faith meets people right where they are. His servant heart and business operational experience keeps the ministry grounded and growing. He is driven by a desire to see lives changed through Christ, one swing and one scripture at a time.
-
Chad Doerr, Advisor
Chad offers wisdom rooted in a deep, personal walk with God. Known for his calm presence and spiritual insight, he guides the ministry with prayerful discernment and a heart fully committed to the gospel. His connection with Christ shapes every conversation, decision, and encouragement he brings to the team. Chad’s influence is felt not through titles, but through the steady, faithful way he points others toward truth and purpose in Christ.
-
Jessica Lawson, Administrator
Jessica brings a strong foundation in church administration and a passion for creativity to her role at Bibles and Baseball. With a sharp eye for design and a heart for ministry, she helps shape the look and flow of the organization’s events, materials and communications. A devoted wife and mother, she understands the importance of family and faith working hand in hand. Her steady support and servant-hearted leadership simultaneously keep the mission focused and flourishing.
-
Jennifer Penland, Administrator
Jennifer is the heart behind the devotionals at Bibles and Baseball, where faith and family come together through the timeless truths of Scripture. As a mother, wife and writer, Jennifer draws from her own journey of parenting, prayer and perseverance to craft messages that speak to both young athletes and their families. Her writing is rooted in real life—filled with grace, encouragement and the gentle reminder that God's Word is our firm foundation, whether we're in the stands or on the field.