GET IN THE GAME PODCAST: Gio & Suzy Llerena – Christian Household Life Marriage Counselors – Sports activities Spectrum

Our company at the moment are marriage counselors and former MLB chaplains Gio and Suzy Llerena. Gio and Suzy have been serving the Lord faithfully their whole married life and at the moment serve at Christian Household Life ministry. Within the early years, Gio and Suzy invested in youth and helped begin a Hispanic church. Following that, Gio went on employees with Baseball Chapel for 14 years, and served because the chaplain for the Tampa Bay Rays; oversaw Worldwide Ministries in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Venezuela; and recruited and educated MLB chaplains. 
As we speak on the podcast, Gio and Suzy talk about the early expectations of marriage, the challenges they confronted, and the way they realized to navigate conflicts by means of prayer and mutual submission. The Llerenas emphasize the importance of understanding God’s goal for marriage and the position of non secular warfare in relationships. In addition they spotlight the significance of investing in different marriages and sustaining every day communication to maintain Christ on the middle of their very own relationship.
“Get within the Recreation” is a part of the Sports Spectrum Podcast Network.
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
 
 
A post shared by Gio Llerena (@gllerena1)

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For greater than a decade, iconic former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright’s charity, Big League Impact, has been teaming up with Water Mission to convey protected water and hope to susceptible communities world wide.
Wainwright’s longstanding dedication to Water Mission’s work grew out of a private journey. He and his wife, Jenny, looked for the trigger that God was main them to assist. After initially supporting numerous initiatives, they realized probably the most important wants — meals, shelter and protected water — resonated most. They had been launched to Water Mission by means of their monetary advisor, and it quickly grew to become abundantly clear that the group was an ideal match for the Wainwrights. And as Adam and Jenny grew to become extra concerned with the ministry, the partnership blossomed.
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What a ship off for Huge League Influence founder Adam Wainwright! We all know this present to @water_mission is especially significant and can make an unbelievable affect for this Honduran village ❤️@UncleCharlie50 #STLCards #MLB https://t.co/mGcKSMKCbP
— Huge League Influence (@BigLeagueImpact) October 2, 2023

In 2013, Adam traveled to Honduras to watch the affect of Water Mission’s protected water work. Wainwright witnessed tons of of individuals lining the streets with indicators and banners, welcoming them to the neighborhood. The residents expressed their gratitude for the protected water mission from which they benefited. “Strolling round and speaking to individuals who had been feeling sick earlier than and weren’t anymore — it was extremely impactful,” Wainwright mentioned of the journey.
One other second that formed his perspective got here whereas visiting a distant space of Haiti. Wainwright pulled over by the facet of a highway that led to the place the neighborhood was amassing its consuming water — a stream working throughout a busy road contaminated by bikes, animals and every day site visitors.
“We noticed a girl with a giant jug come down and fill it up,” Wainwright mentioned, “and I requested, ‘What’s she going to do with that water?’ They mentioned, ‘Every part. Cook dinner, clear, wash.’”
Wainwright’s coronary heart broke for the individuals of that neighborhood, however hope was on the best way. Simply 50 toes away from that soiled stream, a Water Mission mission now supplies protected, sustainable water — a change Wainwright says “fully revolutionized that space.”
Buddies & teammates not too long ago honored Waino by investing in a #safewater mission in #Haiti. Whereas this dedication was deliberate properly prematurely, it comes at a time when the nation remains to be recovering from August’s earthquake. @UncleCharlie50 @Sports_Spectrum https://t.co/YTpvcBpO7k
— Water Mission (@water_mission) October 4, 2021

A Pure Partnership
Wainwright credit Water Mission’s excellence and faith-driven mission for making the partnership with Huge League Influence so seamless. For Wainwright, the work of offering protected water and sharing the hope of the Gospel is inseparable.
“I don’t discover anyplace in Scripture the place it says, ‘Now that you simply’re a believer, sit in your rear finish and do nothing,’” he mentioned. “It says, ‘Go.’”
This shared imaginative and prescient has produced considerable fruit, offering protected water and the hope of the Gospel to susceptible individuals throughout the globe.
“I knew that we had been going to have a platform large enough to assist, nevertheless it’s been an amazing blessing to stroll with Water Mission by means of these years,” Wainwright mentioned. “Understanding we’ve helped save numerous lives collectively in these communities — it’s highly effective.”
Wainwright highlighted the very important position of water as the inspiration of life. “For those who’re unable to have protected water, you’re unable to go to work, go to church, go to highschool, play sports activities — every little thing begins with water,” he mentioned. “I’ve seen the affect Water Mission has had on communities, on altering lives, and I’ll always remember that.”
Congratulations to our accomplice and pal, Adam Wainwright, for successful the celebrated @MLB 2020 Roberto Clemente Award. We’re grateful for @UncleCharlie50's lasting partnership and dedication to offering protected water with love, excellence, and integrity. https://t.co/Oy8OWEcmUt
— Water Mission (@water_mission) December 8, 2020

Inspiring His Friends to Act
All through his 18-year baseball profession, Wainwright used his platform to encourage different gamers to seek out causes they’re keen about, after which to get entangled. This has led several other players to support Water Mission’s work by means of the years.
“While you discover one thing that’s been impactful in your life, you’ll be able to’t assist however inform different individuals about it,” Wainwright mentioned. “That’s how I really feel about Water Mission.”
That encouragement has led younger gamers like Mariners prospect Harry Ford to get entangled, with Ford citing Wainwright’s affect after listening to him communicate at a Professional Athletes Outreach occasion.
“So many gamers wish to get entangled with one thing and simply don’t understand how. Water Mission is a good begin,” Wainwright mentioned.
As we speak, Ford is a model ambassador for Water Mission and has launched into a season-long marketing campaign referred to as “Swing for Safe Water,” the place he makes a gift to Water Mission for each home run he hits.
This week @Mariners prospect @Harry_Ford shares his impactful journey with @water_mission!
Full dialog on this week's WHAT'S UP podcast: https://t.co/38w3bP9ARo pic.twitter.com/NbJ3J6Ox7J
— Sports activities Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) June 12, 2025

Moments like a conversation with fellow big-leaguer Mauricio Dubón, who grew up close to a Water Mission mission in Honduras, reaffirmed to Wainwright the everlasting worth of his efforts.
“When Mauricio informed me how that mission impacted his life, it introduced contemporary validation,” he mentioned. “It jogged my memory that the platform God gave me actually mattered past the sport of baseball.”
Partnering to Make an Everlasting Influence
Wainwright and Huge League Influence have lengthy championed Water Mission’s imaginative and prescient by means of funding, advocacy and steadfast assist. The partnership has led to greater than 20,000 individuals receiving entry to protected water and listening to the Good Information of the Gospel. Wainwright based Huge League Influence to make change that will endure the take a look at of time.
“We didn’t need simply to be a corporation that did one thing yearly,” he mentioned. “We needed to have an enduring affect.”
Because of Wainwright’s coronary heart for serving others and his ardour for offering protected water, Huge League Influence and Water Mission will accomplice collectively to proceed preventing the worldwide water disaster. By way of offering protected water and an opportunity to expertise God’s love, this partnership is making an affect that lasts for eternity.
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
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In simply eight days, MLB’s greatest from the Nationwide League and American League will duel it out at Truist Park in Atlanta within the 2025 All-Star Recreation. The initial rosters for this year’s Midsummer Classic had been launched on Sunday, and among the many 19 first-time choices is San Diego Padres reduction pitcher Jason Adam for the NL.
Adam, at 33 years of age and in his eighth MLB season, is having the most effective years of his profession in 2025. He’s posted a tremendous 1.61 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 44 appearances to this point, and he’s allowed 34 hits in 44.2 innings pitched. Thanks partially to his efforts, the Padres have compiled a 48-41 document.
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Congratulations to Jason Adam on making the NL All-Star staff! pic.twitter.com/98THEOvzJI
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) July 6, 2025

“Onerous to clarify. Extremely grateful,” Adam said in an interview within the clubhouse after the rosters had been launched. “Grateful for the employees right here giving me a possibility to pitch. Grateful for my teammates choosing me up on the nights I stunk. I don’t really feel like I deserve it however I’m simply extremely grateful. … I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness. Didn’t really feel like I may ever deserve this, however I really feel blessed past measure.”
Later, the pitcher from Overland Park, Kansas, and father of four daughters revealed that he was in church when he acquired the decision that he was an All-Star.
“We attempt to be good. We attempt to do every little thing we are able to to be the perfect at our job, “Adam mentioned, “however finally, it’s a present that we get to play this recreation and there’s numerous components past my management. So I attempt to do what I can, however finally, it’s a present that I’m grateful for.”
Padres reliever Jason Adam reacts to being named an All-Star for the primary time. pic.twitter.com/46WtT3XIWV
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) July 6, 2025

Adam has been outspoken about his faith in Christ all through his MLB profession, and on his Instagram account he describes himself as a “Christ follower” and references the Bible verse Proverbs 16:9. It says, “Of their hearts people plan their course, however the Lord establishes their steps.”
Adam appeared on the Get in the Game Podcast hosted by former MLB pitcher Scott Linebrink in November 2022, the place he talked about how he noticed God at work in life’s difficulties.
“[God’s] good is at all times higher than our good and higher than our preliminary plans,” he said. “Whether or not it’s a damaged bone, a setback. No matter it’s in anybody’s life, He guarantees to work it for good.”
Actually loved occurring @scottlinebrink podcast. Scott does an amazing job calling all of us believers into motion to serve these in want. @Sports_Spectrum pic.twitter.com/zRMMEH5JtA
— Jason Adam (@Jason_Adam9) November 29, 2022

It took eight years and 5 completely different groups, however Adam is lastly an All-Star. And when he appears again on the twists and turns of his MLB profession that led him to the place he’s now, he is aware of it was God establishing each step.
“You’ll be able to look again on the instances that issues felt extremely bleak and the instances the place it felt like every little thing was going completely, and also you simply see His hand by means of all of it,” Adam said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in April 2024. “Actually, if I’m being trustworthy, these instances the place issues regarded bleak, in the long term, are the instances I’m most grateful for.”
The 2025 All-Star recreation is about for July 15 at 8 p.m. ET. Extra gamers are anticipated to be added to the roster within the coming days as some pull out of the sport on account of harm or different issues. In the meantime, Adam and the Padres will host the Arizona Diamondbacks (44-46) on Monday at 9:40 p.m. ET within the first of a four-game dwelling collection.
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
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Fraser Ellard is a left-handed reduction pitcher with the Chicago White Sox. He was chosen within the eighth spherical of the 2021 MLB Draft by Chicago and made his MLB debut in July 2024 towards the Kansas Metropolis Royals.
As we speak on the podcast, Fraser Ellard shares about his journey of religion, navigating grief after dropping his father at a younger age, and the way that formed his understanding of God. He discusses the significance of discovering goal in adversity, the position of non secular disciplines in his life, and the pressures he confronted throughout his MLB debut.
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
Yesterday, Fraser Ellard notched his first @MLB strikeout ✅ pic.twitter.com/gT7RmWqtM0
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 1, 2024

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Ethan Holliday is following in some acquainted footsteps. Similar to his older brother Jackson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Ethan enters this yr’s draft because the potential high decide.
And, in a near-mirror picture of Jackson, Ethan was not too long ago named the 2025 Baseball America Excessive College Participant of the 12 months — an honor his brother claimed three years earlier. They’re the primary highschool brother duo to every be honored as BA’s Participant of the 12 months.
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“It’s superior, attending to share one thing like that along with your brother, who you’re tremendous shut with — and we really acquired to play collectively,” Ethan told Baseball America. A shortstop now, he performed third base his freshman yr at Stillwater (Oklahoma) Excessive College whereas Jackson performed shortstop. “We’ve acquired a household enterprise in Stillwater, and baseball is sort of simply what we like to do. So it’s an actual honor to share that with him.”
Throughout his freshman yr, Ethan Holliday watched his brother Jackson grow to be Baseball America's Excessive College Participant of the 12 months.
Now, he finds himself in the identical place.
The 2 are the primary highschool brother tandem to every be honored with the award.… pic.twitter.com/WYYNZl5t4h
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 1, 2025

Ethan tallied a .611 batting common with 19 dwelling runs throughout his senior season regardless of being deliberately walked a heavy quantity by opposing pitchers not desirous to let him do harm. He additionally performed for the Crew USA under-18 staff in 2024 and the under-15 staff in 2022.
The expectations surrounding Ethan transcend his final title. Because the son of seven-time MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and the youthful brother of Jackson, he carries the load of a baseball lineage that’s each elite and visual. At 6-foot-4, 210 kilos with a robust body harking back to his dad’s, Ethan doesn’t simply play the half, he appears it.
Scouts and followers alike can’t assist however draw comparisons to Matt’s physicality and presence on the plate, including one other layer to the already lofty projections for him. However Ethan was raised by humble dad and mom, and regardless of this and the varied awards and accolades he’s racked up in highschool, he told Sports Spectrum in February that his identification is “100%, little question, rooted by means of Christ,” and it by no means wavers no matter what’s occurring together with his baseball profession.
“I really feel like within the final three or so years, I’ve gotten to seek out the place my identification actually is,” he mentioned. “So many individuals can get caught up within the recreation, get caught up in life, dropping their identification in sports activities or issues which are worldly. After I actually discovered the place my identification was in Christ, and that’s the place I’m centered, that’s who I’m, my life has been unbelievable.
“That’s a peace you’ll be able to’t clarify. That’s a confidence, that’s a lifestyle you want everybody can have. Navigating by means of sports activities and life, if I didn’t have Christ as my middle, I don’t understand how I may ever do it.”

He mentioned these previous few years have felt like “chaos” at instances, however he’s grown nearer to God by means of all of it. He’s attended the Professional Athletes Outreach baseball convention the previous three years together with his household, however the newest gathering helped him take an additional step in his religion and grow to be a “warrior of the Lord.”
“I knew there have been going to be pressures, expectations, however having the ability to come and discover my identification in Christ has taken a lot weight off of this journey and I be at liberty,” he mentioned within the Spring 2025 edition of Sports Spectrum Magazine. “It’s a peace you’ll be able to’t clarify. … Navigating by means of sports activities and life, if I didn’t have Christ as my middle, I don’t understand how I may ever do it.”
Pastor David Platt of McLean Bible Church in Washington D.C. spoke on the final convention and talked about how he places out 5-7-minute devotional podcasts on daily basis. Ethan instantly baked these into his morning routine to “really feel linked with the Lord every day.” After the devotionals, he listens to worship music earlier than entering into his faculty or coaching for the day. And he ends the day in prayer for about 10 minutes.
However “typically when life will get loopy, it’s an hour, hour and a half, the place I shut every little thing off and it’s simply me in my room in the dead of night, simply speaking to the Lord and actually simply feeling the Holy Spirit,” he mentioned. “That’s big for me. I would like that point. I would like that point even when it’s touring for a summer season occasion, or wherever I’m at, I would like time with the Lord. I would like that peace. I would like that consolation and that will get me by means of days the place sports activities aren’t going good, life will get somewhat loopy. To only be capable to silence that noise with the voice of the Lord, that’s highly effective.”

As a part of the draft course of, Ethan has met with a number of groups as they gauge his match with their group. He sees these conversations as an opportunity to share his religion.
“I get to do these draft interviews with these guys who we’ve by no means met and so they’ll ask me questions, and I get to share just a bit bit in regards to the Gospel,” he mentioned. “I don’t know the place they arrive from, I don’t know what section of life they’re in, however you by no means know.”
The 2025 MLB Draft will happen July 13-14 in Atlanta to kick off the All-Star Week festivities. Jackson has a recreation with the Orioles at 1:35 p.m. ET on July 13, however hopes to journey dwelling in time to share the draft second together with his youthful brother. Then Jackson may probably make his first All-Star Recreation look July 15.
Ethan mentioned he’s at all times regarded as much as Jackson since he was a baby, and if he’s chosen first, the Hollidays would be a part of Peyton and Eli Manning as the one brothers to every be drafted No. 1 general in American professional sports activities.
“I’m excited,” Jackson informed Sports activities Spectrum. “He’s put himself in a reasonably superior place. I’m actually trying ahead to what the Lord has in retailer for large E.”
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
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