“Pitching” It Forward

On Thursday, July 10, as the General Conference (GC) Session was winding down, G. Alexander Bryant wound up his pitching arm as he chose a different dinner venue—and experience—than the rest of the week. At 6:45 p.m. CT he threw out the first pitch at the St. Louis Cardinals game. It was a rare and deeply meaningful opportunity for the president of the North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists. 

At age 9 Bryant and his family moved from Arkansas to St. Louis because of his father’s job. Bryant attended St. Louis schools: Columbia Elementary School and Sumner High School. In his youth the Cardinals’ community schools access program gave tickets to straight-A students. A baseball fan, Bryant worked hard and received tickets to more than 20 regular season games during the course of several years.

“This generosity allowed me to see a world beyond my school, beyond my neighborhood,” said Bryant, who, while in his 30s, was one of the youngest on record to serve as a conference president in the Adventist Church. “During a pivotal time in my development, it gave me a glimpse of opportunities and possibilities for my future that I would not have had access to if it weren’t for going to those games.” 

Simultaneously in those formative years, Adventist neighbors visited Bryant’s home. These laypeople shared some materials with the family and asked if the Bryants would be interested in Bible studies. A 14-year-old Bryant took them up on the offer and ended up being the first in his family to be baptized.

“The reason I’m so passionate about things like Pentecost 2025 is that I am a recipient of someone going out, knocking on a door, and asking a family if they want to do Bible studies,” Bryant shared. “They were not pastors and not preachers. They were not paid. They were doing it because they wanted to spread the love of Christ. I would not be here were it not for someone having that type of passion.”

And those members did more than give Bible studies. In Brant’s growing-up years that followed, they provided him a place to keep the Sabbath—away from the TV and distractions at home—and he rotated spending Sabbaths after church with several families. 

“They poured into me at that time. . . . Different families kind of adopted me, and every Sabbath they would take turns inviting me home so that I didn’t have to go back to a non-Adventist atmosphere,” said Bryant. “Later on, my family did become Adventist. My heart is here in this city because of what they’ve done for me.”

Pitching It Forward

Temperatures were still hovering around 90 degrees Fahrenheit when Bryant and his wife, Desiree, an NAD Ministerial Association associate director, walked into the baseball stadium and into the first-pitch waiting room. Several Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) representatives gathered with the Bryants and others celebrating, on that same evening, the community-focused Cardinals Disability Pride Night. After about 15 minutes the Cardinals’ representative came out with the first-pitch baseball and handed to Bryant. Rolling his shoulders, flexing his fingers, Bryant gripped the ball. He swung his arm slowly a few times, thinking about the windup and toss to come. He lofted it gently in the air—one, twice—big smile lighting his face as he continued to converse.

“This is not only a coming home for Elder Bryant, and a chance to step out on the field with appreciation for the outreach of the Cardinals all those years ago,” Orlan Johnson, NAD PARL director, said. “It’s an opportunity to share about the Seventh-day Adventist Church with those in the stands and those watching on their screens.”

Johnson continued, “Although our outreach is different than a baseball organization’s outreach, our church is committed to community engagement and outreach, and Elder Bryant being here this evening is indicative of his leading in a true witnessing fashion.”

On the Mound

The signal was given for Bryant to make his way through the corridors and tunnels onto the field. Cell phone cameras clicked and clicked as he and Desiree posed with the team mascot. The announcer, just a few feet from the Bryants, read from a script describing Bryant’s gratitude for opportunities the team provided in his youth, details about the Adventist Church in North America and worldwide (including its membership numbers and impact), and Bryant’s role today in leading the NAD. His voice echoed throughout the stadium as cameras continued to click and video cameras rolled. Suddenly it was time for the pitch. Bryant strode out to the mound. 

Ball in hand, Bryant focused on the plate, the catcher’s glove. Taking a deep breath, he lifted his arm in the air and let the ball fly. A curveball with a hop just before the plate went into the mitt of the awaiting catcher. With an ear-to-ear smile, Bryant walked back to home plate for a photo and the baseball. 

“I had remarkable opportunities growing up here in St. Louis, and it’s been a remarkable opportunity to be able to see how God’s church works from a close-up perspective all those years ago—it’s been very impactful in my life,” he said, sharing that toward the end of his final year of high school he dropped out—but not for long. “The local Adventist academy principal found out I had dropped out, and he told me that God had something special for my life and that I needed to go back to school,” Bryant shared. “It had been about six weeks, and I felt that I was too far behind.”

The principal disagreed and gave Bryant a blueprint: go to each teacher and tell them that he’d made a mistake. That he’d make up all the work, and that he’d be at the top of the class and graduate with honors. Bryant did, they let him back into school, and he kept his promise. Bryant went on to Oakwood University (then Oakwood College), earning undergraduate theology and business degrees, and then continuing through a doctoral degree and serving the church as a pastor and administrator.

“My story would not be possible were it not for the faithful members of the Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church who nurtured me,” Bryant added. “I’m grateful for the experience today. But more than that, I am grateful for our message of hope. Let’s go and tell the world.”

The original version of this story was posted on the North American Division news site.