Clayton Kershaw: Living with Purpose

Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher and 2011 Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw is famous for his wicked curve ball, but the first-round draft pick (2006) is taking his talents off the mound by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.

Kershaw visited Africa with his wife Ellen and mission-based organization Arise Africa prior to the 2011 season. It inspired them to write their first book, Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself , which shares their encounters on the mission field. Clayton also dives into his experience in the Majors and keeping his wits during the highs and lows of celebrity life. After completing a stellar season with a 21-5 record and an ERA of 2.28, the Dallas native said he’s continually humbled by the favor of God on his life. With this, and a strong woman by his side, Clayton, who is arguably the next Sandy Koufax, and will be a world changer off the field.

“It is good to know the Lord gives us a lifetime to work out our identities and sort out who we are in Christ. His calling for our lives will undoubtedly compete with daily struggles of temptation to take an easier path. The battle to maintain a Christ-centered identity is the most worthy fight we will face.”

In your book you talk about that we all are a work in progress.

CK: When you live in a country like ours with so much excess, you can try to buy your happiness, try other avenues to find your happiness. It doesn’t work like that. I truly believe that with Jesus in your heart you can truly be happy no matter what your circumstances are. You can have contentment and almost feel complete. A lot of people are searching for that.

How hard is that with the platform God has given you?

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