Sophomore Josh Gale says spending time on Saturdays at the Saul Alexander Park in Summerville with the Summerville Miracle League “has become a blessing to all Charleston Southern students and faculty that are involved.”

Gale is one of many Charleston Southern volunteers who spend several hours each Saturday volunteering their time to work with the Summerville Miracle League. The league provides children with disabilities a place to come and play baseball with caring counselors who give of their time to build relationships and practice their faith.

Charleston Southern is a sponsor of one the four teams that plays each Saturday. The team, appropriately named the Buccaneers, is supported each week with volunteers from Charleston Southern that include members of the football team, Residence Life, SGA, and Campus Crusade for Christ.

“The Summerville ballpark provides nothing but encouragement, joy and love. The schools’ sponsorship and the students’ assistance gives the children a sense of belonging,” said Gale. “The children have overcome so many obstacles in these past several weeks and have been an encouragement to their buddies as well,” he added.

The impact of the ministry to the children and their families has been meaningful as Gale relates a comment from one of the mothers of a child who plays on the Buccaneer team. “The mother of a little girl said to me, ‘Every week when we pass by Charleston Southern on our way to the doctor she belts out, that’s my school.’ It was at that point that I realized that these children feel like they are not just Buccaneers, but they are Charleston Southern Buccaneers.”

The season ended in May, but the impact from the Saturdays with the Summerville Miracle League will long be remembered. Gale says he is proud of the way Charleston Southern stepped up to the plate and ministered to the children and to their families. “To see other students besides me giving up their Saturday morning to serve others, speaks volumes about how CSU is building up servant leaders,” he said.

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Photo: Josh Gale assists his buddy Henry O’ Grady at the Summerville Miracle League. Photo by Sandy Freshman