Former slugger Thornton focuses on faith

The Gathering is a local group of men focused on stepping out on faith into the local business world to affect men’s lives in a positive manner.

Thornton, who is longtime friends with Ernest Brown, St. John’s pastor, and has a brother who lives in Xenia, drove from the Cleveland suburbs to be with a bunch of men he’d never met in a city he’d never visited for one reason.

“The Lord is the same today as he was when I accepted him as my savior 43 years ago,” answered Thornton, who was a two-time All-Star with the Tribe and hit 253 home runs in 14 seasons. Ready to turn 60 in about a week, he is now the owner of Global Procurement Management, which distributes for companies like Sam’s Club.

“It is a privilege as well as a responsibility to answer his call.”

His Lord hasn’t changed, but Thornton sure has. Baseball is just a minor part of his life now. “I may attend one game per year. It’s another life, another time. It’s history.

Thornton is concerned about the lack of male leadership in America.

“We have really stepped backwards in taking a role in Christian leadership,” he said. “We are confused with things like politics. A lot of things have come in and choked off men’s connection with God.

“As men, we are challenged in this time like no other.”

Thornton knows about challenges. On a snowy night on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in 1977, he and his young family were involved in a car accident that took his wife and young daughter from him, leaving just him and his son, Andre Jr.

“It was a time in my life that either God had to be real, or there was no God at all. If you don’t know him, you will go under,” he said. “I experienced the peace of God in my most difficult moment.”

The reason many men don’t, he feels, is defense.

“Greed, fraud, immorality — we face these challenges as men, but we can’t think we are immune,” Thornton said. “We always have to be on guard.”

To accomplish that, Thornton says, you focus on the task at hand.

“You don’t go into baseball to make it to the Hall of Fame,” he said. “You go into it struggling to make it through each day. Worry about the execution, not the results.”

Remember, lightning is the energy, thunder is the result.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364 or krowe@coxohio.com.