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Major Leaguer Sam Allen on Faith, Family & Baseball
Norfolk, VA
It was 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. For an 11-year-old Sam Allen....
“That was the greatest thing that ever happened,” says Sam. “It gave us a hero. Everybody wanted to be a baseball player. And I knew then that I wanted to be a baseball player.”
Born in 1936, Sam grew up in a tight-knit family with his mom and grandparents in their hometown of Norfolk, Virginia.
His love of baseball started with his grandfather. At that time, teams and spectators were segregated.
“The Blacks had to go in the side gate down the left field line. And the Black grandstand was next to the White bleachers. But we’d go every night because it was cheap,” says Sam.
By the time Sam was six, he had picked up on all the rules and signals. Before long, he was playing baseball with his friends.
“I broke a few windowpanes,” says Sam. “My grandparents had to pay for them. But I fell in love with baseball. It gave me something to look forward to.”
Sam was becoming a star at Booker T. Washington High School, in Norfolk—not only in baseball, but football as well.
“When we used to play football, you could hear the mic in the neighborhood. And my grandmother would uh be listening,” says Sam. “And she would hear, say, ‘Allen running the ball for Booker T., Allen making the tackle for Booker T., Allen kicking off for Booker T.’ Say, all I hear was 'Allen, Allen, Allen,’” laughs Sam.
After graduating, Sam was invited to try out for the Cincinnati Reds minor league team...but didn’t make the cut. One thing helped him press on—his faith in God.
“Without faith, I would’ve given up,” says Sam. “I had all the reason in the world to give up. A lot of the players that were cut down there didn’t play anymore, but I stuck with it.”
Soon after, an agent invited the now 21-year-old to try out for the Kansas City Monarchs, a Negro League team, who were training in Jacksonville, Florida, at the time. Taking a step of faith, Sam bought a one-way bus ticket to Jacksonville.
“I didn’t have money to get back, I just had enough to get down there,” says Sam. “So, I don’t have any way to get back home! So, I gotta make the team!”
Sam’s big chance came playing against the Monarchs. The stands were packed that day, and a team from Jacksonville showed up with only four players. Not wanting to disappoint the fans—and lose money—the Monarchs’ manager told Sam and a few others to dress up for the other team.
“First time up, I got a hit, next time I struck out,” says Sam. “And I said, ‘Well, look, I gotta do better than this.’ So, the next time, I hit the ball over the scoreboard.”
Signed on the spot as an outfielder for the Monarchs, Sam became a proud member of the Negro leagues.
“I think contract was about $150, but I was so happy I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t have any money,” says Sam. “Now I got a contract and I’m going to get $2 a day, meals too.”
The Negro leagues were formed in 1920. Despite their talents, Black players weren’t allowed to play alongside Whites in the segregated major and minor leagues. By the time Sam joined in the late ‘50’s, the Negro leagues were well established.
“The Negro League was drawing 20-, 30-, 35-, 40,000 and at that time we were equal to the Major League Baseball,” says Sam. “White and Black went to the games, cause people loved baseball.”
Sam played professional ball for four seasons, moving from the Monarchs, to the Raleigh Tigers, to the Memphis Red Sox. Talented in the field, and at bat, he led the league in runs in 1957. Sam says despite the low pay, he loved pro ball, and the other benefits that came with it.
“The greatest thrill that I got out of playing baseball was, believe it or not, when I would come home the ladies in the neighborhood would be talking and they’d say, ‘That’s Bernice’s boy. He played baseball,’” says Sam. “They’d say, ‘Yeah, your momma proud of you.’ And that made me feel good, you know. Yeah, that made me feel good.”
However, on the road from town to town was a different story, as the team faced racism constantly.
“Some places you had the restaurant where you had to eat in the kitchen, see,” says Sam. “And the kitchen, they had a fish box where they would have a piece of plywood on them, yeah, that they would feed you in the kitchen.”
Sam says it was his faith in God that kept him grounded...and his mother’s example of Godly character that kept him from being bitter.
“My mother was a loving person,” says Sam. “My mother uh was the reason that I am the way I am. I’m about help people, that’s my thing. Because we always say, ‘Let the works I’ve done speak for me.’”
In 1960, Sam’s dream of making the majors got put on hold, when he was drafted into the Army at 24, and became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne. He served two years before moving back to Norfolk, where he got married and started a family. He kept up with baseball—playing and coaching for fun—and watching his hometown team, the Norfolk Tides.
“Baseball is my game,” says Sam. “And-and I love it. I gave it 100%. That’s all. I did the best I could.”
And Sam’s legend lives on. 2003 Inductee Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame, 2007 Honoree at the White House, 2019 Inductee Tidewater Baseball Shrine at Harbor Park.
“They got my picture over here, right over here on the wall,” says Sam as he points over his shoulder. “A lot of people don’t have pictures on the wall, now. You know, when you come in a ballpark and see that, that means a whole lot,” says Sam.
Then, in December 2020, Sam and hundreds of his teammates and opponents would finally hold the title of “Major League Baseball Player.” 100 years after its formation, the Negro Leagues were recognized as Major League by the MLB.
“It’s about time, you know,” says Sam. “Cause we’ve been coming for many a year-you know, hundreds of years. So, we-we-we're getting there.”
Sam says that while sports will continue to play a part in bringing Americans together, it’s prayer that will bring healing among all the races.
“We gotta do a lot of praying because it’s been divided,” says Sam. “We need each other. Black, Whites, we need everybody to defend this country.”
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Touched By Love, Healed by Faith!
“I raised three children on my own, and I never felt helpless until then.”
It was July 2023 when Barbara Shepherd started having debilitating stomach cramps and diarrhea.
“And I couldn't get rid of it no matter what I did. I had to continue to take medication for the cramping and the pain.” Barbara continued, recalling the intensity of her pain.
It would take an ER visit, 10 days in the hospital followed by three months of pain before the retired court reporter had a diagnosis: An inflamed pancreas and a blocked bile duct that would require surgery, not the news the 72-year-old wanted to hear.
“I have always lived an active lifestyle, couldn’t take care of my grandchildren very long because they, I couldn't lift them. I couldn't do those kinds of things. So, my lifestyle was definitely changed during that time.”
The surgery was successful, and Barbara went home to recover. It was hard but manageable until 6 weeks later, the pain came back as intense as before and nothing seemed to ease her suffering.
“Every day I had to take Oxycodone in order to survive the pain because I was cramping that bad.” She continues
The mobile notary tried to return to work and get on with her life.
“I couldn't leave home for very long because I, you know, I can't be out working and be in someone's home and closing their real estate loan and be doubled over with pain or have to use their bathroom. I couldn't do that. So, I had to pretty much quit work.”
“A week before Valentine's, I began honest conversation with God.”
“And when I told God, I'm in it with all my heart, you know, you either heal me or take me home because I'm not, I'm not gonna keep going to doctors and taking medicine” she tearfully admits.
“Whatever you need to do, I put my health, my body, my life in your hands. And I did trust him completely.”
On February 15th, 2024, Barbara was watching The 700 Club, as usual.
“I was in a lot of pain and I had my right arm across my stomach and my other hand lifted high and praying with Gordon..”
“There’s someone, you’re laying your right hand across your belly.” Gordan Robertson begins on the air.
Emotionally, she explains “he wasn't sure what the issue was. And he said, God is healing you right now. And I knew that that word was for me.”
“I don’t know the condition, but I just know it’s like fire in it. There’s a burning sensation.” He continues.
“All of that is being taken away from you. You just felt it move within your innermost being. In the name of Jesus, be healed and be made whole.”
“And immediately the pain stopped, and the diarrhea stopped. And I have never had that since then.”
Since that moment, Barbara has been completely free of her symptoms. She’s back to working, playing and loving on her grandchildren!
“Since that day, I have continued to get healthier and healthier. I was up to walking five miles a day. And I am back playing with my grandchildren. I have three grandchildren under the age of five and they take a lot of energy.”
“I am so happy right now in this time of life. I, I am in my seventies, and I just feel like I still have so much life ahead of me.”
“And I, I just spread the news. You know, I, I've been healed” She concludes contently.
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Desperate For Money, Desperate for Relief
Elmer and his sister, live with their grandmother, Florinda in Guatemala.
“I don’t think of them as my grandchildren but as my CHIILDREN,” she told us. “I have been raising them since they were born and love them dearly.”
The children’s mother abandoned them. Their father works far away, and sends a little money each month to help with food. Florinda told us there is never enough.
“When we don’t have enough money, I sell some of my chickens or eggs, so we have something to eat.”
Then Elmer developed a hernia. The doctor gave him pills for pain, but they didn’t help. As he got older, the hernia got larger, causing him to suffer even more.
“Sometimes the pain is so bad I cannot do anything but lie down,” Elmer said. “It feels like someone is splitting me in two with an ax. I cannot stand it anymore!”
Florinda finally saved enough to take him to a hospital. There a doctor examined him and said that surgery was their only option to repair the hernia.
“They told me it would cost around $300 U.S. dollar, but we couldn’t gather that money.”
With no way to pay for an operation, Elmer continued to suffer.
“I thought I was going to die the pain was so bad,” he told us. “I thought I would not see my sister and grandma again.”
“I really felt like he was going to die from this,” Florinda said. “The only thing I could do was ask God to help us.”
That’s when Operation Blessing staff learned about the case and took Elmer to a specialist. They discovered that the severe pain had been caused by a DOUBLE hernia. Then, thanks to YOU, we paid for Elmer to receive the surgery he needed.
“Now I don't have any pain. Also, I started to play soccer and I can even jump!” he told us excitedly. “Thank you to the people who helped me get my operation!”
Florinda added, “Thanks to the people who helped with Elmer’s surgery!”
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When Faced With A Life Decision, Choose God!
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
Melanie’s childhood seemed normal and uneventful until she was nine years old when her parents divorced. She decided it was her job to try to keep everyone happy. After the divorce, life with her mother, Suzanne, was unpredictable. As a child, Melanie didn’t know about things like borderline personality disorder and bipolar mood swings or realize that Suzanne took a handful of pills that kept her up and then brought her crashing down each day. For years, Melanie endured shame, criticism, and verbal abuse from her mother.
When Suzanne had married Melanie’s dad, she converted to Catholicism, but after the divorce, she started attending a small charismatic church. “While this whiplash church culture move gave me a foundation for having a real relationship with Jesus, it also gave me some religious trauma,” shares Melanie.
Suzanne’s mood swings would take place often. Melanie remembers one time Suzanne renovated her room. She was so excited and thanked her mother for the redesign. A few days later, Suzanne exploded and accused Melanie of not appreciating what she had done for her and threatened to take it all back. This pattern occurred throughout her middle and high school years. As a result, Melanie’s relationship with her mom was an “exhausting dance of competition, envy, love, anger, laughter and tears.” Suzanne always let Melanie know where she wasn’t good enough. Melanie never knew when Suzanne would turn on her for no reason at all. She says, “Many of her accusations toward me were couched in religious guilt. Suzanne managed to convince me that God viewed me as one of His great disappointments.”
FINDING FAITH
In high school, Melanie did not understand what a healthy relationship looked like. She spent a lot of time creating drama and ruining friendships just like her mother. After graduation, she went to college where she struggled to make good decisions (alcohol and relationships). While attending Texas A&M, Melanie met Gulley who became her best friend. She too had a damaged parent who was not capable of loving her. When she talked with Gulley, Melanie felt understood and secure enough to begin examining some of the things from her childhood that she had stuffed down deep. Melanie was also invited to a Bible study which became a huge turning point in her life. People at the Bible study talked about a Jesus who was bigger than her baggage and moral failings. They assured her that Jesus did not view her as a huge disappointment. “The way Jesus came in and rewired the deepest parts of my trauma and insecurity is still the cornerstone of my life,” says Melanie. A month before she graduated, Melanie met Perry. They began dating after college and married in August of 1997. He too played a large part in her healing journey.
LEAVING TOXICITY BEHIND
When Melanie and Perry decided to start a family, she got pregnant right away. Unfortunately, Melanie had a miscarriage. Seven months later, she became pregnant again. Suzanne who was now in her third marriage, attended Melanie’s baby shower, but was on a lot of prescription drugs (opioids and antidepressants). At the shower, Suzanne wrote Melanie a check for the baby’s crib. Melanie thanked her for the gift. A few minutes later, Suzanne wrote a check to Melanie’s sister for the same amount and said, “This is for you because at least you’ll
appreciate it.” Melanie never had the right reaction for her mom because she could never gauge Suzanne’s reaction.
Her relationship with her father and stepmom was strengthened after Caroline was born. They took a very active role in her daughter’s life. Meanwhile, Suzanne visited only a couple of times during Caroline’s first few years. When Melanie’s mom did come around it was stressful due to her toxic words and behavior. To avoid any future emotional damage, Melanie considered walking away from her relationship with her mom. She sat down and wrote a six-page letter on the computer about how she was tired of Suzanne’s manipulation, anger, and lies, but she did not send it.
Melanie was determined to be the mother to Caroline that she’d desperately wanted for herself. She and Perry wanted their daughter to be raised in the freedom to be exactly who God made her to be, but they also knew generational cycles had to be broken for that to be accomplished.
The final blow in her relationship with her mother came after she and Gulley went on a road trip. Melanie had posted about it on her blog the night before. The next morning Suzanne called and left a message about how selfish Melanie was because she had not stopped to see her grandparents on the trip. She lashed out at Melanie for no reason and even said she was fine with ending their relationship. The message left Melanie feeling broken. She prayed over the next several weeks and felt confidant God was telling her she was free to walk away from the relationship…so she did. The decision was not an easy one because she did love her mom. At times, Melanie often second guessed herself and wondered if she was being too harsh to end the relationship. However, the more distance she got from her mother the more she realized how destructive Suzanne’s behavior patterns were for those around her.
MEAN GIRLS
Little did Melanie know she would witness mean girl dynamics in Caroline’s life during her sophomore year in high school. Over the course of a few weeks, Caroline’s friends turned against her and decided to make her life miserable. Her sports team did the same leaving Caroline devastated. During this time, God enabled Melanie to help her daughter by recognizing patterns from these girls that were familiar with her own mother. She was able to explain to Caroline that the behavior of these girls was not a reflection of who she was or anything she’d done. As a result, Caroline generated a resilience and strength that allowed her to refuse to be a victim as she chose to trust God. Melanie encourages parents who are facing similar situations to be a safe place for their children and show them that their identity and security are found in Christ.
HEALING AND SAYING GOODBYE
For thirteen years, Melanie did not have a relationship with her mother. She knew that everything her mom had done and said to her through the years had been out of her own woundedness and brokenness. God gave Melanie a spirit of tenderness toward Suzanne so that she could forgive her.
In 2023, Melanie’s sister let her know that their mother’s mental and physical health was in rapid decline. Suzanne had developed a very aggressive cancer and was given about a month or two to live. Melanie prayed and asked God to give her direction if she was to go see her mom. Although she was at peace with her mother, she felt God say, “This isn’t about your peace. It’s about hers.” Although she did not know what to expect, Melanie went to see Suzanne, and they had a pleasant enough conversation for about an hour. A few days later her mother passed away. Melanie is thankful God healed her wounds and allowed her to raise Caroline to be a warrior. By doing so, Melanie says, “God broke a generational cycle that had previously told the women in her family to find their value in everything but His love.”
For more information on Melani Shankle click the LINK! https://TheBigMamaBlog.com/
CREDITS
Will discuss her early troubled life, her relationship with her mother, and how she chose to live a fruitful life with her family and daughter.
3x NY Times best-selling author; latest, Here Be Dragons, (WaterBrook, 2025); Co-host of The Big Boo Cast, a weekly podcast which averages 40,000 listeners per week; Writes for her Big Mama blog; Received her bachelor's degree in speech communication from Texas A&M; Married to Perry; Adult child: Caroline
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