It’s no coincidence that Mariano Rivera was fishing with his cousin when the two talked about the Bible. On the water in a boat, Rivera was learning about a God who deeply loved and cared for him.

It was clear the Lord was fishing for Rivera.

The would-be baseball star grew up in the poor Panamanian village of Puerto Caimito. Born in a two-room home with no plumbing or electricity, he dropped out of school in ninth grade and admits to hanging with the wrong people. Despite his father’s efforts to discipline him, Rivera did what he wanted and thought about the consequences later.

But discussions with his cousin began to chip away at the 19-year-old’s hard exterior.

“He spoke to me about the Gospel,” said Rivera at a celebration dinner American Bible Society hosted last week, honoring him and other Latino leaders for their work for the Bible cause.

“I loved talking to my cousin about the Bible,” said the five-time World Series champion. “The stories were fascinating to me. He introduced me to the Lord. That’s when I started going to church and reading the Bible for the first time.”

Rivera credits his cousin for opening his eyes to the life-changing message of the God’s Word. He also credits his wife Clara, his girlfriend at the time, who “pushed me about the Gospel,” he said.

“She has been solid for me,” Rivera said at the dinner. “And I appreciate that. The reason I stand before you today is because of the Lord and that woman. The Bible has been part of me because of her. In good times and in bad times, she has encouraged me to believe.

“There is hope, peace, love and kindness in the Bible.”

Rivera needed those things when he boarded a plane at age 21 to play baseball for the Yankees. He spoke no English and had never left his parents, Clara or Panama. “When I was signed, I had no idea what it meant,” said Rivera, who tried out for the team with no glove and a hole in his baseball shoe. “It was difficult for me.”

Again, God’s Word--along with Clara’s encouragement--took him through the tough times.

Rivera went on to launch a legendary career as one of the best closers in baseball. He retired last year after having played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Once eligible, he is considered a favorite for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Despite his celebrity and athletic prowess, Rivera has no swagger. He speaks gently at the podium, sometimes halting to find the right word in English. He also delights in taking pictures with us, and signing baseballs and programs. He is gentle, soft-spoken and patient with those of us who are star-struck (Quite a few, actually!).

Clara is present at the event, and the two share a deep love for each other and God’s family. Among an array of philanthropic efforts, they launched the Mariano Rivera Foundation, which distributes more than $500,000 annually to underserved children in the United States and Panama.

Rivera devotes his time to his philanthropic work and has received various awards for his humanitarian efforts, including one from the Jackie Robinson Foundation. On May 21, he will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from New York University.

By serving others, Rivera serves the God of the Bible. It’s safe to say he’s an even greater person than he was a pitcher.