‘God ordained it’: Maple Shade showed love at Prayer & Praise event held for boy struck by baseball
Xavier Taylor, 12, is still on a ventilator, but he's home in Maple Shade, recovering after being hit in the head with a baseball in May. His family held a Prayer and Praise event Saturday evening.
The Kenny Karcher Jr. Memorial Field at Woodlawn Sports Center in Maple Shade, N.J., was filled by more than the standard nine players on Saturday evening as friends and family in the community filled the infield and the bleachers in a prayer and praise event for Xavier Taylor.
Taylor, a 12-year-old Maple Shade Youth Baseball player, was injured four months ago when he was struck with a baseball before a game on May 26. He was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital.
Prayer tents lined the first-base line as those in attendance on Saturday prayed that one day they’d see Taylor once again running around the bases.
His father, Gregory Taylor, told 6abc on Friday that Xavier is still on a ventilator but has shown signs of improvement, including gaining weight, regulating body temperature, and moving from the hospital to a short-term care facility.
Family, friends, and community members in attendance offered prayers of thanksgiving for the improvements Taylor has made, while continuing to petition for further healing. Most wore blue and yellow “Xavier Strong” shirts with his jersey number, 6, on the back.
Sarah DiPhillipo, a family friend who has organized past events for the Taylor family, helped orchestrate the Night of Prayer & Praise, which featured speakers and worship performances, and words from family members. One of Taylor’s teammates battled emotions as he spoke about the person Taylor is and led the group in prayer.
DiPhillipo said she and Taylor’s mother, Mai-Lin Taylor, were in the hospital room two weeks ago when they both mentioned feeling called to hold the event. Mai-Lin Taylor said she wouldn’t be able to organize it, so DiPhillipo took the lead.
“God ordained it. God put everything together,“ DiPhillipo said. ”It just fell in our lap.”
Gregory Taylor offered a few words of thanks for the people who came to the event. He also spoke about the All Things Foundation founded in honor of Xavier to “spread the Word of God through baseball,” which includes a clinic scheduled for Oct. 8 in Maple Shade.
Saturday’s mission was similar, sharing their faith through Taylor and his recovery journey.
“The turnout was amazing; it’s just so touching,” DiPhillipo said. “It’s just really showing me what God is doing through all of this one boy. One little boy. Look at what God is doing through his life, and I cannot wait for Xavier to see it.”
DiPhillipo added: “It’s extremely touching to see all the support and love for Xavier and the Taylor family, and we just pray for a move of God.”
