In this inspiring episode of The Calling’s radio show, host Christandra Brunson speaks with Charlie Monfort, a dedicated dreamer and owner of the Colorado Rockies. Unpacking his personal journey from his roots in Greeley, Colorado, to becoming a crucial figure in the MLB, Charlie shares intimate details about how his faith shaped his path. Discover how he overcame personal and professional trials with a newfound relationship with God and gain insight on the powerful tools he uses to maintain his devotion and integrity in daily life.
Welcome everyone to The Calling’s radio show to all the dreamers. I’m your radio host, Chrysandra Brunson, founder and CEO of The Calling. It is such an honor to be with all of you today. You know, The Calling is a nonprofit headquartered in Denver, Colorado with an international reach that understands people are abandoning their dreams because they are afraid to fail. And that is just plain wrong because God has given each one of us a dream. And if we’re not living it out daily, We are wasting it. We are so excited at The Calling to be able to have tools and custom programs to help people go after their God-given dreams, especially this radio program to all the dreamers. And we have the one and only guest with us, Charlie Monfort.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
One and only. Well, thank God for that.
CHRYSANDRA :
Charlie, thank you so much for coming on and being God’s dreamer. It’s just such an honor. And you just thank you for just being such an example to all of us. We’re just so excited to have you.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
Well, I appreciate you having me on here, Chrisanda. And obviously, the calling and what you just said in your introduction perfectly suits what my story’s about. So it’s a pleasure to be here.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, I’m so excited, Charlie. And it’s so fun. So I’m so excited for us to be able to gleam all this wisdom from your heart. Can you help take us back to the beginning of your calling of just discovering what you really were passionate about as a child and how God just kind of started unfolding that in your life?
CHARLIE MONFORT :
Sure. Before the baseball, I was a beef guy from Greeley, Colorado. So I really I really those are my roots. Baseball wasn’t so much my roots, even though it seems like it now I’ve been at it for 30 years. But I really my claim is is being a cowboy from Greeley. I really I still live there and I love it there. And that’s. That’s really where I first was introduced basically by my mom to the Lord. You know, it’s interesting because I got baptized when I was too young to even know what baptism means. And so when everyone would say, oh, you’ve been baptized. Yeah. Quite frankly, I didn’t feel like I was really baptized because we know what baptism is about. That’s when you really have to accept Jesus Christ into your heart. And that hadn’t happened yet because I didn’t really know much about Jesus Christ or anything. I went to get confirmed and I went through all that. But For me, until growing through the process and ultimately getting saved, April 16, 2003 was my big day in coming to the Lord. I had believed in Him my whole life, but I knew that there was more to it than that. You know, I knew that, uh, I, I know he’s there. Um, I don’t know exactly what his plan is for me or for anybody for that matter. And, and, um, when I went up to Estes park with a men’s advance and I just couldn’t sit in my seat and I had to go down to the floor and just lay on the floor and just bawling my eyes out. I knew that there was more and that I was going to seek that. And so that, that was obviously my big day as a Christian. Um, Yeah, but still, it wasn’t enough. I kept going through life, trying to gain a bigger relationship with God. And I really, I’ve had a blessed life. I’ve really been blessed. You know, outside of a few deaths here and there, I’ve really been fortunate. The good Lord has really treated me very well. and so i think i think for me and maybe a lot of people when things are going so well it’s tough for them to try to really get a relationship with god because things are going so well we tend to forget that why why this is happening to us in the first place and it’s it’s him and we need to recognize that but until you have some downfalls at least for me, it wasn’t happening because things were going so well. I was trying to treat people correctly. I tried to have my good character, moral standards. And, um, but, but I wasn’t getting close enough to God. Um, and so it takes, I think for me, it took some, some, some, some tough times. Um, and mine, mine just really ended. It’s not in the day. It’s every day. Um, but I, I had some alcohol problems, um, for the last 15 years. Um, then you learn that I’m pretty much an alcoholic, not pretty much. You’re either one or you’re not. And I am, um, So, but I knew that, but I kept thinking that I could handle it myself. I’ve got God on my side. He’ll take care of this for me. It’ll, it’ll pass. He’ll pass. Well, God gave us the abilities to make the decisions we need to make. And he gave us the ability to use the tools that are in front of us. For instance, AA or friends or, acquaintances or anybody to try to get through the problem areas. I’m not just talking alcohol now. I’m talking about every situation that people have is different. Everyone has their own difficulties. Whatever. Could be family relationships. Could be marital. Could be anything. Not just alcohol. We all have some hiccups that we have to fight through. Step one states… We admitted that we were powerless over our dependencies, that our lives had become unmanageable. But that fits for everything. That’s step one of the big book. But that fits for everything and everybody. Until we give it up to God and say, I’m powerless. Please help me out. I’ll do what it takes. I want to know what I need to do. And I want to get closer to you. It’s not going to work. And so I took some real serious alone time this past spring. And it’s still an everyday thing, but I’m learning every day something new about my relationship with him, relationship with my family, relationship with people. people will tell me you’re different. And I will tell you what, I feel different. I feel blessed. And I just felt more alive at the age of 62 than I ever have in my life. So it’s been, it’s been a great journey. It’s had its ups and downs. Um, but, um, but if you just keep going and just keep plowing on with, with God and keep Jesus in your heart, I think, I don’t think I know it’ll work out. So it has for me. And if it worked out for me, it can work out for anybody.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. Well, Charlie, just, you know, just seeing you, I know that our listeners can’t see, but you are glowing and you feel a zeal and a new lit fire and a passion for what’s to come. I think that God has so much in store for you and has been preparing you for such a time as this to be able to impact humanity as it needs to with God’s kingdom. Yes. and you’ve been a leader of leaders, but I think you nailed it on the dot that we need each other and a lot of things that when we do have The failures in life that we all do, the trials, we want to try to do it on our own most of the time. And God has to teach us again and again to be able to have the humility to be able to walk with him and with others to have accountability and friendships that are going to hold our hands up when we can’t.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
Exactly right. And that’s why your program is so beautiful. And that’s why it’s so important and crucial right now, because there’s just so much going on in the world. And it’s so easy for us to trap ourselves in our home or apartment or wherever, just wherever you’re at. and say, you know, I’m alone and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to go out there and face anybody, but there is people out there. We all have the same issues, the same problems. Somebody’s out there that has fought the same thing, same battle you have. I ran into so many very interesting people when I talked about my situation and all of a sudden they’re like, I was there. I was really there. I really like AA meetings because you go there and you realize, guess what? All these people are just like me. They’ve got the same situation I’ve got. And it’s the same thing that you’re talking about with your telecast. People are out there listening and they’re going to go, Hopefully they hear what I said, and maybe if it affects even one person and helps them out, I hope so. But you’re hitting on all sorts of different situations, subject matter, that it’s going to affect somebody. And that’s why it’s so critical what you’re doing, because people can say, That helps me. You know what I’m going to do with that person recommended, or I’m going to, now I know that I’m not in this alone. I’m going to go outside and live life. So it’s so important now.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, thank you, Charlie, for saying that. And, um, I, you know, I just, I feel like I’m outside myself that this, this message of the calling is from God that he wants us to know that we each have a purpose and there’s a reason for every day that we’re in and to impact every single person that we encounter. And Charlie, you have the influence and the leadership of people admiring you and wanting to learn and listen and gain wisdom from your heart. And a lot of times that’s what it takes is that it’s from someone that we admire and look up to. Thank you so much for sharing just your beginnings and how the Lord has just been able to have some of the trials along the way. But it sounds like your beginning times were as a cowboy, as you said, as a rancher. And then the Lord kind of moved you into baseball when you were a cowboy per se. So you grew up on a ranch in Greeley, Colorado.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
Yes, that’s correct. Yep. And I live about half mile from where I grew up still today. Oh, yeah. It’s I really like really it’s a it’s a good hometown, although it’s grown just like everywhere else in Colorado. It’s good hometown folks. I think I grew up with some some sort of, you know, ranching tech. I don’t know. It’s by the way, Chrysandra, it’s not like Yellowstone. So I don’t think it’s anything like that. For anyone that’s watched Yellowstone, that is not how ranchers live.
CHRYSANDRA :
I never thought about it that way, but maybe I will.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
My dad was not Kevin Costner.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yeah. Aw, but you had those, you had, it seems like you had like all these values that were really poured into your heart from just the ranching experience. My Nana was a rancher out in space, South Dakota. She grew up with 14 brothers and sisters and, and her mom and dad came, her dad came from Germany and their mom came from Canada. And, but just like those, those roots of country roots, like they, they bleed down into like the veins of I’m her grandchild. And I feel like I’m, I have country roots. Well, I think, I think you do.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
I think you do. When I met you, I don’t know, 10, 12 years ago, I guess it’s been now. How long has your calling been around?
CHRYSANDRA :
You know, it’s almost 15 years.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
Okay. I was going to say 12, 10, 12. And I just started. So probably closer to 15 years, but I never knew this, but Charlotte’s grandmother, who’s going to turn a hundred this April is from South Dakota. What was the name of the town?
CHRYSANDRA :
You said South Dakota.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
I think that’s really close. Is that by a Deadwood by chance?
CHRYSANDRA :
I think so, Charlie.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
Yeah. That sounds very familiar. I’ll ask Charlotte, but then when we get together for lunch later on in September or whatever, you guys can talk South Dakota, but yeah, that’s where I read. And she’s 99. So I sit there and I just talked to her for hours because I love her stories. And just that whole, that wholesome feeling is just, it’s, It does, does me good. And so also I was going to tell you, I also, I also believe in science and you mentioned something on the things in my past. I remember things in the past has led me to where I am today. And it was all God laying out those signs and stuff in front of me. And I firmly believe in science. And so I, I encourage anyone to just step away from their everyday life for a second and just try to try to sense these signs of all the clutter and stuff. It gets in our mind that we don’t, there is no signs out there, but there is all the time that that’s helping me guide me every day.
CHRYSANDRA :
I love that, Charlie. Well, hold that thought. We have to take a short break real quick. And that is such a pivotal point to be able to take a step outside of our normal lives and to be able to see what’s going on around us. So everyone, we’re going to take a short break. We’ll be right back for more on to all the Dreamers radio show. Stay tuned. Twist and shout with Lee & Co. They are the premier oldies band delivering the rock and roll vibes you’ve been missing. Great songs, great memories. Book them at LeeAndCo.com. Hi guys, this is Chrysandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com.
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CHRYSANDRA :
At Ignite Brilliance Coaching, you will get 34 years of science teaching, a decade of university-level instruction, and over 10 years of instructional coaching to empower educators with the tools, mindset, and confidence to thrive. Contact Ignite Brilliance Coaching on Facebook. We are back. You are listening to all the dreamers radio show. I’m your host, Chrysandra Brunson, founder of the calling. We are with the one and only world changer, Charlie Monfort. And we were on the edge of our seats hearing about this pivotal wisdom that could change our lives to take a seat back and to notice the signs around us and, and, and Charlie, you were also just sharing your country roots and how those kind of just those values and morals have been inside of you since you were a young boy to prepare you to be able to be a leader of leaders. So thank you.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
You know, I think because there’s so much, uh, I don’t deal in the social media so much anymore, but my kids do. I know. And I think, um, You know, times have always been tough. It just changes as we go through life. But what I’m noticing is I’m concerned because with the social media and stuff, people don’t get out and talk with their neighbors as much as they used to. And Greeley, you know, we knew all our neighbors that you’d almost have dinner at a different neighbor’s house, you know, a couple of times a month or whatever. And it just seems like we’re losing track of things, the simple things like that. You know, it started with I’m going to blame it on radio and TV, but because people used to think of things to do as a family to keep themselves occupied. I think there’s some good that comes out from the social media aspect, but I do think it clutters our mind enough that we don’t see the simple things going on around us, as you said before we went to break, about stepping outside yourself and just observing people. There’s nothing more that I prefer. Sometimes my wife’s from San Diego, so we go down there a lot. that’s where I’m at right now, but going to the beach and just watching the families, you know, going to the beach is free except for parking, which is only a buck and people get to the beach and you see these huge families of people. They put up a tent and they’re just, I have yet to see anyone have a bad time at the beach. Now, I will tell you, I’ve seen people have a bad time snow skiing. I shouldn’t say this in Colorado, but it’s usually lacing up their boots or strapping their boots and skis on, and it’s cold.
CHRYSANDRA :
That’s a hard challenge, yes.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
I mean, or getting their kids’ skis ready and stuff. It’s hard work, but going to the beach is pretty easy. So I just, I like to just sit and observe families and you see an old couple, maybe 80s in their 80s and they’re walking, holding hands and stuff. And you just sit back and you see all the people laughing and stuff. It takes away from the doom and gloom that we see on TV and the politics and the news and stuff. Just really step back and watch people. Guess what? Generally, we’re pretty geared to be happy people. And obviously, we know that comes from God. That’s what we’re geared to do. It’s just that we let things drag us down and take us away from what we’re supposed to be. And that’s enjoying life.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right, right. Yeah. And so Charlie, how have you along just the different seasons of life, the different trials, how have you been able to keep going after God’s calling on your life? And maybe even just that journey of transitioning into owning the Rockies, you know, how was that? How did you make that transition knowing that that was what you’re supposed to do? Because that’s a big leap of faith.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
My dad thought I was nuts. He thought with the contracts they were signing and stuff. And so I kind of did it because I grew up in the family business and there was an opportunity, one, to bring baseball to Denver. And I didn’t plan on owning a baseball team. I got into it because they were looking for investors so i got in a on a very small basis um but but then the original general partners were out of far out of youngstown ohio they got caught embezzling money out of their far more drugstore firm and so they were going to jail so we were going to lose the franchise and i was going to lose my investment or we had to step up so a couple other guys or invent and jerry and i stepped up so we bought the general partnership that’s how i got in it i didn’t plan on it carry it further than Oren Benton. Um, he was, uh, he traded uranium. Well, we had an embargo with Russia, so he goes bankrupt. So I have to buy him out. And then Jerry McMorris was in a trucking business and he went bankrupt. So I bought him out and then that’s when I brought my brother. And so anyway, so all of a sudden I’ve got this team. I’m like, that wasn’t the plan. God, I thought I was just supposed to live in Greeley, be a cowboy and sell beef all my life. But anyway, Well, I was 32 years old and it was life-changing because here I go from this really kid to also knowing this team and the Denver flash. And I go to these dinners and all that stuff. And it was, it was a wake up call for me. And I did pray a lot and saying, what am I supposed to be doing with this? I didn’t plan on owning a team, but it’s a little more challenging. out front than what I expected. It took me a while to get used to that, but through the grace of God, I surrounded myself with really good people. I’ve always had a lot of really good friends, and that’s so important to me because they can help you through it. I do miss just selling beef and being still living freely, but just doing that. But life’s changing. I do love the baseball business. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just different. The thing that I love about the business and the international sales division that I headed up was relationships, knowing people one-on-one in baseball. It’s a little different because even though I made friends with our athletes and stuff, there’s an agent involved and it just didn’t have the same social aspect. And Everyone says, oh, you own a baseball team. Well, yeah, but it’s a business. And I try to downplay it, but it is kind of a big deal, I guess.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
But I do miss the wholesomeness and stuff of the beef business. But I think I’ve changed, but hopefully changed in a good way by meeting. I’ve met a lot of great people. I’ve met a lot of great athletes. And guess what? Even though they’re athletes and we put them on this pedestal and stuff, they’re just like you and me. Mm-hmm. I mean, they can swing a bat, they can throw a pitch, but they still have the same battles and the same ups and downs that we all face. But theirs is under a microscope, so maybe it’s even a little tougher for them. And so I do feel for them when the fans and stuff are getting down on them, I show some empathy for them because that’s tough on them. They want to be successful, but they can’t always be. No one can.
CHRYSANDRA :
Mm-hmm. Charlie, so some of the pillars and wisdom that you’ve learned along the way of following God’s calling on your life, what has been, if you could say one or two of them that have stamped on your heart that you would tell everyone tuning in that they need to do that too to follow God’s calling?
CHARLIE MONFORT :
Well, that’s a tough one. But my true, my spiritual sponsor was Kelly McGregor, who you’ve met a couple of times. He passed away in 2010 when I was with him in Salt Lake City. And that was devastating to me because Kelly was a true man of God. And I always, even though he’s much younger than me by about 15 years, I guess, I always looked up to him because he was so strong spiritually. spiritually he was so strong as a husband as a father as a as a leader of the Rockies he was our president as you know um and I so I just would grasp whenever I could just watching him and so I couldn’t really say anything in particular stood out except that find, I found somebody that I really admired and I just watched and I learned from him. Um, he read a lot and we, I went, we had a good, uh, Bible study. It was down in Denver, so I didn’t make it very much, but he and I would have our own Bible study after his at Coors Field. And yeah, just find somebody that you really can, uh, appreciate and get along with personally and, and just, just go over things together, you know, just bounce things off. You really need a friend. You really need somebody that has the same goals and the same beliefs that you and, and, and if you can surround yourself with those people, make sure you spend that time with them and make sure you spend time talking about situations. If you have a problem, somebody you can rely on to open up to, that’s another problem. Too often we don’t have those people that we, you said, we all feel like we can do it ourselves. I always thought that I could, I could kick alcohol’s butt myself. I didn’t have any idea. I, you know, I, pretty proud person so i thought there’s not many things i want to reach out and ask for help to i’ve learned that’s not such a bad thing um to to um to yeah basically you say i can’t do it to uh surrender that’s another word surrender sounds like such a terrible word you surrender to quit no surrendering takes a lot of courage to surrender yourself and say i can’t do this no more Amen. Yeah. Surrender is not a bad word. It shows a heck of a lot of courage. Yeah. Earlier when we talked on the phone this morning. And so be willing to have that courage and say, I’m ready to let others into my life and help me through life. I want to enjoy it. I don’t want to, I don’t want to be miserable.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, Charlie, we’re so humbled to have you on today, and thank you so much.
CHARLIE MONFORT :
Well, I’m blessed to be on, Chrysandra, believe me. I’ve been looking forward to this, so thank you.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, it’s such an honor to have you, and again, would love you back. Hopefully our readings will do well. Thank you. I just want to thank everyone for tuning in. We are unfortunately out of time today, but we invite everybody to stay in touch with us, to hear our shows, to be inspired, especially just this one with Charlie. You can go to The Calling’s website, thecallingnonprofit.org. And we want you to know that you can go from being on the sidelines to being the hero of your story. And the best kind of hero is someone who inspires, empowers, and equips people to be the hero of their own story. Become God’s dreamer. We look forward to staying in touch with all of you. Till next time, keep dreaming big.
