Basketball, the Gospel join in Upward Sports
Basketball and sharing the Gospel message may not seem a logical pairing, but two churches in Demopolis have found they make perfect sense together.
The Rev. Carl Williams, pastor of First Baptist Church, in his talk to the Demopolis Rotary Club Wednesday explained how his church and Fairhaven Baptist Church joined in 2015 to sponsor West Alabama Upward Sports basketball for kids from kindergarten through seventh grade.
Upward Sports began in 1995 in Spartenburg, S.C. and since then has spread to some 2,800 churches in the United States. The program’s purpose, said Williams, is to “use basketball as an avenue to point people to Christ.”
In listing some of the benefits to the program, Williams said it helps kids learn to get along with each other, aims to develop a Christ-like character in the players, and it gets them off their phones and talking with each other face-to-face.
While points are kept, coaches and sponsors try not to overly emphasize the score. Everyone plays, said Williams.
The program had 79 boys and girls this year. The goal is to reach 100 players. All games are played on Saturdays. Fairhaven hosts the K-4th grade students, and First Baptist takes those in grades 5-7.
“We’re not competing with each other,” said Williams. “It’s just a lot of fun.”
The pastor sees another upside to having Upward Sports basketball. “I think Demopolis could have one of the top basketball programs in the state” by getting players interested in the sport at an early age.
The Upward Sports program tries to make it possible for all students to take part, no matter what their economic circumstances. “We don’t want money to be an issue,” said Williams.
Registration per player is $55, less that most other youth sports programs in the area. Williams said they would welcome donations so the program can set up scholarships for players who might not be able to pay a portion or all of the fee. In addition, volunteers are needed as referees and coaches.