Building on the fundamentals: Three area churches participate in faith-based sports league

Young soccer, flag football and cheerleading enthusiasts can practice their passions with Upward, a not-for-profit league that has teams at Cape Bible Chapel, Lynwood Baptist Church and Fruitland Community Church.

Scott Horrell is Cape Bible Chapel's Upward League director. He is a deacon in the church, with a focus on recreational ministries. This is Upward's second year at Cape Bible Chapel. Last year the program had 45 boys playing flag football and a dozen girls cheerleading. Horrell wants to see the numbers double this year but acknowledges that the number of players really isn't up to him.

"That's going to have to be a God thing," he said.

Horrell said Upward was considered when the church started looking for a way to expand recreation ministry for children. After seeing Lynwood Baptist Church's Upward basketball program Horrell saw the potential for his church.

"I discovered that Upward has an excellent system," Horrell said. "We're fortunate to have this program available to these children."

Audrey Allen looks at her first Upward playing card, which athletes receive each week. Athletes can then use codes on the cards online for further instruction on both sports and Bible verses taught during the week. (Kit Doyle)

The program is designed to reach children through the gospel. The teams are set up through evaluations, where the athletes go through a series of stations and drills.

Horrell said the evaluations are not set up to have the athletes compete against each other but to measure their skill level. Once the evaluations take place, the numbers will be placed into a program called the Upward League Manager. The computer uses that information to rank the athletes, then the teams are assembled based on the ratings. Horrell said it helps even the playing field. The faith-based teams also encourage equal playing time.

Although Upward is a league for children, Horrell said, adults benefit from it as well.

"There's quite a bit I've learned," he said, such as to trust God more. "Just this week I've seen several encouraging things happen that I believe translates into a good season."

It's good for the parents as well.

"I've heard of adults accepting Christ in the middle of games during devotion times," Horrell said. "I do come to embrace this program the more I learn about it."

Horrell hopes that the message of Upward will eventually be heard in professional athletic sports. He said that from talking to coaches in the area, he understands they would rather have athletes with excellent character and average ability than athletes with outstanding skills and terrible character. He sees Upward as a way to curb bad sportsmanship on and off the field.

"This is a really good foundational program for the children," Horrell said.