School unaware of group's church connection on trading cards

Cape Girardeau school officials would have prohibited a motivational group of former athletes from handing out trading cards at school assemblies if they had known the cards advertised the group's scheduled performances at a local church, superintendent Dr. David Scala said Thursday.

The trading cards were handed out at the end of school assemblies at which the group, Team Impact, performed feats of strength. The back of the cards advertised the group's scheduled performances at Cape First Church.

Members of the group performed at assemblies at all five of Cape Girardeau's elementary schools and Cape Central Middle School and the Alternative Education Center last month. "All the principals told me there was no religious message at all," Scala said.

But he said school officials wouldn't have allowed the ad on the back of the trading cards if they had been aware of it.

Scala plans to talk to building principals about the guidelines for school assemblies in an effort to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.

The Team Impact assembly at Alma Schrader Elementary School on Sept. 22 sparked criticism from a parent who believes it violated the constitutional separation of church and state.

Cards were handed out promoting the organization. The back of the cards encouraged students to attend the group's shows at Cape First, an Assembly of God church at 254 S. Silver Springs Road.

"They came in and advertised to these children. It was almost coercion," said Perrey Lee, mother of a first-grader and a second-grader at Alma Schrader. Both her sons attended the school assembly Sept. 22.

Lee, who attends an Episcopal church, said she took her sons to see Team Impact perform at Cape First Sept. 24. She said her children wanted to see the group perform again.

She said she left feeling the show was an effort by Cape First to recruit new members. "I think it is wrong," she said.

A relative of the two boys complained to school officials.

School officials said Cape First paid for the team to perform at the school assemblies. Team Impact charges $500 to perform at a school assembly.

The Texas-based ministry involves former professional athletes in football, wrestling and other sports.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

Among other feats, team members break blocks of concrete and ice.

Team Impact performs at more than 700 school assemblies per year.

Heath Cave, logistics coordinator at Team Impact's office near Dallas, said that while the group is a ministry it steers clear of talking about God at school assemblies. Cave said the group encourages students to do well in school and make good decisions in life.

A Cape First staff member declined comment, referring a reporter to the pastor. The pastor was on vacation and couldn't be reached.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123