Making Bigger the Family of God
“We were anxious at the thought of running the league as directors, but the Lord opened our hearts to see how this was really about using sports to make God’s family bigger,” said Joel. “Since God first called us, we’ve witnessed the needs of the community and seen how we can steward what the Lord gave us to bring togetherness and build community across different backgrounds through sports.”
These friendships can persist off the sports field too. After one girl suffered an injury during a soccer game, her whole team rallied around her to check on her and make sure she was recovering well, feeling encouraged, and still knew she was a part of the team. Even after the conclusion of the sports season, the team continued to be friends and were jumping for joy anytime their paths crossed on Upward gamedays.
“It truly was a beautiful picture of the Gospel and an inspiration to watch these kids, who did not even know each other a few weeks prior, love and serve one another in that way,” said Katie. “We should never underestimate the power of God’s Word and the seeds being planted every time they hear a halftime devotional or work through a Bible verse with their coach. It just shows how God loves moving in the hearts of these kids.”
But these new Gospel-inspired friendships also exist between coaches and players as well. When inspired by God’s Word, coaches can become mentors and players can become disciples.
We see the same kind of transformation between Paul and Timothy in the epistles. Paul begins his letter in 1 Timothy with “my true child in the faith” and then begins 2 Timothy with “my beloved child.” These types of relationships only come about when united around a common mission and a common vision that is as deep as the faith shared by Christians.
At Bloomington Upward, community-building is about this kind of growth in shared faith and love. One coach even found a job for one of his players and walked him through the interview process to make sure he was prepared.
Running Upward basketball, for example, typically requires multiple basketball courts, and it was difficult for some families to drive to multiple locations around town. As a result, many kids were not able to participate, despite their desire to do so. Through the partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, Katie and Joel were able to consolidate all their games in one location, making their sports league accessible to those who were not able to participate before.
This partnership also meant that they were able to reach kids from the low-income neighborhoods around Bloomington. With scholarships on hand, Upward made it possible for kids of all backgrounds to participate and be a part of the team. The Boys and Girls Club already ran after-school programs and activities by themselves, but Upward coming alongside them only bolstered the effectiveness and reach for both organizations.
“Not a lot of investment existed in the area where the Boys and Girls Club was located,” said Katie and Joel. “What the partnership between Upward Sports and the Boys and Girls Club meant was bringing the Gospel to places where there was a need not being met. We’re glad the church could come in and help to fill that need.”
Katie and Joel’s vision to connect people’s passion for sports to their faith translated into a mission to make God’s family a little bigger. They built a community in Bloomington around sports and faith. And people from all types of backgrounds joined in.
The result is that Bloomington, Indiana is a clearer and more radiant picture of the Gospel. Together, God’s gospel truth and the power of sports can transform communities like Bloomington for the better.
