Community Hero Stories
What is a Community Hero?
An individual who brings their community together with an innovative approach to sports ministry while serving selflessly and inspiring life long change on and off the court. We want to celebrate these difference makers who labor in the Gospel work of making Jesus known through the power of sports.
Building a Legacy at Riverside Church
Written by Corrina Ramirez, Content Writer at Upward Sports.
More than 25 years ago, what others saw as an aging high school, Riverside Church in Three Rivers, MI saw as an opportunity.
In 1999, Riverside purchased the former Three Rivers High School for just one dollar. It was never simply about acquiring a larger building. Riverside saw a God-given opportunity to continue reaching families and investing in the next generation.
From the beginning, Riverside was committed to using the building to serve the community. In 2007, Intramural Basketball for middle and high school boys started. The response was incredible. Families gathered, relationships were built, and Riverside saw how sports could open doors for connection, belonging, and ministry.
Nearly two decades later, that same heart continues.
Lead Pastors Erick and Chanel Penn both grew up at Riverside and experienced firsthand what it meant to have pastors, leaders, volunteers, and a church family invest in their lives. Today, they carry a deep desire to give the next generation those same opportunities–to be surrounded by people who believe in them, encourage them, and point them toward Jesus.
In 2022, Riverside Next Gen team launched Upward Basketball. As participation grew, so did the opportunity to reach more families.
In 2026, the Riverside Next Gen team hired Bobbie Bradley as Upward Sports Director. Today, Bobbie oversees Upward Basketball and has helped expand the ministry with the addition of Upward Soccer.
Before taking on the league director role, Bobbie worked with Honor Flight. This nonprofit organization provides trips for veterans to Washington, D.C. She credits her background with Honor Flight in helping her with the logistics of running the sports league. During those trips, Bobbie coordinated the logistics of getting 189 people to Washington, D.C., navigating the city, and returning them home safely to their families.
“That’s a God thing, bringing me back into using those talents that I honed through Honor Flight and using it with the kids now so that we can make sure that they are all properly taken care of and having a great time and enjoying all of that as they are going through the program. Letting parents know that we are taking care of all the little details, so they don’t have to worry about it.”
Some of those little details that Bobbie has implemented in her Upward Sports League included having smaller parent meetings during practice instead of one large parent meeting at the start of the season. While participants were on the court learning basketball skills, Bobbie would meet with parents and answer any questions they had about the season. The smaller setting also gave parents an opportunity to connect and get to know one another.
Another little detail involved implementing a designated drop-off point for athletes on game days. While simple, the change helped create a smoother experience for families and helped keep things organized.
Something that stood out to Bobbie was the level of support available to volunteer coaches through the Upward program. In fact, she decided to start recruiting coaches for the next year during the end-of-season celebration. She made sure people could see exactly what resources were available and how they could use them
I made sure people understood you just need to have a heart for the kids; you don’t have to be a coach already. Everything is here to help you do that. I’ve never seen a program that has everything laid out, videos to assist; it is just an amazing program.
League Director
The Riverside Upward Sports League’s commitment to building a legacy doesn’t end when an athlete ages out of the program, though. Through the Legacy Athlete Program, participants with at least three years, or four sport seasons of involvement in the league receive a jacket at no cost. Bobbie recognizes that not every family can afford travel sports, and she wants Upward Sports at Riverside Church to be a place where kids can earn recognition for their hard work.
“There is no other sport in this community where these kids can earn a jacket. They cannot buy them; these parents don’t pay for them; they earn a jacket.”
With the new sport expansion, the jackets will include patches for each sport and year the athlete plays. Bobbie says the players can wear their jackets in the community “as a badge of honor,” noting that people can see the jackets in the community and “know where they can go to get and be a part of something that can celebrate their kids, how long they’ve been in their sport, and how hard they’ve worked.”
Building a legacy also means ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate in the program. To help remove financial barriers, Bobbie introduced the Adopt an Athlete program in which donors can help fund scholarships for families in need. While families may request either partial or full scholarships, the league has so far received requests only for partial assistance.
Bobbie admits that stepping in as a league director was overwhelming at first, but the positive feedback she received from the parents in the program was encouraging. She emphasizes that much of the program’s success is thanks to God.
“I’m where I am supposed to be, when I am supposed to be. God, you’ve got this. I’m giving this to you, God, because I don’t know. He took it and made it what it was supposed to be, and the families had a wonderful experience.”
Inspired by Riverside Church? You can make a lasting impact in your community just like they have. Starting an Upward Sports league is more than organizing games. It’s creating a space where faith and fun come together to change lives. Whether you’re passionate about sports, outreach, or simply want to serve, there’s a place for you in this ministry.
Start an Upward Sports Ministry at Your Church Today!
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