Upward sports program to begin at First Assembly

"Upward Basketball and Cheerleading," a national children's sports program based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is coming to Lincoln County.

By partnering with local churches, the organization gives children and their families an opportunity to spend quality time together, while helping children develop their character and self esteem through healthy competition. For their part, parents may volunteer to serve as coaches, referees, or "team parents."

Sponsored by First Assembly of God, the Upward Unlimited program will feature equal teams, equal playing time for all, post-game awards, and much more for boys and girls in grades K through six.

Practices are scheduled to begin the week of January 21, with the first game set for Saturday, January 26. The season will conclude on Tuesday, March 11, with an awards ceremony. All activities will take place in the Family Life Center Gym at First Assembly.

Moreover, practices and games are each limited to one hour per week, which will make playing sports much easier for families with hectic schedules.

Upward's slogan is: "Upward Basketball and Cheerleading - A league where every child plays. Every child learns. Every child is a winner."

The evangelistic organization strives to provide first-class, detailed administrative tools, services, materials, and support to its ministry partners. As a result of this approach, Upward has become a nationwide phenomenon in just 11 years.

"If Lincoln County will embrace the Upward Unlimited program, I believe we will see more boys and girls in our community grow into adults with stronger values and higher self-esteem," said Chip Woodall, family ministries pastor at First Assembly. "I want my five children to understand priorities, expectations, discipline, and integrity. Upward teaches all four of these values, and as a parent, that excites me."

He went on to say, "This is not just a First Assembly of God sports program. It is a county-wide outreach initiative geared toward giving every child in grades K through six the opportunity to play basketball or be a cheerleader.

"Some kids want to play ball, but they never make the first string," Woodall continued. "Then, after years of sitting on the bench, they become discouraged and quit. These boys and girls deserve the chance to play and excel at their own individual levels."

Registration for the Upward program has already begun at First Assembly and will continue through January 7. The cost of early registration is $45 per child; the fee will increase to $55 after January 3. Scholarships are available.

In addition, all participants must attend one basketball or cheerleading orientation. These are slated for January 5 and January 8.

To obtain more information or to register for the Upward program, call the church office at 706-359-7237 or drop by the church, located at 328 May Avenue (Thomson Road), between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This season, more than 530,000 children and 270,000 adults across the United States will benefit from the Upward experience.