The Upward basketball league at First Baptist Church will kick off its fourth season with cheerleading introductions November 8, 2008!  Practices will start in December and game play will begin January 10, 2009 with first through sixth graders and coaches taking to the hardwood for a day of excitement playing basketball, cheerleading and sharing the truth of God's Word with each other.  Come join us each Saturday in the Christian Family Life Center January 10, 2009 through February 28, 2009.

Make sure you do not miss our season ending Awards Celebration!  Mark your calendar for March 7, 2009.  The Awards Celebration will begin at 6:30 PM.  Dress is casual.

Registration will begin September 14, 2008.  Call the Activities Ministry office for more information at (706) 884-5570.

What is Upward Unlimited?

Upward offers an evangelistic sports ministry specifically designed for kindergarten through sixth grade boys and girls that promotes salvation, character, and self-esteem in every child. In addition to basketball, Upward offers cheerleading and we will be able to add additional sports ministries in the future. Upward provides opportunities for volunteers from all walks of life to become meaningfully involved in the ministries of our church. Volunteers have the opportunity to pray for our program, coach a team, referee a game, share a devotion, and develop relationships in order to open avenues of ministry to our community who will participate in our program.  Specifically designed for first through sixth grade boys and girls, Upward promotes salvation, character and self-esteem in every child.

What is the Purpose of Upward?

The purpose of Upward is to recognize that Every Child Is A Winner by promoting:

Salvation
To share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone involved in an Upward ministry.

Character
To help every child grow as Jesus did – spiritually, physically, mentally and socially.

Self-Esteem
To help every child grow in their understanding and enjoyment of sports.

Why Cheerleading?

• Cheerleading continues to grow at nearly a 50% rate each year nationally
• Nearly 3.6 million students participate in cheerleading annually
• 1.4 million cheerleaders are in the 6 to 11 year old age group

*source: 2004 Sports Participation in America Report, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association

Why Upward Cheerleading?

Likewise, teach older women to be reverent in the way they live…to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure... - Titus 2:3, 4-5a

Upward Cheerleading allows the women in your church to be involved in mentoring the girls in your community. 98% of our cheerleaders indicate that they would NOT have participated in basketball. Upward Cheerleading is designed to build an atmosphere catered to bringing out the Winner in EVERY child through:

• Maximizing the family schedule by having only one hour of practice and cheering at one game each week
• Equipping coaches to minister by providing extensive teaching materials
• Providing opportunities to promote other church ministries to all participants and their families
• Maximizing ministry opportunities by exposing players to Scripture-based devotions during each practice and spectators to halftime testimonies each game day.
• Encouraging each cheerleader with a game day award following every game
• Providing opportunities to see changed hearts and lives among children, family members, and volunteers who experience an Upward ministry.
• Building toward a harvest time at Awards Night where participants and parents are given an opportunity to respond to the Gospel.

Read a recent Lifeway Press article on Upward Unlimited!

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Used by permission.