For nearly 30 years, Upward Sports has ministered across the nation with more than 2,800 sports experiences every year. In March, Grace Church in Morton, Illinois concluded its 21st season of Upward basketball and cheerleading, serving 430 boys and girls from the surrounding community.
Players not only learn a competitive sport through Upward, but league director Brad Habegger says this is where athletes experience “love and care and encouragement that ultimately points them to Jesus.” Whether it’s weekly devotionals shared at practices or timely email responses received from volunteers, Brad sees each act of service as an opportunity to live out Matthew 5:16, “…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This season, God’s glory shone off the basketball court as well. Brad found out one of the players, who is not connected to Grace Church, was in the hospital. That’s when his team took action. “His Upward coach and Upward team coordinated a Face Time call during one of the practices…They gathered up groceries and food for this boy’s rather large family. That was really encouraging to see the ministry go well beyond the court and into a hospital room.”
Jonathan Farrell, lead pastor at Grace Church, invites us to join him in prayer, that “the seeds of the gospel shared during the devotionals throughout the season…will bear fruit in the hearts of those who were a part of this ministry.”
