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Making A Difference

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

The action is fast and furious in the Upward Basketball League, which is run by the First Baptist Church of Sebring for youngsters in kindergarten through sixth grade.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: February 24, 2008

SEBRING –– Providing youngsters an opportunity to learn about the game of basketball and hear more about the word of God is what the Upward Basketball League is all about.

Joe Delph, who is in his first year as the associate pastor of youth and activities at the First Baptist Church of Sebring, heads up the first-year program, and is excited about the potential for growth in the league that is for youngsters in kindergarten through the sixth grade.

"This program is a great concept and has worked well here," said Delph. "This is a very sports oriented town and I think we've tapped into something culturally that will benefit what we're trying to do as a church in trying to reach out to the community."

More than 120 youngsters are participating in the league that uses the First Baptist Church of Sebring Recreation Outreach Center for its practices and games and runs through the end of March.

The Upward basketball League is open to any youngster in the community and you do not have to be a member of the church to participate.

"Our main message is to get the word of Jesus Christ out in the community," said Delph. "Basketball is good exercise and and is a great vehicle to reach the kids, and we have great support from parents, church members, Sunday school teachers and deacons who are always on hand to help out and make sure things are running smoothly."

This year's league is full, but plans are already under way for next year, when more youngsters might be involved.

"This year's turnout just blew my expectations away and we're hoping that more than 250 kids come out to participate in next year's program," said Delph. "The league starts up in January and runs through the end of March and now that the word is spreading, we're hoping to double the amount of players for next year.

"This Outreach Center is a great facility and is just now starting to fulfill its purpose and we're excited about that."

The league, which held a draft and has different divisions, holds one practice a week, where players learn bible verses as well as basketball plays.

Games are on Saturday's, where praying is a common sight before, during and after the contests, where scores aren't kept.

"We have team devotions, and at halftime of the games, the parents of the teams have devotion," said Delph. "So the word of God is being discussed and heard often and the kids internalize this and take it home with them.

"This is not about the competition, we want the kids to have fun and we're trying to provide an atmosphere where they can soak up the right kind of things, and most importantly, the word of God."

The Upward program, which also includes soccer, flag football and cheerleading, has more than 650,000 youngsters participating each year on a nation-wide basis.

"We had four people go for Upward training and I can't say enough good things about this organization," said league commissioner Robert O'Hern. "A lot of these kids need good role models and I can't tell you how many of the coaches have taken on the responsibility of helping their players on and off the court.

"It's amazing how quickly this program has taken off and we feel very blessed, but when God leads the way, anything is possible."

Plans for a summer camp are being discussed.

"We would love to have a summer camp and maybe have some of the local high school basketball players take part," said O'Hern. "The kids really look up to those guys and they would get a kick out of meeting them in person.

"We might have it the same week we have vacation bible school which would help a lot of parents, but we haven't finalized the details."

In the end, reaching out to the youngsters is what the Upward program is all about.

"God has been taken out of a lot of things, but he's very much a part of our life," said O'Hern. "Reaching kids withGod's message of love at a young age is very important and we're excited about all the possibilities the Upward program gives us."

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