In 1986, through the obedience of a recreation minister named Caz McCaslin, Upward Basketball began at a church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was God who founded this ministry and has been faithful to see it to fruition. Emphasis was placed on Christlikeness and good sportsmanship, not championships. Changed hearts and lives were seen in both those who played basketball and those who administered the league.

With a full gym and 27 children on a waiting list, Caz began evaluating the church grounds to see if anything could be renovated into a basketball court. The estimate for transforming the youth facility back into a gymnasium was over $11,000. After sharing his burden with a friend, he was generously given the funds needed for renovations and 27 children played for free.

When the next basketball season came, Caz was unsure of what to do. He explored the possibilities of building more courts at the church. When Caz approached his friend who had met his needs before, he heard these words. "Caz, you don't need another gym...What you need is 1,000 gyms." This statement led to the growth of Upward from one church to seven churches, and Upward Unlimited was born. Every new season has brought more leagues, more staff and more opportunities to share the gospel.

Make a Difference For One Kid

If you know me I am sure it will be hard for many of you to imagine, but as a child I wasn't gifted with much height. Simply put, I was a little guy. But as a kid I so loved sports. Moving to Indiana, I soon realized that Basketball was not a sport but a lifestyle. One of my fondest memories is when my dad put up a basketball goal in our driveway. We played games until we couldn't see the ball most nights.

However, basketball would be one of my most hurtful memories as a child. It was 5th grade try-outs. Again, I was not very big, but I could shoot, pass, and was very quick. I remember going through drills and running circles around other players. Well, I didn't get past the first round. I was told I was too short and too small to make the team. I was crushed to say the least. That is why I am so excited about Upward Basketball and Cheerleading. The motto is EVERY KID IS A WINNER, is such and uplifting slogan. Kids will have equal play no matter what their skill level is. Kids will get to be kids, and each will be celebrated as if THEY are the star.

With that in mind, I would like to challenge VMCC members in making a difference for one child. We have heard countless stories of children in our Township that have never played in any sports because of finances. Many of us have truly benefited from the lessons we learned from playing sports and what better place for kids to learn those lessons than here at church. My dream is that every kid in Decatur Township and the surrounding area knows three things:

1. Jesus loves them.

2. The church loves them.

3. They are a winner!

Through Upward we can do that through a sport called basketball. Funny how that works! And from our experience so far....IT DOES!