Does God like football? Does He care who wins? These are questions I struggled with as a child. Passionate about football, I was sure God must have a favorite team in the SEC. As an adult I have come to realize that God is not passionate about football; He is passionate about people. But when football is used as a tool to tell people about Jesus, I believe God becomes its Number 1 fan. That is exactly what took place at Unity Baptist Church in Bonaire, Georgia in early June.

Upward Sports chose Unity, along with three other churches in the Southeast, to launch a pilot program for a Flag Football Camp. Locally there were 36 children ranging from K5 to 6th grade and 18 coaches who participated in this groundbreaking week.

The Upward Sports mission statement has always been to introduce children to Jesus Christ by creating opportunities to serve through sports. This pilot program was no exception as it sought to blend the fundamentals of football with the gospel of Jesus Christ in a fun and exciting way.

Teams were divided into three different age groups: K5-2nd, 3rd - 4th, and 5th - 6th. Each evening began with a team meeting with their coaches. The teams then rotated through stations where they were taught the fundamentals of defense, passing, receiving, and speed and agility. Teams also had a devotional time with their coaches and worked on learning and understanding a different Scripture verse each evening.

After the football instruction and devotions, teams enjoyed a light supper before hearing from dynamic speakers such as Jimmy Moneypenny, Jason Duke, Jeff Glynn and Slade Speir. The speakers shared how God has a purpose for each person, that everyone is made in His image, that each one is valuable to Him, and that only Jesus can make a person complete. The theme verse for the week was Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.” The players were challenged to recognize the wonderful way God has created each one of them and to take those individual talents and gifts and use them to serve Him at home, at school, and even on the football field.

Each evening ended with a scrimmage game so that the players could put into practice their newly learned skills. The players improved each night as they became more familiar with the game, more confident in their abilities, and more skilled in their techniques. Throughout the week every child had the opportunity to play each position. Everyone was able to be the quarterback, the center, the running back, and a receiver. This strategy reflects one of Upward’s key values that every child is a winner. At the end of each scrimmage game, the teams would gather and each player would receive a star to acknowledge a job well done and their contribution to the team throughout the evening and during the game. Stars were given for effort, leadership, sportsmanship, defense, offense, and Christlikeness.

The camp ran Tuesday through Friday evening and Saturday morning. Saturday’s events included a devotional challenge to parents and players, an exhibition game, and a post-game cookout for the entire family. The program was a great success because there was definite improvement in the players’ skill level and everyone had a fun time. Yet, ultimately, the program was successful because the Gospel was clearly presented to all the players and six decisions were made for Christ that week. This is what can happen when faith and fun collide on a football field. How can God not be a fan of that?

Registration is now open for Unity’s fall season of Flag Football and Cheerleading for K4- 8th graders. Participants must be 4 years old by May 1, 2010. The cost is $85 per child. Practice begins the week of Aug. 16th. Games will run from Sept. 11 to Nov. 6 with the Upward Awards night on Nov. 8. You can register online at www.discoverunity.com, print and mail a registration form, or come by the church office.

Go to www.upward.org to find an Upward program near you.