Eight years ago, I was sitting in an Awards banquet for Upward Basketball at Isom's Chapel. Proud father and coach of the mighty Panthers, a K-2nd grade group of Michael Jordan wannabes. Austin was closing out his first season in organized basketball and I had been his coach. We had a wonderful season. My assistant coach was the coolest and quietest coach I'd ever met. And it turns out, he was a pastor. (As a footnote, he's now my Pastor!) He basically let me run the show, including the practice devotions even though he was infinitely more qualified in that area. We taught the boys how to dribble and protect the ball, how to defend against the dribble and the shot, how to rebound and claim loose balls. As with any team, we had mottos that we taught:
"Pay Attention, Do Your Best, Have Fun"
"Defense Wins Championships"
"Share the Ball"
"I Will Get My Own Rebound and Everybody Else's"
"Every Loose Ball is Mine"
You know, the usual kind of stuff for a basketball team. I think God was having fun watching us, probably wondering where His motto was, and probably having more fun knowing what was in store later for an unsuspecting coach.
Even though we didn't keep score (officially), I think we did pretty well as a team. The boys always announced we won, whether or not we did is anyone's guess. So there I sat, comfy and collected in the Awards banquet. Comfortable in the knowledge that I'd done the best job I could at coaching the Panthers that season. And then, God announced His presence in a mighty way. A way I was not expecting. That's why God had assigned a pastor and new friend to be my assistant coach. As is customary in an Upward Awards banquet, there was a time of invitation, an opportunity for commitment if you will, to the children (and parents) at the close of the ceremony. Out of six boys on our team, three committed themselves to Jesus that very night and one recommitted his own life to our Lord. The other two professed to be Christians already. And just like that, every member of the Panthers was now one of His, with their names recorded in the Book of Life! I was not expecting this outcome and was totally overwhelmed by it. It was the first time as a father that tears of joy filled my eyes.
One of the three new Christians was my own son, Austin. And trust me, he knew exactly what he was doing, even if I didn't fully comprehend what was happening. Austin began telling anybody and everybody who would listen from that day forward that he had been saved that night. And Upward basketball had a new coach who now understood that it wasn't about the baskets or the rebounds, but the repentence and reconcilliation. God was at work here and it was only now apparent to a young coach. Fortunately, the assistant coach was fully prepared for the event and had mementos for each of the boys to remember the night (Austin's WWJD bracelet still hangs proudly over his 2001-2002 Upward trophy).
Now, eight years later, Austin has finished his eligibility as a player, completing the first year under our new 7th-8th grade boys league, and began his career as a coach, leading the Mighty Incredibles, a K-2nd Grade boys team. He did a wonderful job and we are very proud of him. I am now the Director of the Ministry at Isom's Chapel, thanking God everyday for showing me why the Upward Basketball and Cheerleading Ministry was formed, and Austin is the self-appointed Assistant Director. Along the way I have been fortunate to coach every one of Austin's teams. Some years, I've been blessed to coach two teams. Connie even got in on the coaching one year by heading up a cheerleading team. Austin and I found ourselves severely outnumbered one night when Connie had her entire team over for a spend the night! 
And this year, Lily got involved by being at the center of attention at every opportunity that presented itself. She got to spend considerable time at the gym as an official "cheerleader" for all the teams, while Connie, Austin, and I did what we could to make the Upward season a success. Of course, it was Lily's educated opinion that the whole show was put on for her benefit. According to this theory, everyone was there to see her and to make sure she was noticed! And she did occassionally steal the show - check out the Bama vs Auburn pics of her and Ben! I thought we were going to have to stop this game until the photo shoot was over! She sat on the bench with me several times and kept me from going "coach" with the older boys teams. By the end of the season, every time I put on a jacket, Lily would ask "Are you going to church?"
We've been extremely blessed to have been a part of so many children's lives through this Ministry and to have been witness to so many who have come to know Jesus while perfecting their jump shot or cheering for the players. This season was my first as Director of the Ministry and, though it had its trying moments, I can truly say that once again, God has handed out the blessings to a Director who was learning on the job. One of the greatest blessings was the privilege of coaching the Lady Eagles, a kindergarten through 2nd grade girls team. I think this was God's way to continue teaching me about little girls, in the hope that I get it right in raising Lily Grace and her future sister Lia Faith. I'll have to admit though to having my own hand in becoming the Lady Eagles' coach. As director of the Ministry, one of my jobs was finding coaches for all the teams. While I wouldn't go as far as to say that I discouraged potential coaches for the Lady Eagles, I continued to hope for an opportunity to work with them myself. And so God said "OK, but only if you give Me the Glory!" So that's what we tried to do.
Six little angels who wanted nothing more than to have fun and score a few baskets along the way. Pink tennis shoes and pony tails. Pig tails and big smiles. Girls who, for the most part, knew the Bible well and even taught me a few things along the way. Like the night they prayed for Lily Grace and we saw Lily's 104 degree fever break by the time I got home. We had a Christmas party, a Valentine Party, and even celebrated Chinese New Year together. Helping one of the little Lady Eagles score her first basket during a game was definitely the highlight of the season for me. He also provided a couple of assistant coaches, Kim and Rebekah, to help me and to make sure I didn't make the girls cry! Kim and Rebekah were awesome. Kim is mother to one of the Lady Eagles and Rebekah is a former Upward player who has moved on to play high school basketball! Take a look at God's Little Lady Eagles and their coaches. What an awesome and fun loving group this was. I told all their parents that I'd had more fun coaching this team than any since that first season, when Austin and a few of his buddies came to know Jesus.
We held our Awards Night this year on February 29th and were privileged again to see more children offer their lives to Jesus. We also saw children grow in their knowledge of the Word and their witness to it. Our hope is that seeds planted this season will be watered along the way so that one day God's fruit will burst forth and a new coach or Director will rise up to carry His Word to a new generation of believers. Wouldn't that just be the coolest thing! We were honored to have Lesha from Lesha's Loft to entertain the children and their parents this year with the most awesome presentation of God's Word through puppets and ventriloquy. Lesha kept us all in stitches as she stitched together the Good News and a season of basketball and cheerleading. Checkout the picture of Lily on the set of Lesha's Loft (once again, commanding attention!). We closed the Awards Night with pictures of the season set to a Casting Crowns song called "All Because of Jesus!"
If you can find an Upward Basketball and Cheerleading Ministry near you, sign up and sit back and watch God work! Or even better still, get involved. Just don't take my job coaching the Lady Eagles!
Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, (and Lia Faith out there somewhere), and the Lady Eagles!
Green, Party of Five (Eleven if you count the Lady Eagles)
