…So ends another fun and successful CSports Basketball season. Thank you all so very much for all of the time and effort you put into this season! Saturday was a good day but a long one. Mrs. Rose and I, along with our part time sports staff and volunteers, arrive at the gym around 7:30am on Saturdays to get things set up for games. This weekend there were also a number of team parties planned so Mrs. Rose set up a lot of tables and chairs for them as well. There was also the Child Identification Program in the Hospitality Room for which Mrs. Rose set up even more tables. Our Part Time sports staff, Adam, Brennan, and Zac worked hard all day setting up, breaking down, moving, changing, and cleaning up. Our volunteers, Mrs. Carolyn Farnell at the Rec Desk and young Wyatt who handled the tunnel and scoreboard worked long and hard as well. Our Rec Desk staff person, Kristina, was called to run the concession stand as we found out that no one had been scheduled. Kristina and her daughter graciously filled the void while Mrs. Carolyn held down the Rec Desk. As always, moving teams into the tunnel, call outs, goal height adjustment and movement, assigning referees, etc. went smoothly. When the games were finally over around 3:30pm, teams were finishing their team parties while our custodial staff person, Derrick, waited patiently before preparing the hallways and restrooms for Sunday morning. My staff and I, along with Wyatt, cleared the courts of goals, bleachers, benches, tables, water coolers, etc., blew the corners, dust mopped, and then wet mopped the entire gym floor. By 4:30pm we were pretty wiped out but felt great about the job that was done. My old self limped out to my truck and headed out toward home, but guess what I saw…Mrs. Rose was out at the pavilion pulling garbage bags getting the pavilion ready for CSports Baseball which begins…TODAY! That woman is incredible and I hope you will all give her a big “thank you” and a pat on the back when you see her.
The reason I spent this much time telling you about our day is to remind you that all of our efforts have purpose. I got to present a few halftime devotions during the games Saturday and attempted to bring all of our efforts into focus. You see, if you ever see or hear the news from around the state, nation, and world, you will realize that there are conflicts, natural disasters, diseases, and many other things going on constantly, and we wonder what we can do to make the world better for the next generation. God tells us in II Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins, ands heal their land.” Saturday, I saw coaches leading their teams in prayer. I even saw one of our young players lead the prayer in one of the circles. When I, along with the others who presented devotions, finished our prayers, I heard many in the stands join us in the “amen”. You, the leaders of our Basketball program, are fulfilling God’s directive and our land is being healed, one soul at a time! The response cards from our CSports Celebration last week showed us that 20 adults and 32 young players accepted Christ as their Savior during the season. 46 adults and 42 players wrote that they had grown closer in their relationship with Christ during the season. Saturday afternoon those people walked out of our gym and entered the world as followers of God; as disciples. All of the time you spent on the phone calling families about schedules, all of the times you parked and walked through rain to conduct practices and lead games, all of the times you knelt in a circle with your team and read God’s word and told the players about His love for them, when you led the families in your Team Service Project and showed unconditional love for others…you, as God’s called and chosen, were changing the world. Just as my adult children remember their childhood coaches, these players will remember you and will probably emulate you in the future when they coach kids themselves. THANK YOU!
Tonight begins Baseball Evaluations. Mrs. Rose always needs coaches! If you feel the call, please let her know this afternoon! I look forward to doing ministry with all of you in the future! Enjoy your next Saturday off!
In His Service,
Steve Ellisor, Recreation Minister
Christ United Methodist Church
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6