Wednesday, September 19, 2007

i never thought i'd say this...

but i'm a soccer mom!

it's one of those things that i never thought about when you think about having kids, but it's fun.

EmmaLeigh signed up for Upward Soccer this year at our church Emmanuel

Upward is a great sports program that teaches kids about not only sports but sportsmanship and christlikeness.

Why Upward Soccer?
Upward Soccer provides a chance for your church to use the fastest growing sport in the US to evangelize your community. Through the Upward Soccer model, any church with a 15 x 25 - 40 x 60 yard field or a gym can plug in to this powerful tool. By keeping in mind that Every Child is a Winner, Upward is able to help you build a league that promotes salvation, character, and self-esteem in all who participate through:
1. Sportsmanship and competitiveness in proper perspective by not maintaining league standings in any division.
2. Maximizing the family schedule by having only one hour of practice and one game each week.
3. Equipping coaches and referees to minister by providing extensive teaching tools and simplified rules format.
4. Providing opportunities to promote other church ministries to all participants and their families.
5. Allowing the coach to focus on ministering to children and their families, instead of game strategy, by having a set substitution system where all players are allowed equal playing time and equal opportunity for improvement.
6. Maximizing ministry opportunities by exposing players to Scripture-based devotions during each practice and spectators to halftime testimonies each game day. 7. Encouraging each player with a game day award following every game.
8. Providing opportunities to see changed hearts and lives among children, family members, and volunteers who experience an Upward ministry.
9. Building toward a harvest time at the Upward Awards Celebration where participants and parents are given an opportunity to respond to the gospel.

We think this is a great outreach tool and its great to be able to play and teach children sports in a christian environment.