After eight weeks of practices and eight game days stretching from December to March 12, this past weekend saw the conclusion of our 20^th season of Upward Basketball and Cheerleading at Mighty Rivers. There were seventy-two games by the eighteen teams, and practices were held five nights a week, giving coaches an opportunity to bond with their kids and build values into those very young lives.

The men and women coaches included pharmacy techs, bankers, construction workers, school teachers, agri-business people, retirees, counselors, caseworkers, nurses, state officials, county officers, cosmetologists, project managers, computer specialists, school employees, mechanics, and self-employed people, an All-State high school baseball player, honor roll students, and others.

Four biblical virtues were emphasized at every practice and at every game—Honor, Endurance, Faith, and Love.

God sends children not just to keep up the race, but to enlarge our hearts, to make us unselfish and full of affection, to give our souls higher aims, and to cause happy faces and loving hearts.

A celebration called Awards Night was held last Saturday evening in the home of Upward, our Activity Center, where all 203 boys and girls, K-6, received a gift—a basketball from Upward Sports for players and a carry-all bag for cheerleaders. Trophies were given to each player and cheerleader from our staff and local program.

Some people decry the giving of a trophy to every participant, but hold on. Your love for competition and winners and losers can wait. We see each child as a trophy of God’s grace and love. The trophy we give them is just a symbol of the trophy they are to God.

D. J. Edwards, special guest from near St. Louis, presented the gospel, and 45 youths responded by indicating their desire to make Christ their champion and come to Him as their Savior.

The next morning was Upward Sunday, worship the Upward way, and again D. J. Edwards used his gift to present the gospel, which again was effective.

The final touch was the Appreciation Dinner for Upward Volunteers and for Upward Prayer Partners along with all others who joined the celebration on Upward Sunday. Rex Wilburn, Jason Spaulding and the All-Star Cooking Team served Pork Steaks, California Potatoes, Green Beans, Roll, and drink to the adults, and chicken strips and French fries to the kids. Homemade desserts were provided by women and men of the church. This finished the season, but the influence has no end.