More Than Basketball

My friend Eric and I were at a large gathering a few weeks ago and he sought me out after the event to tell me a compelling story.  Eric works for the Salem Police Department and as he walked into the stadium, he met eyes with a familiar face that he couldn’t quite recognize.  The man glared at him and it quickly dawned on Eric how he knew this person.  Eric had been called to the man’s home the previous night on official police business!  His wife, a dancer at a local strip club, was standing next to him along with their 10-year-old son.  Even though Eric was a bit concerned about the icy stare of the father, wondering if he had intentions to start a conflict, he was deeply impacted by the emotions he felt toward the young son.

 Eric is a committed follower of Christ, and he shared with me how difficult it is for him to see children in homes that are ravaged by drugs, violence and instability.  Eric remembered seeing this child the night before, standing in the hallway with a look of fear on his face.  His heart broke for the little boy, knowing the challenges he was facing at home.  But this night, standing in a stadium with 2,000 other people, Eric had an altogether different response to seeing this young child.  He felt joy.  He felt hope and a sense of peace that physically affected him.  A smile came to his face, and he knew he needed to tell me his story as soon as the event was over.  What caused this drastic change in the way he felt toward this 10-year-old boy?  Eric was standing in the Salem Armory at the Upward Basketball Year-End Celebration, and this child was wearing an Upward jersey!

 Upward Basketball is so much more than a basketball league.  This vital ministry gives us an opportunity to come alongside young children (and their parents) and show them what it means to follow Christ.  We coach them in character development, we affirm them for their strengths, we help them address their growth areas and we teach them about what life looks like when it is built upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.  Eric was instantly aware of the fact that this young boy had just spent 3 months in the Christ-centered, prayer-driven, Church-led, affirming atmosphere of Upward Basketball.  Over the past 12 years, we have enrolled 9,077 students in the Upward Ministry.  What an opportunity we have to transform our culture as we teach, motivate and inspire these children with a Biblical Worldview that will guide them long after their basketball playing days are over!
 --Pastor Jeff

Volunteers

I’m a people-watcher.  You know, one of those who doesn’t mind a wait in a crowded airport because there is a never-ending procession of interesting people and stories to be played out.  I’ve learned a lot about our SFBC Volunteers recently, just by watching.  They go above and beyond, which is an ideal not always achieved for paid staff let alone those whose every minute is precious and freely given, with no expectation of human recompense.

In the thought-provoking quiet of the First Sunday, as I watch our Deacons serve communion, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for what our Lord did for us.  And in those moments of reflection I am humbly aware of the godly men that the Lord has called to shepherd us.  Volunteers, each one.  Men with families, jobs, heartaches, joys, struggles and victories; men with busy schedules and active families.  Faithful men, serving with loving diligence, not only on Sunday morning but often late on weeknights in obligation to the various committees and other ministries in which they serve.

Children’s Ministries is another area where people watching reveals sweet insights.  During a recent emergency procedures drill, I heard not one complaint from Volunteers shuffling rambunctious grade-schoolers, reticent toddlers, gawking preschoolers, or crying babies.  Each was tending their flock, even in the heavy drizzle of a cool Oregon morning.  Another day I saw an Awana secretary play in a corner with a child who just couldn’t maintain in a group, and another Awana volunteer speak so tenderly to a child who was out of control.  I watch the love of Christ manifest itself on a daily basis.

How many of us are aware on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings how carefully our Security Team watches out for us?  From kindly rousting homeless campers out of flower beds to attentively watching the crowds for potential issues, they roam the campus, week after week.

My people-watching catches the love on the face or in the tender touch and words of someone working with a child.  A volunteer “Nurse on Duty” recently blessed me beyond measure by solicitously tending one of our widows who felt very shaky and frightened.  And this doesn’t begin to mention those who work with youth or visit shut-ins.  There might be a few who consider volunteering a drudgery to be avoided when possible or endured when not.  But the joy of serving is so evident in most of those I encounter, and we are blessed beyond measure; surely the blessing of eternal reward cannot even be weighed!  Thank you, SFBC Volunteers!

Sherri Sperling
Children's Ministries Director

More Than a Concession Stand

Most of us, when asked, are willing to serve in just about any area as long as fear doesn’t take over.  As an example, almost anyone is willing to volunteer to run a concession stand for Upward Basketball; yet very few would say their heart's desire is to serve as a referee.  But how many of us when we serve are really tied into the mission and vision of our church?  Better yet, how many of us as we go around our daily lives are completely in tune with the mission and vision of Jesus?   What was His mission?  To seek and save the lost.  If you’re like me, it’s easy to sleep walk through entire sections of a day or week with no awareness of the mission that Christ has us on.  Unless I put myself on mission first thing in the morning the tyranny of the urgent quickly presses me. 

Last week I observed something special happen at an Upward Concession stand.  One of our members was selling hot dogs.  Normally this would be a simple transaction to give a hot dog and take a buck. In this instance, I saw engagement in the mission.  “How long have you been involved in Upward?” “What do you love about it?" “Do you have a church you worship at?” Ah, the art of asking questions!  Getting outside my own bubble and caring about someone else. Isn’t this what Jesus wants?  For us to take more than a passing interest in others?  For some of you this comes naturally.  You are wired for relationships and you gain energy by reaching out, connecting, and having conversations.  Others are more reserved and need to be prompted by the Holy Spirit.  As the hot dog buying couple replied to my friend, “We live in Keizer, but we’ve been commuting to a church in Portland for 4 years,” he was able to offer a simple, sincere invite to come join us at one of our weekend services.  Whether they come and become involved in our local fellowship for our mutual growth and edification isn’t really the point.  My friend looked beyond a hot dog.  He peered over the concession stand counter.  He saw a couple that are deeply loved by Jesus and that perhaps may join a local fellowship in the community in which they live.  The mission of Salem First Baptist Church is to bring people into a life changing relationship with God and each other.  I would say the Upward concession stand is as good a place as any to live that mission out. 

Kudos to all of you around the city living the mission each day.  May God strengthen you by His mighty hand.  May His Spirit guide you into each interaction and conversation He wants.  May your life continue to be transformed into His image so that He can use you to transform the culture of our city to more closely reflect God’s heart.
--Pastor Nate