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A camp participant collects trash around the community center. Catherine Bahn photo
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ATLANTA – More than 50 teenage boys participated in a camp June 11-14 in Helena-West Helena, Ark., that focused on learning new basketball skills and about a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The camp was sponsored by Together for Hope, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. This is the third summer that the traveling FCA team and local Together for Hope workers have worked together to offer the basketball camp.
"I’ve learned to let God take control of your life," said Dexter Davis, 13, who participated in the camp for a third year. "I also learned how to dribble better and how to play defense."
As with previous summers, the teens participated in a community service project, collecting more than 150 bags of trash within a five-block radius of the city’s community center. They honed basketball skills through drills led by former Arkansas high school basketball coach Jason Carmichael. Robert Upshaw, brother of former National Football League player Willie Upshaw, also challenged the teens to focus on a relationship with Jesus Christ.
"We hope and pray that some of these young people will improve their basketball skills and more importantly begin a relationship with Jesus Christ or build upon that relationship," said Ben Newell, who serves with his wife, Leonora, as CBF Global Missions field personnel in Helena-West Helena.
TFH and FCA didn’t want campers to simply take home polished basketball skills, but to also adopt a new outlook on life.
"In an environment like this, kids conform to whatever," said FCA intern Sam Farris. "But then you notice kids listening, and maybe changing their attitude."
"I’m taking home a new me," said Thomas Henry, 14. "I’m going to try to be better."
Since 2002, the Newells have ministered in Helena-West Helena, which is located in Phillips County – one of the 20 poorest counties in the nation according to 1999 federal poverty statistics. The Newells address poverty through a focus on empowering and encouraging local community members to use their gifts and talents to better the community. Each summer, several hundred Fellowship Baptists and other Christians join the Newells in a summer missions blitz in Helena-West Helena called the All Church Challenge.
To learn about partnership opportunities with the Newells and other CBF field personnel, contact Karen Gilbert at (800) 352-8741. For more on Together for Hope, visit www.ruralpoverty.net.
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
Catherine Bahn is serving in Helena-West Helena, Ark. with Together for Hope this summer through Student.Go, the Fellowship’s student missions program.