A Slam Dunk for Faith and Fun 

At Upward Sports, Jesus is the real M.V.P.

There’s an electric tension in the air — a mix of anticipation and the energy of the players on the court. The audience is on the edge of their seats, their collective breath held, and the only sounds are the rhythmic “thud” of the basketball and the squeak of sneakers. As the most skilled player steps onto the court, excitement ripples through the crowd. His talent is undeniable, but what he does next surprises everyone. 

Instead of taking the shot himself, he passes the ball to his teammate, a younger, much shorter girl who’s never had the chance. With a gesture, he holds his other teammates back, urging them to give her an opportunity. Time seems to slow down as the ball arcs through the air. When the game ends, the coaches award the boy a “Most Christ-like” star for his selflessness and encouragement. 

That’s just one example of what Upward Sports embodies. 

What is Upward Sports? 

Upward Sports, a nonprofit founded in 1995 in South Carolina, aims to promote the discovery of Jesus and share the gospel through sports. The mission has guided the program’s growth over the past three decades, expanding to 5,000 church partners, 7,000,000+ children playing, and 45,000 sports experiences, according to its website.  

In Columbia, the Upward Sports include basketball, cheerleading, flag football, and soccer, all provided at various churches of different denominations. The beauty of Upward Sports is that it welcomes players from all backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity that is unique.  

Basketball is among the most popular programs in Columbia, though only two locations in the immediate area offer it: Forum Christian Church (FCC) and Midway Heights Baptist Church (MHBC). MHBC also offers a coinciding cheerleading program, which other churches around the area tend to provide during flag football season. 

An Inside Look  

Lauren Wulff, a former participant in the Upward Sports program, looks back fondly on her time there as a period of personal growth and positive experiences — a time for making friends and learning the fundamentals of her faith. Nearly two decades later, she’s assumed the position of basketball league director at MHBC. 

“When I was in Upward, all of my friends were church friends, and I liked having that avenue,” Wulff says. “I started it at my church because I have two kids, and when my daughter was born, I wanted to grow our children’s ministry the best way I could think of.”  

MHBC’s program is a gleaming example of how Upward Sports merges faith and sports in an enjoyable and easily understood way. Designed for children from kindergarten to sixth grade, MHBC accomplishes that by incorporating faith into several aspects of the game. Each practice includes a ten-minute period where coaches read Bible verses, and games feature an opening prayer and halftime testimonies by church members. This approach ensures that children not only develop their sports skills but also deepen their faith, creating a well-rounded and holistic experience. 

Moreover, the program highlights how sports skills can be related to Biblical teachings. For instance, players might learn how to break down the concept of sportsmanship into aspects of humility, respect, integrity, and forgiveness — which Jesus taught. 

Aside from teaching elements of faith, Upward Sports fosters a sense of community through its inclusivity. Firstly, Upward Sports has no try-out system. All who sign up during registration (though spots are limited) can play, including children who might need more experience, want to learn a new skill, or want to get out of their comfort zone. Each child also receives roughly the same playing time, regardless of skill level, to ensure everyone gets a chance to shine — something most competitive sports don’t practice.  

Additionally, Wulff explains how competitive sports around the area can quickly become expensive for the average family; that’s why MHBC strives to keep prices fair so that all families can participate regardless of income. 

“With our program, we try to keep the pricing reasonable,” she expresses. “We also have church members [for whom] we do sponsorships. It’s a first come, first serve basis, and for the last two years, we’ve had a couple families that, if they can’t afford to play, our church will sponsor them so they can still play.”  

The Growing Demand: How You Can Help 

Due to these unique and desirable features and limited availability in the locality, Upward basketball is a highly sought-after program in Columbia, especially among younger children who tend to have fewer opportunities to participate in sports. Despite the substantial support from FCC and MHBC, they still need help to accommodate all the interested players. 

FCC began hosting Upward Sports basketball in 2020, and even then, highlighted the program’s limited availability in its first public announcement: “Starting in January 2020, Upward Basketball will be a new ministry at Forum. The program, previously hosted by Calvary Baptist Church, will be integrated into our Sports Ministry. Spots will fill up fast, so [we] encourage you to get in early.” 

Wulff estimates that FCC has 750 basketball players and says that the registration fills up “within minutes of opening.”  

Though much smaller in size, MHBC has grown over the past three years since its establishment, doubling in numbers between years one and two. At the same time, they’ve calculated their current capacity at 160 kids, with the cheer program having no absolute cap.  

Wulff’s ultimate goal for MHBC’s basketball program is to continue growing so that more children in Columbia can participate in creating a community with their peers. However, increasing bleacher space and raising awareness about volunteering opportunities would be a prerequisite to achieving this.  

Currently, most of MHBC’s volunteers are just a handful of church members and parents, which reduces the number of players that can join. Wulff believes that bringing in more volunteers would significantly contribute to the growth of their basketball program and encourages anyone who believes in Upward Sports’ mission to consider volunteering. 

“If there’s anything that gets across in this story,” Wulff notes, “we would accept any volunteers who want to come — referees, coaches, assistant coaches, anything like that. We need adults in the building to help all the kids.” 

You can learn more about Upward Sports experiences and various volunteering opportunities on the Upward Sports website or by contacting participating churches. 

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Local Upward Sports locations: 

Forum Christian Church 
3900 Forum Blvd 
573-443-3900 
[email protected] 

Midway Heights Baptist Church  
6801 W Rollingwood Blvd
573-445-3622 
[email protected]