Eternity and Basketball

The first week after summer break begins Immanuel Christian School’s gym explodes with activity. The ICS basketball camp for rising 4th through 9th graders fills the gym. Basketball Camp 2015-16 009 This year we were blessed with over 70 campers from ICS, Westminster, Georgetown Day, Dominion, and Trinity.  This fun-filled week is designed with two purposes in mind.  One, I want all of our campers to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Two, I want them to leave basketball camp with a love for the game and with some drills to improve their game on their own.

 

eternityEternity Matters.  If basketball camp is nothing more than teaching the fundamentals of the game and not what matters for eternity then what is accomplished is temporary.  Life is too short to focus on the temporary.  A hope that can only be found in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ is the one thing that truly matters for eternity.  Each morning basketball camp was started with a coach sharing a devotional from the Bible.  Coaches shared about one of their favorite biblical characters and how that person pointed to Christ.    The stories of Jeremiah, Naomi, Peter, Jonah and Samson were all shared with our campers.  After lunch the campers heard from professional athletes through ‘I Am Second’ videos and well as through skype.  Through these videos the campers heard from famous athletes how a faith in Jesus Christ is more important than winning championships.  On Wednesday we had the privilege of skyping with the NFL place-kicker for the Tennessee Titans.  Ryan Succop is entering his 8th season as a kicker in the NFL.  He loves Jesus and took the time to share with the campers that kicking in the NFL is great but not eternal.  What is eternal is his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Campers enjoyed getting to ask Ryan some questions about life in the NFL as well.

funFun Matters.  We were made for relationships and in those relationships we usually have some fun!  At basketball camp many campers enjoy basketball but they really enjoy being with classmates all day in the gym having fun together.  As mentioned above, one of the main goals of basketball camp was for campers to leave camp with a love for basketball and drills to improve his/her game.  At camp I want the campers to have a blast!  It’s a week in the gym with no homework and tons of interaction with their friends!  Fun drills at six different stations in the morning, hot shot competitions, free throw competitions, and competitive games fill each day at camp.  One highlight was the 7th-9th graders playing a game against the coaching staff!  (the coaches are still undefeated!)

Eternity matters. Fun matters.  But in the end, it’s all about eternity.  Basketball is a great game to play, but those skills and abilities will fade with time.  A hope found in Jesus Christ, that is a hope that will transcend earthly time and matter forever.

This blog post was written by Assistant Head of School, Dale Pinkley.