Upward Sports-Lineup: A group of young Upward Sports athletes waits in a lineup for a game to start. Upward encourages sports excellence, but its primary emphasis is on excellence of character. (Courtesy photo)
By Gaye Bunderson
The world of sports is all about winning, right? Wrong. At least for one organization.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to win, but Tim Fulwood of Upward Sports at Boise’s Tree City Church said the faith-based program for kids ages K-6th grades defines winning differently. Quality playing is emphasized, sure, but the scoreboard is secondary to building Christlike character.
“Upward teaches virtues such as respect, kindness, and forgiveness,” Tim said.
Upward Sports was founded in 1995 at a church in Spartanburg, S.C. by a small group of believers. But the original founders got caught up in envisioning it as a national organization – and, now, it’s in 2,000 churches across the country. (See upward.org)
Tim and his wife Naomi oversee an Upward Sports program in the Treasure Valley, and it all started when Tim began searching for an area of ministry to get involved with in the early 2000s. “I started praying for a way for God to use me,” Tim said, “and for me to serve Him.”
The pastor of the church he was attending gave Tim a VHS tape about the Upward ministry. Stated Tim, “I watched it and got excited.” So excited he wanted to sign up for the program immediately…until his pastor told him, “Whoa, slow down!” The pastor thought Tim should explore the program a bit more before zooming off to sign up.
Tim and Naomi heard about a branch of Upward that had launched in Nampa, and they signed their children up to participate. So the family got their feet wet in Upward Sports when the younger Fulwoods started playing.
Now the adult Fulwoods (their children are grown now) have overseen the local program for 20 years, with only a brief time of stepping aside before the Lord drew them back in.
They originally offered a variety of sports throughout the valley. But feeling stretched too thin, they narrowed their focus to two activities: basketball and cheerleading. All practices and games are played at Tree City Church, where Naomi is office manager, at 3852 N. Eagle Rd.
Naomi stated, “This is a sports ministry. They’re both important in Upward: sports and ministry. That’s the sweet spot – when they overlap.”
Said Tim, “The mission of Upward is to point people to Jesus through sports.”
Every practice is laid out according to the theme of faith in God. Practices include spiritual ‘huddles’ and include Christ-centered goals and devotionals, according to Naomi. Everything is age-appropriate for all athletes.
The spiritual ball is not dropped after the game starts…
“At halftime of every game,” said Naomi, “there is a fun, engaging activity for kids and adults alike, followed by a short devotional that ties in with the activity.”
There are a mix of believers and unbelievers in the stands and on the court, according to Tim. But he stated that everyone is at ease with the spiritual component of Upward. The character-building emphasis of Upward pleases parents. “They’re looking for something positive for their kids,” Naomi stated.
Physical activity combined with the value of sportsmanship, courtesy, and care for others as emphasized by Upwards seems to be precisely what families are seeking.
“Relationships are built and the kids are growing – relationally and spiritually,” Tim said.
“We’re very open about the fact we are Christian. Parents know their children are valued at Upward and that they are in a safe space,” Naomi said.
Coaches and referees are people of faith as well.
Naomi: “The lead referees pray with the team and the head coaches are believers.”
Both Fulwoods have been believers from a young age. “We were both blessed to grow up in Christian homes,” Tim said. They want to show others the value of their lifestyle, and the venue of sports is the avenue God led them to.
Tim, who is a teacher at Galileo STEM Academy, played all the major sports in his youth, including baseball, basketball, and football. A lifelong enthusiast, he received a baseball scholarship to attend Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa.
“I love sports,” he said. He credits athletics for helping shape his character. “Sports made me a better person.” And he said the lessons gained from sports are lifelong.
People who participated in Upward as youngsters have gone on to excel at sports in high school and college. “Some players have come back as adults to ask if they can help with the program,” Tim said.
The Fulwoods estimate that there are approximately 500 participants in Upward each season.
Upward holds four hours of games on Fridays for kids ages K-2; then there are nine hours of games on Saturdays for kids in third through sixth grades. Two games are played at the same time, and it is a seven-game season, with nine practices.
The new season starts in January of 2025 and will run to March 1. There is a cost to participate and it includes a uniform, t-shirt, a gift at the end of the season – and the opportunity to play sports for a chance to learn a valuable code of conduct.
For more information, contact [email protected].
To become a part of Upward Sports in your community or to start an Upward program at your church, go to upward.org for more information.
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