A total of 170 youngsters participated in First Baptist Church of Springville’s Upward Soccer program this spring.  

An awards ceremony capped off the program’s 10-week game schedule late last month, concluding what league director Tom McCoy called “a very successful season.”

The Springville church has sponsored an Upward Basketball program, adding soccer for the first time this year.  Both are organized through Upward Ministries, a national sports ministry, and the soccer program was a partnership with Spring Valley Baptist Church.  

This year was the third for Spring Valley’s soccer program, which hosted all of the local games while FBCS’ new sports complex was constructed.  “Their fields were ready, and it gave us an opportunity to show that we really do love each other and are here for the kids,” McCoy said.

Weather delays prevented FBCS’ soccer field from being ready this spring, although work is now almost complete.  McCoy said that games would be held there next year, with both churches again working together to support their programs.

“The beautiful thing about this is that we had folks coming together from different churches to help make this possible.  Kids from churches all over Springville and even unchurched families participated.  It was about serving the community, not just those who go to your church.”

McCoy said that the program aims to balance “a good level of competition with Christian principles.  This is a soccer league, but we are going to be talking about Jesus.  We want to be able to minister to these kids and reach families who may not go to church while having a sports program that is second to none.”

Open to children in pre-K through sixth grade, the program may eventually serve as a feeder program for Springville’s recreation league soccer teams, McCoy said.  “When we organized it, we wanted it to be as close to a city league as possible.  It wouldn’t compete with the city league because they play in the fall, and we’ll play in the spring while they’re playing baseball.”

For more information, visit:

www.FBCSpringville.com or call 467-7979.