Soccer Camp

You may be wondering what is going on this summer in sports ministry at NewPointe. On July 12, we launched our Summer Co-ed Volleyball League. We have 65 people participating in the league this summer. Additionally, on July 13th - 17th, we held our 2nd annual NPCC Youth Soccer Camp. We endured the heat and had a lot of fun. There were about 40 kids who participated in this summer's camp. Here is the highlight video that we showed at the "Medal Ceremony":

Armor Highlight Video

It is finally here. Months ago I claimed that we would have a highlight video for Armor Basketball for you to see. After a couple months of figuring it all out, I have finally got my act together and figured out how to upload the video.

Hope this short video shows some of the fun we had this season. Here it is:

Armor Basketball 2009

All Pro Dad

If you haven't heard, we've started a new program at NPCC. It's called "All Pro Dad" and I am super-excited about the possibilities. We've meant twice already with nearly 160 people attending between two meetings. If you're asking, what is All Pro Dad all about, let me explain.

All Pro Dad is a once per month meeting where dads can bring their children (ages 5-14) for breakfast and some one-on-one time with their kids. We eliminate the everyday confusion, chaos, and run-arounds and try to give you a little over an hour to focus in on your kids and becoming a better dad. The meeting always starts with an awesome breakfast prepared by Jean Vacha. Then, we move into videos, one-on-one discussions, teaching, resources, raffles, and a whole bunch of other stuff. By attending a meeting, you are then eligible to receive periodic emails from All Pro Dad throughout the month. It is pretty cool stuff, and I feel it can create some positive effects in your home.

In February, I had the privilege of speaking. Even though I am not a father, there are definite things that I am learning- not just for the future but also for the present. If there is one thing I can pass on that God has really been showing me, it is this: Life can be unexpected and uncontrollable, but your relationships are one thing you have control over. If you have to choose, don't waste your time on other things, but choose your relationships (wife, children, friends, etc.). I can speak from experience in saying that the memories you begin building today with your wife or your children are the only things that will last for a very long time. Make the most of today in your relationships!!!!

If you are interested in All Pro Dad, you can visit www.newpointe.org and All Pro Dad has its own page under "Sports Ministry". You can register right there on the website. Our next meeting is Saturday, March 27 @ 8:45 a.m. in Studio 56. This is an awesome opportunity to start creating some new memories with your kid(s).

The ME I Want to Be

If you didn't already know, we have a new series that just started at NewPointe. It is called "The Me I Want to Be". This series is all about becoming the person you were designed to be and turning your life around to reach your potential.

It seems like so many of the series at NewPointe lately have been exciting, but this series is really gonna "bring it". Come on out on Sunday mornings at 9:00 or 11:00 to check it out. Additionally, there is a website (thechangeinside.com) that will be updated daily for the next 40 days. It goes right along with this series and should be another good resource.

NPCC Sports Ministry

There has been a lot going on in NPCC Sports Ministry. It seems like most of the last 3 months have been devoted to Armor Basketball. On December 19, Armor Basketball concluded with a special KidStuf - Armor Basketball Edition. With nearly 140 kids that participated, Armor Basketball was successful in all 3 of our core areas:
1. Helping each child become a better basketball player
2. Teaching each child the fundamentals of life and a relationship with Christ in order to allow
them to grow into quality young men and women.
3. Providing a basketball league that is fun and exciting - something they've never experienced
before.
Each week, there was a new excitement and a new challenge for every team. Competition is the breeding ground for teachable moments. In basketball, winning and losing bring out emotions, actions, and reactions like no other activity can. Thus, we were able to leverage competition to not only teach kids about sport, but to also teach them about winning and losing at home, school, and with God. It was an amazing eight weeks!!

As one season ends, there always seems to be a new one on the horizon. On January 18, our winter Co-Ed Volleyball League will begin. This season, we have nearly 60 men and women registered to participate in our volleyball league. We are slowly seeing growth and becoming better at providing a quality league that is unique to this area.

On top of our volleyball league, our men's basketball league will be starting in 1 month. Registration is currently open for the Men's Basketball League and will run through February 2. Early-bird pricing of $35 lasts through January 24. This season, we will be providing certified OHSAA officials for each game and each player will receive a reversible jersey. Additionally, awards will be given to the champions. If you are interested in participating, more information and registration details are provided at newpointe.org under the "Sports Ministry" link.

Finally, we have a new program that will be starting in January. All Pro Dad is a program for fathers and their children where they can come enjoy breakfast together, meet other fathers and their children, talk about a wide range of topics, and receive resources to help build their relationship with their kids. On the fourth Saturday or every month, All Pro Dad will take place in Studio 56 (8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.). We understand that parenting isn't always easy, but we want to assist you in the process and provide ways to bring your family closer together. Again, information is available at our website.

At NPCC, our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Christ. Through sports, we want to offer people a non-threatening environment where they can check out NPCC and build relationships in a new way. If you attend NPCC, this is a great chance to begin the "Invest and Invite" process. If you don't attend NPCC, our leagues are a great opportunity to play competitive/recreational sports in a beautiful facility. We always strive to give you the highest quality league!

NPCC is opening doors to a lot of people through sports. It is exciting to see what God has in store for us!

Fiesta Bowl - Not The Party We Wanted

Although the Fiesta Bowl matched up two unbeaten teams, it wasn't exactly what we hope for in the BCS bowl games. We love the underdog story. Having TCU and Boise State in BCS bowls games was far from the problem. Having them face each other, huge mistake.

Everyone remembers that unbelievable finish to the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. That game matched up the unbeaten Boise State against an Oklahoma team that many felt could be in the BCS Title game. Boise State hung tough all game and eventually upset the Sooners on the "Statue of Liberty". Isn't that what we wait all season to see? Sure, we love the underdogs, but we don't want to see them play each other. We have seen them play teams from their smaller conferences all season. What every college football fan wants to know is whether a team who can dominate the WAC belongs in a BCS title, or simply a BCS game period. In order to find that out, they must be matched up the bigger conference teams.

If TCU wants to prove they truly are the 3rd best team in the nation, they should have relished at the chance to be matched up against Florida. Boise St. should have been wanting the opportunity to prove that they could compete against the best of the Pac-10 or Big Ten. If Boise State or TCU could be competitive with teams like Florida, Ohio State, or Oregon and those games go down to the wire, that is what proves to us that these teams belong in consideration for BCS games.

The BCS committee should never allow "mid-major" teams to face each other in BCS bowl games. Give us an underdog story! Give these teams the opportunity to prove themselves agains the major conference champions. Give us something to remember, like the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.