2018 Baton Rouge Project Recap

For the 7th straight year, SportQuest partnered with community organizations and churches in the Gardere neighborhood of Baton Rouge, Louisiana… Read more 2018 Baton Rouge Project Recap

For the 7th straight year, SportQuest partnered with community organizations and churches in the Gardere neighborhood of Baton Rouge, Louisiana to host a multi-sport camp for kids ages 6-18.  A team of 19 athletes and leaders from 7 different states (not to mention 1 from Belgium!) came together to serve the Gardere community and invest in youth and families. Despite soaring temperatures and sweltering humidity, over 120 kids participated in the sport camp.  In the afternoon, SQ coaches offered skill development for teenagers who wanted some personalized coaching in basketball, football, baseball, and soccer.  In the evening, kids ages 6-18 were invited to enjoy fun games and participate in soccer, basketball, football, dance, and KidsGames.

Here are some highlights:

TRAINING CAMP

Every PWP Project starts with a few days of Training Camp to help the team prepare athletically, culturally, and spiritually.  This year the team spent a day hiking in the Clark Creek Natural Area near Tunica, Mississippi, where they did team building activities and experiential learning workshops.  The rest of Training Camp took place back in Baton Rouge where they learned practical tools to help them share their story and God’s story, were equipped to integrate the Gospel into a sport camp context, and developed a deeper understanding of urban ministry and social justice.  The team also had the chance to experience 3 different ethnic worship services at a charismatic Hispanic church, a predominately white middle/upper class church, and an African-American church.  The team was deeply impacted by these experiences and well-prepared by the time the sport camp week arrived.

TEEN CAMP

Each afternoon, teenagers were invited to the park for skill development in specific sports.  Usually there was only a handful of teens that showed up in each sport.  This provided an intentional opportunity to connect and invest on a much more personal level with these young people.  Many of the same teens came all throughout the week, and the SQ team really developed a strong relationship with them.  Several of the teens really opened up about challenges and issues in their life and gave the SQ team an opportunity to point them to Christ in real-life issues.  On the last day of the week, the SQ team invited these teens to join them for a tour of the LSU campus and football stadium, which is something they had never done before and really enjoyed!

EVENING CAMP

In the evening, youth ages 6-18 were invited to participate in the various sports being offered.  Most of these kids have very few opportunities to attend other sports camps or any kind of special activity in their city because they lack transportation or funds to attend.  So when SportQuest offers a free sport camp right in their neighborhood, it’s a big deal!  Not only do these kids have a blast playing and learning sports, but they really engaged with the Gospel.  The SQ team used a tool called GameLife 123 that integrates fun, physical activity with spiritual truths.  GameLife 123 includes a game each day that illustrates the biblical theme of the day and provides an interactive way for kids to learn the Gospel story as well as small groups to discuss the Bible story of the day.  It was so exciting to see many of these kids take some big steps forward in their spiritual journey!

CAMPER LOCK-IN

Definitely one of the highlights of the sport camp was on Thursday night when Danielle invited a handful of the older youth at camp to have a “lock-in” with the SQ team at the church.  This is a great opportunity to really go deeper in relationship with this smaller group of more mature youth.  The lock-in began with a family-style dinner together, then everyone competed in a Tiger Ball tournament, followed by some worship and a Bible lesson.  The team definitely gets a little less sleep during the lock-in, but it’s worth it when you see the way these young people respond to the more personalized attention and investment.  Many of these youth are really growing as leaders and helping with the younger kids throughout the week.

SQ NIGHT

On the last night of camp, the campers competed in their sport, and then the SQ team gave out their Playing With Purpose awards to the kids who best exemplified the PWP values.  SQ coaches continued sharing the Gospel in small groups using GameLife 123, and then the SQ team served a meal to the campers and their families.  It was very apparent how appreciative the Gardere community was for the way the SportQuest team served and invested in these youth and families.  The SportQuest Baton Rouge project is making a significant impact in this community — one child, one teenager, and one family at a time.