About Upward 

Upward offers an evangelistic sports ministry specifically designed for kindergarten through sixth grade boys and girls that promotes salvation, character, and self-esteem in every child. In addition to basketball, Upward offers cheerleading programs to complete your Upward ministry. Upward provides opportunities for volunteers from all walks of life to become meaningfully involved in the ministries of your church. They will have the opportunity to pray for your program, coach a team, referee a game, share a devotion, and develop relationships in order to open avenues of ministry to the people of your community who will participate in your program.

History

 In 1986, through the obedience of a recreation minister named Caz McCaslin, Upward Basketball began at a church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was God who founded this ministry and has been faithful to see it to realization. Emphasis was placed on Christlikeness and good sportsmanship, not championships. Changed hearts and lives were seen in both those who played basketball and those who administered the league.

With a full gym and 27 children on a waiting list, Caz began evaluating the church grounds to see if anything could be renovated into a basketball court. The estimate for transforming the youth facility back into a gymnasium was over $11,000. After sharing his burden with a friend, he was generously given the funds needed for renovations and 27 children played for free.

When the next basketball season came, Caz was unsure of what to do. He explored the possibilities of building more courts at the church. When Caz approached his friend who had met his needs before, he heard these words. “Caz, you don’t need another gym…” Imagine the disappointment had the sentence ended there. “What you need is 1,000 gyms.” This statement led to the growth of Upward from one church to seven churches, and Upward Unlimited was born. Every new season has brought more leagues, more staff and more opportunities to share the gospel

Growth of Upward

In addition to the rapid growth of Upward Basketball, Upward continues to expand the programs offered. Upward Cheerleading was implemented in 2000, and has proven to be successful in involving families who otherwise would not participate. Upward continues to develop and refine the Upward Soccer program with the desire to reach more children and their families through the avenue of soccer. As God continues to unfold his vision for Upward, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to share the gospel through the simple tool of recreation.

What Upward Believe's

 Upward is a parachurch organization which currently partners with churches in over 40 denominations to share the Gospel with children and their families. All churches entering into a partnership with Upward are required to sign our Ministry Agreement which includes the following:

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, authoritative, Word of God.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of eternal punishment.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Upward Vision Statement

Submitting to God's authority, Upward desires to change generations globally and recognize that Every Child Is A Winner.

Purpose Statements

The purpose of Upward Sports Ministries is to fulfill God's vision that He planned long ago by promoting:

• Salvation - To share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone involved in an Upward ministry.
• Character - To help every child grow as Jesus did - spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially.
• Self-Esteem - To help every child grow in their understanding and enjoyment of sports.

Mission Statement

Upward is committed to equipping believers to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with unlimited children through sports ministry.

Guiding Principles

To achieve our mission with a Christlike attitude, Upward is committed to:

• Using ever-changing ways to share a never changing message
• Promoting and protecting the mission of Upward through sound stewardship of all resources
• Working together as a unified team to be a first-class, organized, and detailed evangelistic ministry
• Always viewing conflicts as ministry opportunities
• Reaching beyond denominational and cultural boundaries to encourage Kingdom Growth
• Developing participants to share the love of Christ in and beyond Upward