Orange ball is vital tool in changing lives


By Mary Barrera
St. Mark UMC, McAllen
Upward Basketball director
I never thought that an orange ball could become such a vital tool in ministry. For six seasons I have watched that orange basketball change the lives of families.
It helped give a father the strength to say, “I want to be a Christian and live my life for God.”
It has given children with disabilities the courage to make a shot or score a basket; it has brought them closer to Christ.
That orange ball has seen many children outgrow the program, but they love it so much that they are now coaching and leading other children to Christ through it.
A couple weeks ago as I prepared for game day, I stopped and prayed for guidance with the devotion for the week. As I read the Bible verse that children enrolled in Upward Basketball learn during their practice, I knew that God would give me the right words to say and let me reach out to the parents, friends and neighbors who come Saturdays to watch the children play and to cheer.
I read over the verse again. “And Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God’” (Mark 10:27).
I thought about all of the children who struggle with physical disabilities but never let their struggle keep them from playing the game or cheering for their team. Upward gives children who wouldn’t be able to play on the school sports team or wouldn’t be chosen to play with a group of children the chance to shine in the light of God.
We all have our disabilities. Some are noticeable, and some we hide. But we all have the gift of knowing that “Nothing is impossible with God.”