19 Mar Hillsdale UB Concludes 4th Upwards Season

On Saturday, March 2, Hillsdale UB (Hillsdale, Mich.) held the closing program for their fourth Upwards season. Over 300 elementary age kids were enrolled in the two events, basketball and cheerleading, more than doubling the number from the first season.

Each year, the church gains new families through Upwards. “Most of the kids in Upwards are not from our church,” says Pastor Lester Smith (right).

The Upwards program is for children in kindergarten through grade 6. The basketball program had 252 students, and 60-some girls participated in cheerleading. In addition, 78 volunteers helped out each week.

Pastor Smith estimated that over 1000 people came through the church’s doors each Saturday during the season (January and February).

The kids wore their Upwards uniforms for the closing program. As each team was introduced, they took the stage with cheerleaders cheering them on. Each basketball participants received a basketball, and duffel bags were given to the cheerleaders.

Then came Jon Bruney, a minister whose program, Pressing the Limits, includes acts of strength and endurance–breaking cinder blocks with his first, ripping apart phone books, tearing open a pop can, etc. Along with these demonstrations, Bruney presents the gospel message.