Combining Faith and Basketball

I’ve been playing basketball since I could walk. I’ve played on basketball courts all across the country and I’ve played with some guys that have gone on to play division one, two and three basketball. I even got to play with a 7 footer from Lithuania who was in the United States on a basketball scholarship. Needless to say, I got dunked on a few times.

But I’ve never combined my faith walk with my passion for basketball. It was something that I didn’t think you could combine. I was used to being cursed at, elbows throw at, trash talking, and everything you can imagine happening on the court. I’ve gotten into fights at practice with guys, and have heard some unrepeatable things said towards refs from parents during games. Not the most ideal atmosphere to start talking about faith, or praying before you play.

That was until I started attending Appleton Alliance Church. I’ve been a member for almost two years and recently they completed two indoor basketball courts and have four days a week of morning basketball. It’s a combination of current college students, former college basketball players, and some (need I say) older guys that get together at 5:30 in the morning and play basketball. There’s no swearing, we pray halfway through the morning and its been a rock in my life that has helped me not only become a better basketball player, but also a better follower of Christ.

This continues off the court with us hanging out as guys and going a lot deeper in our faith journeys and the things that we struggle with on a week to week basis. Its even gone as far as one of the founding members of this facility leaving to create his own basketball facility that will bring in people from all walks of life and will give them the game of basketball as a commonalty.

I’m amazed at the environment they have created. Some of the guys are believers, others are not, but we all treat each other with respect and enjoy playing a sport that has brought us all together.

If you live in the Appleton, WI area and love to play basketball, please join us. We play every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 5:30–7am. Hope to see you there.