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| BY SHAWN FLOYD , STAFF WRITER | 09/08/2003 |
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August, 2007 - EYG Press Release
Block Party and Sports Clinic
Appeals to Wide Audience
More than 50 local youth had a stomping good time at the Just4FUN! Block Party
and Sports Clinic Friday night. Hosted by Fruit Bearing Tree Ministries, the
event drew parents and youth from around Gainesville to a free event at Whaley
UMC.
“By midnight, the kids were still shooting hoops, playing volleyball and eating
homemade sandwiches,” reports Anne Johns, event organizer. “Some watched Stomp
the Yard while others danced to the movie’s music between volleys.”
Special guests from Elevate Your Game Ministries – Charles Williams and Kelvin
Foley -- demonstrated and practiced professional basketball techniques earlier
in the evening and talked to the youth about the importance of their
relationship with Christ. At one point, all the youth prayed together.
Maria Vega, public education coordinator from Cooke County Friends of the
Family, organized activities designed to raise awareness about abuse issues. Her
S.T.A.R. team – Students Taking Action for Respect – included youth who function
as peer educators on the issues that affect young people such as bullying and
dating violence.
The program ran from 7 – midnight in the DOME – Whaley’s youth-friendly ministry
and sports center. Youth participated in cleaning the facility and helping the
volunteers pack up before they left. “It’s pretty cool when a young adult asks
if there’s anything they can do to help,” notes David Johns, executive director
of the organization. “It shows that they have respect for what we’re trying to
achieve through these programs and it demonstrates leadership and
responsibility.
“None of this is possible without the continued support of area volunteers.
Everything, from the non-stop refreshments and the security provided by off-duty
correctional officers, made the event a resounding success,” he adds. “We’ll
definitely do this again, hopefully reaching more and more youth to participate
and develop programs that meet their needs and interests.”
For more information about Fruit Bearing Tree Ministries, the Just4FUN!
Mentoring program and becoming a volunteer, please contact Anne Johns
214-769-4085 or visit
www.fbtministries.us
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| Basketball
coach aims higher than just the hoop |
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| Being
mobile is important to Charles Williams. It wasn't always like that. At one time, with his father a minister, he had his feet firmly planted on Dallas turf. From there, Williams went to Oklahoma State University, where he played basketball and dreamed of returning to his hometown to play with the Mavericks. But of course, that didn't happen. Instead the 6-foot-7-inch power forward ended up playing pro ball in the Middle East. For a time, he was living the dream, playing basketball in Israel, Greece and Bahrain. From there he went to the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. He played and between practices and games, he introduced children and youth in those countries to the sport by hosting basketball camps. In Puerto Rico, his camp was sanctioned by the municipality of San Juan, and one day, he had as many as 200 youth show up for the program. More than a decade passed before he officially retired from the sport and moved to Plano. While looking for a job, he spent his spare time teaching inner city youth the game. From there, he went to other areas in the North Texas region, and in each and every case it was the same thing. "All those kids aren't always interested in basketball," he says. "They may like it OK, but through mentoring you pull out other talents. We had kids doing raps and poetry and cheerleading. So, it was really something valuable to me." Now, he's even more mobile, combining his playing skills with a kind of informal ministry in a program called Elevate Your Game. "We go to Plano and Dallas and even into Waxahachie," he says. He takes along some of the Mavericks players, both past and present members of the team, and he's always looking for more players and sponsors to help with the program. There are other things that come out of the program. "We talk about perseverance and attitude and that it can get you a long way," Williams says." You never know if you might run across another Michael Jordan, but then that's not the only reason for the program. It's also to give youth hope and the opportunity to shine. Williams calls it "motivating and encouraging." Besides the Elevate Your Game program, Williams also serves as assistant basketball coach at Prestonwood Baptist Church and he coordinates security. The mix of sports and ministry is part of Williams' make up. He can't help it. His uncle, Victor Williams, was a running back for North Texas State and now he's a pastor in Houston. The youngest of four children, Williams has three older sisters, which wasn't a problem because as he says, "Being the only guy, I was like a care-giver. I was always there for them." His father, L. H. Williams, is now deceased and his mother, Helen Williams, and sister, Janet Williams, live in Plano. From his experiences he knows anything's possible. "My father always told me whatever I set my heart on, I could attain and you know what, he was right," says Williams.
Does he miss playing professionally?
"Oh yes I do," he says. But then, he never knows when he will come across someone like him and
so he's always on the lookout. What does he look for? "There's just something about them," he says.
"His
attitude and he has just certain natural abilities and instincts for the
game. Some can shoot well and can leap well. And some just have natural
form." |