Sports Recognition Sunday at FBC

This morning we invited the members of our Softball team to join us for worship as we recognized them and celebrated their success on and off the field. It was a nice service that included awards, special music from our praise team and the induction of two new members into our Sports Ministry Hall of Fame.

Our sports outreach ministry began in 1987 with the formation of a softball team in the Church League. Bob Duntz, George Rezendes, Marc Vaillancourt, George and Dick Strouse, Mark Damien, Adele DiBiagio and I made up the better part of that team. We won seven games and the rest is history.

In 1992 we formed a Christian Bowling League at the Norwich Ten Pin and for the next fifteen years we had a lot of fun and fellowship on Sunday nights. We had as many as ten teams in any given year and involved as many as seven churches.

In 1996 we developed our third sports outreach ministry. This time we focused on the young people and got involved with the Church Basketball League. We started with two teams and over the years we have had as many as forty five kids in the program in a given year. It was so successful at one point that we thought about starting our own league.

In 2002 we decided to recognize the men and women who really stood out in our program. We started our own Hall of Fame for the sports Ministries. That year we inducted the three obvious, most celebrated members of reach ministry and the people who initiated our participation in them. Bob Duntz was our choice for softball. He was a six time MVP of the program. Mark Damien was the one who urged us to put together our first team and he was recognized and inducted for that. Barbara Bray was a two time champion and three time top bowler and the obvious choice to represent the Bowling league in our Hall of Fame. Paul Lorraine was the man who pushed the idea and got us started. He was inducted too. Terry Dunn brought instant credibility to the basketball program and was the first one to also accept Christ. He went on to distinguish himself in High School and college. He represented the basketball ministry in that first Hall of Fame class. Cliff Vanase was the driving force behind our getting involved and he was also the first Coach.

So this is why set aside two Sundays a year to recognize the participants. One in the Summer for softball and bowling and a second in February or March for basketball. We praise God and I preach a message that includes lots of sports references. We also induct our Hall of Fame members.

Today was that day. We inducted Cameron Barnhill and Chip Chaffee into the Hall of Fame and recognized our softball team. Chip Chaffee was the MVP of the winningest team in our history. We won 17 games this year. That tied us with the 1993 team which won the league championship. Daryl Alves was the best defensive player. Sean Wilding was the Most Improved Player. George Rezendes was the 11th Player Award winner and Brian Bachman was the Rookie of the year.

Our Praise team played and really got us swaying in our seats. I captured a bit of their presentation here. Enjoy.

Cal