Upward Basketball & Cheerleading

May 24th, 2010

Dear friends,

  Greetings to you in name of our great and glorious God and His Son Jesus.  I am writing you today to inform you of what God is doing here at Westview Alliance Church. Eight years ago the leaders of Westview sensed God’s invitation to partner with Upward to help pioneer that ministry here in Fort Wayne. Through the years we have seen God work mightily in allowing us to help teach and coach not only the fundamentals of basketball and cheerleading but also the fundamentals of knowing God through His Son Jesus and growing up in that knowledge to be full on Christ followers. We have touched hundreds of kids and their families and we are grateful to God for allowing us to be a part of this. Over the last several years we have sensed that God may be bringing this aspect of Westview’s ministry to a close. Our leaders just this week came to the conclusion that it was time for us to lay this ministry down and allow others to pick up the standard and go forward. So what does that mean for you? Well fortunately in God’s goodness there are some wonderful sister churches in our area who are continuing to bring Upward basketball to our community. Both The Chapel and Emmanuel Community are offering Upward this winter and I would encourage you to pursue them not only for your children but also for you!

   For those of you who have meant so much to us in your words of encouragement and support; thank you! For those of you that volunteered many hours to coach, work in the kitchen, and pray; thank you. Without the many volunteers inside and outside of Westview we could never have done all that we have. We are grateful to God for you.

  It is bitter sweet to make this decision and yet we look back on these eight years and see so evidently the hand of God. We have rejoiced in the work of ministry and now we are clear that God is calling us to new ventures. So with that same pioneering spirit that brought us to Upward we look forward to what God has for us in the future. We are committed as a church to see every man, woman, and child in Fort Wayne presented with the good news of Jesus and having heard respond! With that heart and an open and willing hands to do what He calls us to, we launch out into the new day before us. Again, blessings on you for supporting us and this ministry. We hope to continue the beautiful relationships we have come to enjoy with you and we’ll keep you posted on where God takes us.

To the King and the Kingdom!

Pastor Bob Petty

Lead Pastor

Westview Alliance Church