Aaron Park, GAP Year Coordinator

Brisbane, Australia: In the first week of July, Nazarene Theological College (NTC), Brisbane,  hosted an Upward Basketball outreach ministry.  Aaron Park, GAP Year coordinator for NTC, together with Jason Fiddes, Mentoring Program Officer for the Brisbane Broncos, connected with Upward Basketball to create a community outreach event.

Upward Basketball provided the merchandise and program structure to facilitate this event designed to introduce young people to the college, and to the ministry of the developing youth church that meets on campus.

Jason Fiddes, Mentoring Program Officer, Brisbane Broncos.

Jason Fiddes, a gifted leader and sports enthusiast, was able to use his extensive network cultivated through his association with professional Rugby League team, Brisbane Broncos, to draw in some key trainers for the program.

National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Famer, Jim Poteet, has also made his presence available to the program. Jim has coached a number of Nazarene College basketball teams, for many decades, making him one of the denomination’s most recognized sporting figures. He has coached teams from Southern Nazarene University, Northwest Nazarene University and Pasadena College, (now Point Loma).

Jim Poteet, NAIA Hall of Fame Player and Coach

Jim has for a long time, believed that sport offers one of the most compelling opportunities for the propagation of the gospel. In the late 60’s and through the 70’s, Jim was involved in such programs including Athletes in Mission. During that time he accompanied teams to Australia. At that point he was witness to the passion Australians have for their sport and knew it could be a key avenue to the hearts of a lost nation.

For several years, Jim has been developing a concept called “Hoops for Hearts” in which recently graduated basketball players from within the Church of the Nazarene could be given the opportunity to support church plants in areas around the world, like Australia. When Jason, Aaron, and Jim became connected around the Upward Basketball concept they were certain it was an opportunity to see God use their gifts to open doors for the future.

In this recent event, 35 young people, aged 12-15 gathered each day, for three days, to hear exceptional coaching from Jim and others. The campus of NTC has offered a great space for this training camp, and it has been utilized effectively with a view to building connections with young people from the community surrounding the college.

—– Submission:

Roland Hearn, Dean of Students, NTC-Brisbane