CentershotSMMinistries – Are you on target?
By Kristopher R. Grimes, CentershotSM Ministries National Director
The vision of CentershotSM Ministries began as it became increasingly apparent that the success of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASPSM) would lead students and families to find other venues to engage in the sport of archery. Many church leaders recognized the potential of using archery to draw these students to a Christian environment and introduce them to Christ in the process.
CentershotSM Ministries is successful because it is a new and innovative method to reach unengaged students from every background for the cause of Christ. Regardless of gender, size, age, or athletic ability, CentershotSM Ministries allows all students to compete together building stronger and broader fellowships and deeper relationships with Christ.
CentershotSM began as a pilot program at AltonBaptistChurch and two other churches in Lawrenceburg, KY in the summer of 2005. Using a Christian curriculum entitled The Plan that relates the sport of archery to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, Alton soon saw an active participation of students nearly double during the 8 week program! After witnessing the success of CentershotSMMinistries at Alton Baptist soon several other churches and Christian camps joined the program. “… [CentershotSM] was one of the pillars for the strongest summer programs for children and youth that we have had in years!” a Kentucky pastor said when asked about his church’s CentershotSM Ministries program. When hearing about the plan for CentershotSM Ministries, the director of NASP stated, “I expect CentershotSM Ministries to attract students searching for a place to practice and fellowship with likeminded young archers.”
The successful implementation of CentershotSM in Kentucky, with the help of a wildly successful NASPSM, has prompted churches in other states to get involved. While churches in West Virginia quickly took part in the program by traveling to Kentucky to get trained, as many as 20 other states began to inquire about the program. In the meantime, on December 2, 2006, students from several churches in Lawrenceburg, KY, ranging from 3 years old to 19, participated in the first Anderson County Kentucky CentershotSMMinistries tournament. The excitement of the competition was tremendous! There was standing room only for parents, grandparents, and other family members and friends in largest church gym in AndersonCounty demonstrating that CentershotSM Ministries is truly a family ministry!
As of January 1st, 2007, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Alabama have ongoing CentershotSM programs. Maine and Oklahoma will officially begin pilot programs in March and April respectively. South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, New York, Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan are now planning pilot programs for this year and early 2008.
The mission of CentershotSM Ministries is to lead participants to a deeper and more committed relationship with Jesus Christ while providing quality instruction in international style target archery at the same time. It is our prayer that by using a Christian based archery program we might teach students a life-skill that will be enjoyed now and throughout adulthood while nurturing their spiritual journey in the process.
Centershot Ministries Training
"Making Christ the Target of Our Lives"
The goal of Centershot Ministries is very simple:
to help the Church reach youth for Christ!
Unfortunately, many of today's sports divide kids into two groups, the athletes
and everyone else. Many of us know how it feels to be among the last picked.
But not so with archery. The wonderful thing about archery is that it levels the playing field. Success on the range is not determined by gender, age,
background, or ability. Centershot Ministries connects with all youth!
Leading kids to Christ. The most important aspect of the program is
reaching kids for Christ. Volume One of the Centershot curriculum focuses
on God's plan of salvation. We believe that this program will attract
many young people that have never before attended church or heard the
Good News of Jesus Christ.
A chance to change lives. Don't miss this opportunity to reach the lost youth
in your community. Yes, this is new and different, but so was our Savior.
Remember there are many young people that have never met Jesus,
maybe you will be the one to introduce them.
BAI: Basic Archery Instructor
March 30, 2007; at Columbia St. Baptist, Bangor
This course will teach you to be an instructor of the
Centershot Ministries and NASP programs to children. Cost $30.00
BAIT: Basic Archer Instructor Trainer
March 29 - 31, 2007 at Columbia St. Baptist, Bangor
This course will teach you to be an instructor of the
Centershot Ministries and NASP programs to children and
to be an instructor of the BAI course. Cost $35.00
For further information or to register
Please contact Dennis Amero, MCB Chairman at
564-7729 or da3006@verizon.net | 
