STONE MOUNTAIN--Youth basketball at Corpus Christi Parish has evolved into an outreach ministry, providing young people with a positive, church-based sports experience.

"Youth sports has tremendous potential to teach important values to everyone---players, coaches and families," said Lee Buechele, program director of the Corpus Christi youth basketball league. "Our church is part of the community, and our Lord tells us to let our light be seen by others. This program shines brightly. It brings young people and adults together, at church, in an atmosphere where the personal and spiritual growth that happens is sometimes quite remarkable."

More than 50 boys and girls, ages 8 through high school, play on one of the program's 11 teams at the 600 Mountain View Drive church gym. "The program has grown dramatically," said BeeDee Soskin, Corpus Christi's youth minister. "It is wonderful that we have the gym, the support of our clergy, of our parishioners, and those magnificent volunteers who make the program happen. The adults don't realize how positively they are impacting the lives of young people. As they teach teamwork, a positive attitude and fair play, I really believe they are preaching their own version of the Sermon on the Mount."

The success of the program has resulted in the development of some additional programs and has provided an avenue for evangelization. Volunteer coaches host basketball camps, provide free trips to local junior college games and supervise a summer open gym program. Many of the Catholic young people who participate have invited their non-Catholic teammates to Mass or to youth group activities. Several players asked their coaches to sponsor them at confirmation.

Even though Buechele is very proud of the present program he believes that there are still ways in which the program could grow. In addition to formalized training for coaches and referees, he would like to see players and coaches participate in community service programs and provide a tutoring program for students who need help with their study skills.

"I know that the two or three hours a week I spend with my players is positive," he said. "They look forward to it and so do I. But it is not enough. These young people have incredible talent, intelligence, enthusiasm and potential far beyond basketball. They face opportunities and challenges greater than those most of us had as kids. Just imagine what kind of impact our church could have if this were a full-time, year round ministry. In fact, why limit it to one parish? If the need is there, imagine how much good could be done all over the archdiocese."