Upward Basketball Update - October 9, 2025

After 25 years of Upward basketball ministry to our Hot Springs community, we are taking an intentional pause in this coming season. This is due to my retirement on December 31, 2025 and changing family dynamics in our primary Upward leadership. We are in the process of looking for the person God has to continue this ministry. We need to get them on board before taking on a full Upward season.

We hope to offer 2 or 3 Upward basketball clinics in January 2026, tentatively for 5-7-year-olds. We will publicize that as soon as we make that decision.

In the meantime, we encourage you to plan for other basketball options this coming season. These organizations have previously offered basketball for K-2 grades. We appreciate the opportunities you have given us and pray you will be back with us in one year.
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We will post occasional updates on our progress and plans to be ready for Upward basketball starting in July/August 2026!
We come to know others better and more quickly when we participate in common interests. Getting to know someone is much easier sitting in the boat on the lake than sitting in a chair in the office. You get to know someone much more personally on Monday mornings during basketball than you do on Sunday mornings during worship. That's just the way it is.
I'm Wallace Yamauchi, the Fitness and Recreation Pastor at First Baptist Church. Thanks for stopping by our site. We hope you'll stop by our campus and get plugged in to one of the many activities we offer. I'm sure you'll find something that catches your eye. And if not, let me know. We may just get that curling league going after all!
*As quoted by Steve Connor; Sports Outreach: Principles & Practice for Successful Sports Ministry; c2003; Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., p59) 
First Baptist Church
2350 Central Avenue ~ Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901
501-623-9999 ~ www.firsthotsprings.com
         Hours of Operation
  Monday:              5:30 am - 5:30 pm
  Tuesday:              5:30 am - 5:30 pm
   Wednesday:        5:30 am - 4:00 pm
   Thursday:            5:30 am - 5:30 pm
    Friday:                 5:30 am – 1:00 pm