MINERAL, Va. — When the youthful archers at Mineral Baptist Church line up and take aim, the real target is more than the bull’s-eye in their sights. According to Jeremy Debaets, director of Mineral Baptist Church Archery, the ministry’s aim is to introduce families to archery and the outdoors while developing friendships that will advance God’s kingdom — one arrow at a time.
Aaron Groome puts his Centershot training to use on the outdoor 3D range.
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With the guidance of trained archery instructors, children — some as young as 6 —and their parents learn the basics of shooting bow and arrow, from determining their dominant eye to loading a bow, to removing the arrow from the target. Training is provided by Centershot Ministries, an interdenominational outreach ministry based in Minneapolis. With the slogan, “Making Christ the Target of Our Lives,” the Centershot program is an eight-week course that combines faith and archery for all ages.
“There are many sports activities for children, but most are for specific ages,” said Debaets. “Mineral Baptist Church wanted to provide a ministry where fathers and sons or mom, dad and the kids can all be on the line learning the fundamentals of archery.” He explains that this is easily accomplished as the program utilizes the same equipment for all ages.
Debaets admits that the church didn’t realize how large the interest in archery was in the community until in its first year when there was an unexpected turnout of 54 participants. Beginning the program with that many involved was a challenge, he said.
After MBCA was launched, several leaders indicated that they would like to be able to shoot, so a 3D archery range was set up. A 3D range is an outdoor course in a hunting atmosphere with life-size animal targets. “After we started our 3D shoots, we were amazed at how many moms and dads participated with their children in this activity,” Debaets said. It currently sponsors 3D outdoor shoots year-round.
MBCA offers its archery ministry during the summer. Two independent sessions will be offered this year. Each session includes training and a devotional that ties the skills learned to making Christ the target in life.
Emily Hix shows off her arrow grouping.
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“The great thing about archery is that you’re competing against yourself,” said Debaets. “It doesn’t matter what the next person is shooting because you are competing against your own score.”
This may interest kids who do not want to participate in team sports but might be drawn to individual sports. And archery is a repetitive sport, he adds. “Shooting trains muscles in repetitive form and the more you shoot the better you become.”
While he admits that it is a great outreach to children, he also says archery provides an opportunity for men to be involved in a sport that they are comfortable and confident in. “We have leaders in the community that are not members of Mineral Baptist that help us teach students,” he said. “Most of them hunt or participate in outdoor sports and it allows them to realize that participating in a church sport can be fun.”
Several local hunting clubs participate in the outdoor 3D shoots and other groups like the Virginia 4H are looking into the possibility of taking part, said Debaets. While no devotionals are offered at these shoots, the interaction opens the door for witness. “We rely on leaders from the church to build friendships with those involved and to allow Christ to work through those relationships,” he said.
Coaching archery differs from some other sports, said Debaets, as instruction is one-on-one and coaches are able to form relationships as they mentor students. “Archery is about form,” he said and coaching is very different from standing on the sidelines shouting instructions to 10-12 players. Training is similar to that used in the National Archery in Schools Program and is initially provided by a certified Centershot instructor trainer. Before each new session those who have received instruction provide training for new coaches.
“We wanted to provide a ministry to the community without being a financial burden to the church,” said Debaets. To do this MBCA utilizes sponsorships from local businesses to pro shops and sporting goods stores to other companies offering products for outdoor sports and archery. This has allowed MBCA to provide this ministry at no cost to the congregation.”
“It’s amazing to see all ages throughout the church be supportive of MBCA and what it’s doing to reach people,” Debaets said. He admits initially there were concerns about safety and children shooting a bow on a live range. “But once they realized the safety built into the Centershot program and the instruction process involved, the congregation was enthusiastic,” he said.
Barbara Francis ([email protected]) is on the staff of the Religious Herald.