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Main Directory TEAM JAM Leadership TEAM Jam Testimonials TEAM JAM PROGRAMS |
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Our Mission TEAM JAM USES THE VEHICLE OF ATHLETICS TO INVEST IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. Involvement in athletics provides opportunity to learn about and meet the spiritual, physical & emotional needs of area youth. We
specialize in helping others to know Jesus Christ as personal Savior. In March of 1991, John Saucier made plans to involve six seniors representing four different high schools, in an evangelistic basketball tournament. The young men had been met through John's work as a youth pastor and as a counselor at an FCA sports camp. The others were basically interested in getting together to play basketball. Rides, expenses, and meals were given by the Saucier's along with lodging at their home the night before. T-shirts were purchased at a flee market for $1 each, numbers were ironed on, and only John and another coach got to wear a shirt with the name "TEAM JAM" on it. After all, it took a long time to cut out those letters and iron them on so they were straight! After a late night devotion and an early morning wakeup/departure, the first "TEAM JAM" played six games at Wooster College in the area "Word of Life" tournament. Six victories later, they were crowned champions. During the evangelistic service in the middle of the day, five of the six athletes publicly and unashamedly responded to the opportunity to give Jesus Christ control of their lives. The sixth young man made the same decision a few months later. These six, as well as seven others, participated in a similar tournament two weeks later. Another championship was won, additional relationships were cultivated, and TEAM JAM was publicly recognized. Since that time over 400 different athletes have participated in the basketball programs. There have been over 400 decisions to trust Christ with their lives. Hundreds more have been aided through TEAM JAM involvement in school functions and events. The philosophy behind TEAM JAM has been validated by the response of the youth. By involving ourselves in athletics, young men trust us to get to know them. Additional investment in their lives by meeting specific needs (food, clothing, tutoring, coaching, finding a college, crisis counseling, etc.) earns the trust necessary to prove to youth that God really cares. It wasn't until June of 1991, that TEAM JAM became an official ministry supervised by West Hill Baptist Church. But by that time, there were already numerous youth being reached through regular visits to team practices and school lunches. Though much of the recognition TEAM JAM receives is a result of its basketball teams, the basketball program is just a seasonal event. There are many other services provided throughout the year for youth from thirty different high schools. The ministry of TEAM JAM (Jesus, Athletics, and Ministry) is now an independently operated, non-profit organization as of February of 1999. Its founder and director, John Saucier, seeks to motivate churches concerned with youth to become heavily involved in the community. Area youth are aided so that they may realize their potential for leadership as positive role models among their peers.
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