UCA Gymnastics Team Emphasizes Outreach "The Bible says that whatever you do, do it for the glory of God,” says Faith Sparrow, student captain of the Upper Columbia Academy gymnastics team, “so when we do gymnastics, we do it to honor God.” Under Coach John Soulé and his student leaders, the team has had many opportunities to witness. Their reputation for captivating performances has resulted in invitations to do half-time shows at three area universities/colleges: Eastern Washington University, for their Eagles’ basketball team; Whitworth college, operated by the Presbyterians, for their Missionaries basketball team; and for a sold-out crowd at the Catholic-operated Gonzaga University for their very popular and successful Zags basketball team. At all their performances, while the team rolls out the mats, the announcer reads an introduction to the team that includes the explanation that they are from Upper Columbia Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist Christian boarding school. The team also enjoys getting around to both Adventist and public elementary schools. One special performance this last year was at the All-Nations Center in Wapato for Native American children. Another was for HOPE Taskforce, UCA’s community service program, at Broadview Elementary School, a public school in Spokane. In both cases, the team combined their show with a mini-clinic, teaching the younger students about safety and spotting as well as about trust, choosing good friends and being positive leaders. UCA has hosted two one-day clinics on campus. Due to extreme snow conditions, the most recent one brought in only about 75 people, but the first one attracted nearly 300. The team’s 43 members practice four times each week.
UCA Gymnastics Team
Emphasizes Outreach
"The Bible says that whatever you do, do it for the glory of God,” says Faith Sparrow, student captain of the Upper Columbia Academy gymnastics team, “so when we do gymnastics, we do it to honor God.” Under Coach John Soulé and his student leaders, the team has had many opportunities to witness.
Their reputation for captivating performances has resulted in invitations to do half-time shows at three area universities/colleges: Eastern Washington University, for their Eagles’ basketball team; Whitworth college, operated by the Presbyterians, for their Missionaries basketball team; and for a sold-out crowd at the Catholic-operated Gonzaga University for their very popular and successful Zags basketball team. At all their performances, while the team rolls out the mats, the announcer reads an introduction to the team that includes the explanation that they are from Upper Columbia Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist Christian boarding school.
The team also enjoys getting around to both Adventist and public elementary schools. One special performance this last year was at the All-Nations Center in Wapato for Native American children. Another was for HOPE Taskforce, UCA’s community service program, at Broadview Elementary School, a public school in Spokane. In both cases, the team combined their show with a mini-clinic, teaching the younger students about safety and spotting as well as about trust, choosing good friends and being positive leaders.
UCA has hosted two one-day clinics on campus. Due to extreme snow conditions, the most recent one brought in only about 75 people, but the first one attracted nearly 300. The team’s 43 members practice four times each week.
The UCA 200405 gymnastics team performs to honor God.
