Kickball knows no age and kickball knows no gender.
Apparently kickball does know how to start a party and create some exciting fellowship though.
On July 10 the first-ever Urban Methodist Youth Camp Co-ed Kickball Tournament drew almost 75 people to Southfield and UMYC leaders have already dubbed it “the annual kickball tournament” and more inviting events are just around the corner.
Teams made up of church members, friends, pastors and other clergy from Detroit churches Conant Avenue UMC, People’s UMC and Second Grace UMC shared lunch together and created wonderful memories geared around the old sandlot game. But it wasn’t just for fun — it was for bragging rights as well.
Led by soccer enthusiasts like UMYC counselor Tito Kromoh and United Methodist Youth Foundation President Charles Boaye, Second Grace took home the title, downing Conant after Conant beat People’s UMC 10-2.
Leon Hayes of People’s UMC, the event’s de facto director, said it was required that each team had at least four males and four females. Second Grace showed up with a roster loaded with physically fit males, so Hayes let the people take judicial action on the matter.
“They could either represent their church and a church could take the trophy home or we could go boy, girl, boy, girl and the winners get the trophy and it could be held at the Urban Council,” Hayes said.
“People voted unanimously, ladies and all, that they wanted to represent their church. They wanted to have a trophy that churches play for every year and it really turned out great.”
People’s UMC pastor Rev. Carter Grimmett said the event set out to prove the UMYC is not simply about two weeks of urban camping at Judson Collins campground in the summer, it is about trying to unite people from all over the Detroit East and West Districts.
“We wanted a sport that would allow people who were non-athletes, that would allow everyone a fair opportunity to participate. It doesn’t take any specific skill, you can just play and enjoy it and have a good time,” he said. “One of the most important things about getting people together is developing that comfort and familiarity that will allow them to do other things. Once they get familiar with each other it allows them to take that next step as the body of Christ, being in ministry with others for others.”
He said people ages 2-92 were on hand and it was a hodge-podge of many of the great effects of ministry.
Grimmett ventured onto the diamond, stating “he made an appearance” but would rather not talk about his nearly non-existent skills. Instead he said track and field is his much-preferred type of athletics.
Hayes said there was so much energy buzzing around the tournament that he hopes to field enough teams to fill up all four diamonds at Inglenook Park next year. He said it is important to remember the real reason for the gathering though.
“There were men there who do not go to a church, but are interested in going to a church to see the different things that are available,” he said. “We started off with a prayer — and really, it was just a great event.”
Grimmett said the next UMYC sporting event will likely be a basketball-shooting contest, held sometime in November. The leadership team is still looking for a church to host the event, but the premise is a shooting contest of two-person teams who take turns trying to sink as many baskets as possible.
There will be an entry fee and half of the proceeds will go to UMYC and the other half will go to a mission of the UMYC youth’s picking.
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