Barrs Mill Church of God provides baseball Dream League for those with special needs
That is about to change in Tuscarawas and Holmes counties.
The congregation at Barrs Mill Church of God will begin a new baseball league, called the Dream League, which will give any special needs person an opportunity to get out in the sunshine and enjoy playing baseball in its purest form.
The church’s pastor, Jan Murphy, was in contact with Forty Corner’s Church of God in Massillon, where there has been a Dream League for the past four years. Those involved there touted the joy and countless blessings the league has seen in Stark County, and urged Barrs Mill to get involved. With a beautiful diamond and perfect facility to facilitate such an endeavor, Barrs Mill is perfect for this kind of ministry. Having already raised the funding for the league, Murphy said they are excited about the upcoming season. All they need now are the players.
“God has blessed us richly, and has given us so much, that we wanted to find a way that we could give back to others and pass that blessing along,” said Murphy. “There is nothing in this for us other than knowing that we are doing something good for others. It’s free to anyone who wants to join, and it is open to any special needs person who wants to have fun fellowship.”
Dream League is open to all special needs athletes, and games will begin Wednesday, July 20 and run through August 24, with 6:30 p.m. start times. The field, located right behind Barrs Mill Church of God at 4677 SR 93, NW, just three miles north of Sugarcreek, is handicap accessible, and aside from the beautiful baseball facility, also has a pavilion with a snack stand and handicap accessible restrooms. The facility also has a hitching rail and a playground, so there are things to do for children who come along to the games.
The games will be played with regular bats and helmets, but the ball used will be a softer version of a baseball. The games are set up for everyone to achieve, with no score, and not even any outs. While plays will be made, every runner will get to experience the joy of moving around the bases and touching home plate as the game progresses.
“Everyone achieves, and everyone wins,” said Murphy. “We are here so that the players can experience the fun and joy of playing the game.”
Murphy said that even if there were to be inclement weather on game nights, they already have plans set to have activities under the large pavilion next to the field, or to watch a movie in the church, so there will be fellowship rain or shine.
The players will feel the freedom of getting out on the field, and fielding, hitting, running and throwing, and they will also be aided by a group of volunteers, known as buddies, who will help them swing the bat, field and navigate their way around the bases. The buddies will be made up of volunteers from Barrs Mill Church of God, and anyone else who would like to lend a hand, and Murphy said that there are plenty of blessings to be found for those who volunteer.
“We are hoping to have two players per buddy,” said Murphy. “What we really want are volunteers who have a real heart and passion for this kind of thing. The only objective for buddies is to help the athletes get out there and do their best and to help them flourish. It is one of those things where inevitably the people volunteering are as blessed as the players.”
Whether you are a special needs athlete, one of the buddy volunteers or simply there to watch and enjoy the games, these kinds of special needs sporting events are an experience for everyone to take in, because they are both enjoyable and quite inspirational. The hope of the church through Dream League play is to not only provide athletic opportunities, but also provide a family-friendly atmosphere that encourages camaraderie among families, friends and the athletes.
Murphy said that the idea for the Dream League came up about six months ago, and the elder board kicked around the idea before they figured, since they had the facility, why not take a leap of faith and create a program that would serve as a wonderful outreach program?
Once they decided to take the plunge, Murphy said that one thing they realized was that it would be a great opportunity to invite the Amish community families who have family members with special needs.
Since it is brand new to the church, Murphy said that they have little in the way of expectations, whether it is 20 or 100 players involved. They will simply get ready, do the groundwork and then let God take over.
“We can’t expect anything other than to allow God to work through us,” said Murphy. “We will simply trust the results and honor God by giving back to others. We expect nothing in return, although I am sure that we will be blessed through this right along with the special needs people who get involved. It is going to be exciting.”
To register for Dream League, log on to the church website at http://www.barrsmillchurch.org, where you can find a registration packet to fill out. Or, families can call Murphy at 330-691-1098 or email her at akronjanmurphy@aol.com. Registration deadline is July 13.
Published: July 6, 2011
