Smiles on the Horizon: NorthStar Church Helps Special Needs Children

Freelance writer Lee Wilson, one of NorthStar Church's own, submitted this guest post on NorthStar's involvement with special needs sports at Acworth's . Learn more about how you can get involved at www.northstarchurch.org/community.

On one unusually cool July Thursday night, the Tigers prepared for their weekly kickball game. It’s obvious even to the casual observer though that they don’t take themselves too seriously as they greet everyone that approaches with a smile and offer sincere excitement for the upcoming game.

The team plays their games at Horizon Field in Kenworth Park, a specially designed turf field suited for the special needs sports teams that play there like the Tigers. The league lasts six weeks over the summer and is broken up by age with 5-12 year olds playing on Tuesdays and anybody 13 and older playing on Thursdays.

Each team is set up with a group of volunteers and the Tigers just so happened to be paired up with a group from Northstar who are part of the church’s Special Needs Kickball Buddies. The volunteers are matched up with a player and assist them in running the bases and playing the field. However, as Northstar volunteer Callie Norris says, the players don’t need much assistance.

“They really know what they are doing, we just run the bases and have some fun along with them,” said Norris, who was accompanied by her 7-year-old stepson Jailan. “I really wanted to get (Jailan) involved, and I saw the opportunity in one of the weekly e-mails that I get.”

As Norris and Jailan waited prior to the game alongside the dugout, they were greeted by one of the Tigers players, the self-titled “Referee Ryan Terrific,” who cleared the bases by thumping a ball to the wall in his first time at the plate. Ryan received praise from teammates, volunteers and opponents, collecting high fives from all of the above as he rounded the bases.

The games last just under an hour and score is not kept, nor are outs recorded. Each team has an opportunity for all of its players to come to the plate once in each inning. The smiles present on all of the participants faces, whether player or volunteer, are infectious and frequent. It makes it easy to understand why somebody like Tigers coach Allison Diemer would want to be a part of it.

“I love it, this is my fourth season and I have a blast,” said Diemer. “I look forward to it every year.”

Diemer also showed her praise for the Northstar volunteers that are involved with her team.

“They have really been amazing,” gleamed Diemer. “You can really tell that they have formed special bonds with the players. They all look forward to each other coming back week in and week out.”

The volunteer role is to help make the games fun for the players, and those who participate deserve recognition for taking part in such events but it is clear after spending even a short amount of time around one of the fields that it isn’t only the players who are having fun. That’s why people like Norris and Jailan get involved in the first place.

“I thought it sounded like something that would be fun, and we have a blast,” said Norris. “My husband (Doug Ruffus) actually was the first one to come out here and then I started coming.”

To take part in the church’s community ministry in a way that brings joy to all parties involved presents a unique opportunity of service. This not only allows volunteers to make an impact on the lives of others, but presents each of them with a chance to grow as well….and have a little fun while they are doing it.