McNairy Magazine 2019

Basketball for
Outreach: Chewalla Basketball League
The most successful youth
sports league in McNairy
County in the past five years
is the Chewalla Basketball
League. Chewalla Baptist
Church has sponsored the
league that has attracted
players from four counties in
the area.
Chewalla Baptist had
completed a large remodeling
job in 2013 that included a
new gym when the idea for a
league came together . Church
leaders decided to begin the
children’s basketball league as
a way to reach the community.
“We did not want to just
have a league for our church
members,” said CBC pastor Bro.
Richard Doyle. The preacher
has been at the church for
over 20 years and knew sports
would be a good way to attract
parents and children to join the
league.
Chewalla began the league
in 2014 and the numbers have
grown every year. The league
had 192 players or cheerleaders
from age 5 through 6th Grade
this past year. The surprising
thing is more than 40 percent
of those in the league came
from outside the church.
Ross Shelton, a former
McNairy Central standout
athlete, was chosen as the
director and has worked
many hours to run the league.
Adam & Meg Day, Avon &
Belinda Shelton, Jeremy &
Holly Whitten, Will & Megan
Shelton, Brandi Wardlow,
David Johnson, Wes & Sarah
Beth Dotson, Chris & Adrianne
Whitten, Paige Teague, Logan
& Lacey Chappell, Joey &
Heather Whitten, Kayce
Howard, and Eric Holcombe
are just a few that have helped
to build the league as coaches
and other roles.
The church made sure
the players learned not only
about basketball, but about
the Gospel. When the teams
practice, they hear a devotion
during their break about Jesus.
“We did not want any child
leaving without hearing the
Gospel,” said Bro. Richard. “Our
goal is to have no player or
cheerleader leave our league
without knowing we love them
and Jesus loves them.”
Shelton said church
members had made it plain
they did not want a child
turned away because they
could not pay the entry fee.
He said people give money to
help cover the fee for any child
that does not have the money.
The league
on Saturdays
d u r i n g
January and
February.
C B C
believes
the league
has been
a success
and the
feedback
f r o m
parents
has been
positive,
especially
f r o m
those
plays
outside the church.
If your child has not been a
part of the league in the past,
there will be information on
Chewalla’s Facebook page this
fall and forms are given out at
each elementary school in the
county.
(Story submitted by Jeff York of
Chewalla, TN.)
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MCNAIRY MAGAZINE