DATE: Thursday, September 18, 1997          TAG: 9709170156

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   85 lines

NURTURING BODY, MIND, AS WELL AS SPIRIT, IS EBENEZER UMC'S GOAL

Over 300 people gathered at the Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Crittenden last Friday evening for the opening ceremonies for fall soccer. One hundred-ten players and their coaches paraded through balloon-covered soccer goals and onto the playing field before a host of cheering parents and friends. Each team, dressed in colorful T-shirts, carried a banner with its designated name as it marched on to its playing turf.

Ebenezer pastor, the Rev. Carl LeMon, served as master of ceremonies for this festive event. He began his remarks by reminding participants and their families of the purpose behind the program: ``All kids are gifted by God. When they use their gifts, they glorify God and also learn self-esteem and mutual respect.''

LeMon gave parents kudos for their support of their children. He also challenged them to exercise good sportsmanship and to be kind and encouraging to all youth involved.

Before the crowd disbursed, everyone gathered for an ice cream bash - complete with sprinkles, M & M's, cherries, whipped cream and all the trimmings. By sundown everyone headed home to rest up for Saturday's opening games, the beginning of an eight-week season.

Fall soccer is just one session in Ebenezer's year-round program known as EASL, Ebenezer Arts and Sports League.

The thriving program began with soccer in the fall of 1994 with about 24 neighborhood kids, ages 5-7, who enrolled in a six-week training session to learn the basics of this action-packed sport. Now the program has expanded to include a winter session of art courses and worship dance, a summer session of arts, cooking and music, and a fall session of soccer. LeMon estimates that by the end of the year, EASL '97 enrollment will top 250 children and adults.

``God wants us to have healthy bodies and spirits and creative minds,'' LeMon said. ``The church is once again bringing the arts and wholeness back into the community,'' LeMon said.

According to LeMon, the concept of EASL grew out of a neighborhood tragedy which stirred church and community leaders to brainstorm about what could be done to provide wholesome opportunities for area young people.

LeMon sketched out ideas for EASL and local adults with expertise in sports or the arts took on the leadership. Soccer Commissioner Dwayne White is one of those dedicated adult mentors who unselfishly gives of his time to make sure the bases are covered - things like mowing the playing fields, putting up goals and nets and refereeing.

``It's people like this who make the program work,'' LeMon admitted. ``He's a gifted artist in our art session as well as commissioner for soccer . . . He, like other instructors and coaches, invests hundreds of hours doing what needs to be done.''

The logo on an Ebenezer T-shirt sums up the philosophy of the EASL ministry: ``This is the church that LOVE is building . . . A church that cares about kids.''

Why has this program met with such success? LeMon attributes much of the credit to parents. ``Generally suburban baby boomers care a great deal about what their kids are doing,'' LeMon explained. ``We're (the church) just a vehicle for strengthening and supporting these families,'' he said.

``Also, the kids love it because they're center stage . . . It's a great opportunity for them to experience success, to be encouraged and nurtured,'' LeMon added.

Ebenezer Church is also enjoying some of the fruit of EASL in its growing membership. ``We've grown 92 percent in four years,'' LeMon said. ``We've reached a number of new families through EASL and ministered to many within the community as well.''

With EASL established and flourishing, Ebenezer's ``Dream Team'' for long-range goals is dreaming of a Family Life Center to further enhance its mission in the Crittenden-Eclipse community. ``A Family Life Center would provide basketball and volleyball, a fitness center for adults and seniors, a dance studio and much-needed educational space,'' LeMon explained.

``People need to see the church as a place of hopes and dreams,'' LeMon said. ``I'm seen as a dreamer myself, and I keep lifting the people's vision to the dreams God has for them individually and as a community.''

And for Ebenezer Church, the dream of EASL has become reality, an effective instrument for both missions and ministry within the church and community. MEMO: The Fall Session of EASL, which began on Sept. 12, involves

children ages 5-8 in an eight-week season of soccer training and

instruction. The Winter Art Session of EASL will begin in February. The

Ebenezer United Methodist Church is at 1589 Steeple Dr. in Crittenden.

Call 238-2359 for additional information about the church's ministries. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by TRUDY CUTHRELL

It's pep talk time before the games begin Saturday in Ebenezer

United Methodist Church's soccer league.

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