I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time I went to the Lord’s Gym (a CAP partner with whom I spend part of my time). I had heard a lot about it, but I didn’t really have a mental picture. What I found when I arrived was a slightly dilapidated old building that reminded me of a high school gym from an inspirational sports movie: you know, the one that becomes a symbol of the seemingly hopeless team that manages to overcome all obstacles and win the big game. In other words, I saw a gym that had seen better days, but I also saw potential. I felt like the coaches must feel in those movies, thinking “Well, there’s not a lot to work with, but I bet we can do something great.”

Working at the Gym for the first time was intimidating. Aside from Kerri, another CAP volunteer, I was the only female there, and I am admittedly very bad at making small talk even under the best of circumstances. I didn’t want to interrupt their basketball games and I wasn’t sure what to talk about when they were over. Tim (the other CAP volunteer there) had the distinct advantage of being male and therefore able to bond with the guys while shooting hoops. Eventually I summoned up my eighth grade basketball skills and will occasionally join in, but mostly I still feel bad subjecting everyone to my extremely poor ball skills. Because these guys are good. It was at the Gym that I first realized how big a deal basketball is in Kentucky. These were mostly guys who were not playing on any teams, but who still spent three hours at the Gym playing pick-up games and shooting around. All of them can sink three-pointers with ease and there are a few I’ve seen make shots from half court.

In addition to watching more basketball then I have in my life (including when I was actually playing in elementary school), I’ve been able to see growth in some of the guys that come to the Gym, which has been really awesome. The Gym is a place where people of all ages come to play ball, and the whole age thing doesn’t seem to matter. There’s one guy in particular who’s really good about letting the younger kids play and making sure that they actually get the ball. I’ve also seen some of the older kids giving pointers to the younger and less experienced players.

Part of what we do at the Gym is lead a devotion about halfway through the night. This means that we have everyone stop playing ball for 10 or 15 minutes and play another game with them, usually with some sort of lesson attached. Then we close with prayer and let them return to their games. The first couple nights we did this, our request to stop playing ball was met with a lot of groans. People were there to play basketball, and they didn’t want to give us any of their time. There are still some complaints, and there are inevitably people who justhappen to have to leave right before devotion, but there are also people who’ve started getting excited about devotions, and who eagerly participate in the games.

One of the biggest changes I’ve seen at the Gym has been very recent. About a month ago, the Gym’s board decided to make Tuesday “Ladies’ Night” in an effort to get more women into the Gym (and by “more” women I mean women, period). Since the Ladies’ Night started, there have been a few Monday nights when there have been women there – almost unheard of before. There are also several families that have started coming in and working out together. It’s so encouraging to see people utilizing the Gym and taking their health seriously.

The Gym may still be a little run-down, and it may struggle to pay its heating bills every winter, but it is an important part of life in Jackson County. It gives kids a place to go to stay out of trouble, adults a place to stay in shape, and families a place to start working on a healthy lifestyle.

“Sometimes the best way to figure out who you are is to get to that place where you don’t have to be anything else.” – Unknown

Erin C. is a long-term volunteer in Educational and Recreational Programming, a program of Christian Appalachian Project affiliated with Camp Andrew Jackson. She is a member of the Jackson Volunteer Community.