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VI youths inspired by NBA stars
The session formed part of the annual Xperience Outreach basketball camp at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom and this year’s special feature was the USA Christian basketballers speaking with the youth of Virgin Islanders on the topics of discipline, respect, integrity and excellence.
The team included Jah Howard, Mike James, Calvin Warner, Tafari Toney, Brandon Matano, Rich A. Mahler, Rubert Mahler and Richard Mahler jr.
Peer pressure
It was especially during the session delivered by Mike James that the youths prodded their chins and had their focus well fixed as they were inspired by the core value of integrity.
"Peer pressure has an effect on integrity, why, because you know in your heart when you don’t want to do something but you want to be connected to this specific group so you basically belittle yourself so you can have friends,” Brother James put to the youths.
He added that the true ‘you’ kicks in when you move away for the ‘friends’ and because of your instilled integrity kicks in you say to yourself, “Why am I doing this, but I have no one. I am alone and I would rather be with this group than be alone but I know that this group takes away from me instead of builds me up.”
Stay true to who you are
He challenged the youth to stay true to who and what God has called them to be and as they heard from the other members of the group, they stuck to what they stood for as individuals despite being surrounded by many who stood for other things.
The young people also heard that there is no shame or shy feeling attached to being a Christian among professional basketballers who are non-Christians and as they were told, “Just as much as the others would want and try hard to have you be like them, you have to be just as committed to trying to influence them to be like you, who you are, what you stand for and why God makes the difference in your life.”
They were also taught that when they face challenging persons and situations, rather than allowing anger and frustration to take the upper hand of them, “Like I do, you have to kill them with kindness,” one said.
And in a charge to the adults present Brother James urged, “We can’t keep looking forward without looking back at the kids that are coming behind.”
Last night’s session commenced the process of pulling the curtains down on the youth basketball clinics which formed part of the Save The Seed Energy Centre basketball annual youth camp. The final clinic session is today July 10, 2015 while tonight promises to feature an action pack series of basketball games featuring the Virgin Gorda All Star Team versus the Bayside Blazers then the Professional Athletes of the USA versus the Tortola All Star Team with a special dunk contest and celebrity games fitting in between.
Tonight’s features come at a cost of $10 per person and the funds raised will go towards the electricity bills generated during the period. It was noted also that none of the USA NBA Basketballer players and coaches were paid to come to the VI but they did so voluntarily and they all spoke highly of the hospitality that they met among the VI people.
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