Anna archery ministry gets to the point | Faith and Values
Participants in Centershot take aim during a recent session at First Christian Church of Anna. The ministry introduces youth to archery and to faith.
PROVIDED PHOTO
ANNA – As the young archery students pulls gently on the bow strings under the watchful eyes of instructors at First Christian Church of Anna, the archers are focused on the targets down range. It’s not the bullseyes that the instructors and organizers want them to necessarily focus on, however. They say their target is something bigger.
This is Centershot, a non-denominational outreach program using archery as a means to share Christian faith with children and teens. Much like the Upward sports programs popular in many of the region’s churches which use basketball, soccer, cheerleading and other sports programs to introduce participants to Christian beliefs, the unrelated archery program teaches participants bow and arrow skills as well as life skills from a Biblical perspective .
The Anna congregation is the first church in the region to offer the program. Senior Minister Joey Hawkins said the program is a great fit for Southern Illinois, especially given the love for outdoor activities and the growing popularity of archery.
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Hawkins, who first learned of the program while pastoring a church in Iowa, said Centershot uses the same safety and set-up principles taught in national school archery programs, within the context of Christianity.
“We use the life skills that come with archers as a tool to assist us in reaching people for Christ. It’s another way for us to connect with people, ”he said.
Each Centershot program consists of eight weekly meetings of about two hours on a weeknight. Each session includes a meal, lesson time and then work on the archery range. The congregation sets up targets in an indoor multi-purpose facility at the church.
“It’s been really well received and the kids have really enjoyed the experience,” Hawkins said. “It really builds their confidence. You see a kid who first steps in and can hardly put an arrow down range and then by the end, really see some improvement. ”
To lead the program, volunteers must be trained and certified by the Wisconsin-based Centershot organization. Hawkins said First Christian Church has offered training sessions in hopes that other churches and Christian organizations in the region will begin offering the program to students in their communities.
“We love hosting other churches and talk about ways they can get training and maybe start programs of their own. Maybe someday we can have local tournaments as the ministry spreads to other local churches, ”he said.
Still, he explained, the goal is to share faith and impact young people. On a national level, Centershot believes the program is a good way to introduce people to local churches.
“The biggest thing with Centershot is it allows us to really develop confidence, not just in archery but in faith because they can take the lessons and confidence and apply them to their lives,” he said.
The next Centershot program at First Christian Church of Anna is planned for March. The program is open to all area youth, but space is limited. Information is available by calling the church at (618) 833-6834
Photos: Architectural wonders in Southern Illinois
The Goddard Chapel in Marion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Completed in 1918, Goddard Chapel features a variety of Gothic-inspired arches and stained-glass windows; seats 200 people and is built with Bedford stone.
Provided by Baysinger Architects, courtesy of City of Marion
The Cloud State Bank building in McLeansboro was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It was designed by architect Reid Brothers of Evansville, Indiana in the Second Empire style. Cloud State Bank was completed in 1882 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Its design features a mansard roof with more than a dozen dormer windows, banded columns and ornate red and white brick work.
Provided by Baysinger Architects, courtesy waymarking.com
Johnson County Courthouse in Vienna, January 1971. It was designed by architect Niles Llewelly Wickwine in an Italianate style and completed in 1871. Johnson County Courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. It features narrow arched windows and octagonal dome with clocks that faces every side of the building.
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Thebes Courthouse is pictured from the Mississippi River in January 2013. Thebes is one of several Southern Illinois communities – along with Cairo and Karnak – to draw inspiration for its name from the region’s ties to the wider name Egypt. The courthouse was completed in 1848 and designed architect LI Lightner in the Southern Greek Revival style. Thebes Courthouse features a two-story porch and four pillars in front entry; served as Alexander County Seat until 1860 and now houses Thebes Historical Society. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
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The Old Shawneetown Bank is said to be the oldest bank in Illinois. Of the Greek Revival style, it was completed in 1841. Its design features wide-trimmed gable roof and four large, fluted Doric columns. When the Ohio River flooded in 1937, residents of the town were encouraged to move up the hill from the current location to what is now known as New Shawneetown. The bank closed for good in 1942, and, as of 2011, closed to the public. It is owned by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Old Shawneetown Bank was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
COURTESY ILLINOIS IN FOCUS
The Bald Knob Cross of Peace in Alto Pass is illuminated by the sun’s early rays. Its design features arms that extend 63 feet horizontally; structure is 111 feet tall. The entire cross rests on a foundation of 730 tons of reinforced concrete that stretches down 20 feet to bedrock. Building was completed in 1963.
ADAM TESTA
Altgeld Hall houses SIU’s School of Music and is the oldest building on Carbondale campus and one of the university’s signature silhouettes. Built in the Gothic Revival style and completed in 1896, Altgeld Gall features battlements over the perimeter of the roof and towers and an asymmetrical layout with tall, narrow windows on towers. There is an unconfirmed rumor that if one were to connect all of the Altgeld-inspired buildings from Illinois university campuses that they would all connect to make one larger, continuous building.
The Southern File Photo
The Gilbert Mansion in Golconda was built between 1894 and 1896. It now houses the Riverview Mansion Hotel. It features 18-inch walls, stained-glass windows, tile-slate roof, wood moldings; located on Golconda’s Silk Row; now home of Riverview Mansion Hotel.
Provided by Baysinger Architects; courtesy Pope County Historical Society
The Shiloh College School building was built in 1881, currently located in Randolph County. Shiloh College School Building was completed in 1881 and placed National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Built in the Greek Revival style, the building features tall narrow windows along the first and second floors of the school and wide-banned trimming under the gabled roof.
Provided by Baysinger Architects, courtesy of Waymarking.com
Magnolia Manor is a post-Civil War home in the historic district of Cairo. The building was built by Cairo businessman Charles A. Galigher in the Italianate style. It features a towered asymmetrical layout with low-pitched roofs that reach down to widely overhanging eaves supported by decorative brackets and was completed in 1869. Magnolia Manor was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
THE SOUTHERN
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