CROWN POINT | On a fall evening several years ago, Christopher Wells found himself in the middle of the most passionate of passion plays.
"Griffith was facing Morton for the football sectional championship," Wells said of the 2005 title game, which he officiated in.
"The game went down to the wire," Wells said of the Panthers' 24-21 win over a rival they had easily blown out earlier in the regular season.
"It was the most intense game I've ever worked."
And Wells has worked plenty of intense games as a veteran football and baseball official.
"I was always into sports," said the 34-year-old burly man from Hobart. "But I started to have knee problems when I was 15, so I had to give up playing organized sports.
"About that time, I got into officiating."
Though Wells has found the calling rewarding, he has witnessed from time to time instances when passion and intensity trump sportsmanship and general decency.
"When that happens, it makes me wonder what would have came about if the players and fans had to memorize and relate a Bible verse before the game," Wells said.
Such a pre-game devotion is standard procedure for the Upward sports program at South Lake Nazarene Church in Crown Point. Wells is the program director.
"This will be our fifth season," Wells said of South Lake Upward, which has soccer, basketball and cheerleading for ages 5-12.
"We hope to have flag football by this fall," Wells said.
The program is open to all communities -- not just members of the church. Currently, South Lake Upward is taking registration for its soccer season. The next evaluation and signups will be from 5 to 7 p.m. June 16 at the church located at 7355 E. 81st Ave. (US Hwy. 30).
"We want to make sure we spread the talent evenly," Wells said. "We have them do 10- and 20-yard dashes, have them dribble the ball while weaving through cones, then conduct passing and shooting drills. Then we grade their performances."
Wells said that every player will get a chance to play every position.
"We're more focused on teaching them the game in a Christian atmosphere rather than about winning and losing," Wells said.
Wells is a member of the church with wife, Sara, and their three sons, Christian, 7, Jonah, 4, and Micah, 1. Wells also plays drums for the church's band, which performs during the services.
"And we do take requests," Wells said. "During our last mass, someone stood up and said, 'That song just got to me ... please play it again', and we did. It's nice to know that you've reached someone."
Evaluations and signups for Upward's summer soccer season for ages 5-12 will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at South Lake Nazarene Church, 7355 E. 81st Ave. (US Hwy. 30), Crown Point. For more information, contact Christopher Wells at (219) 947-2836, or at southlakeupward@comcast.net.
Upward Unlimited is a non-profit organization that partners with local evangelical churches to provide resources and training for conducting children’s sports ministry. Upward Basketball, Upward Cheerleading, Upward Soccer, and Upward Flag Football are all ministry programs of Upward Unlimited.