SOUTH POINT —Playing basketball while learning about the Lord is the purpose behind the King’s Court program, now in its seventh year, at Tri-State Bible Temple, in South Point.

“I grew up just loving sports and participating in basketball and I thought something like that would be a good way to reach families and have a positive influence,” Tim Jenkins, pastor, said. “The Lord teaches a lot of life lessons.”

On Saturday starting at 11 a.m. will be registration for the program open to children from 4 years old through sixth grade. Games are played from January through March.

Then on the first Saturday in April will be a rewards program.

Besides basketball, there is also a cheerleading program working in conjunction. Both programs seek to offer positive reinforcement to the children.

“We have an environment conducive to a good experience for parents and children,” Jenkins said. “We don’t put the focus on winning and losing. We don’t have an all-star team. Every player gets to play each game.

“We do keep scoring games. That is part of life. Our focus is on a good environment. We are not cheering against people, but cheering for them.”

Even children who are not star players have a chance to add points for their team by memorizing a weekly verse from Scripture.

“If they say their memory verse, we put points on the scoreboard and everybody has an impact on the games,” Jenkins said. “God’s word is filled in sports situation where sports teach real spiritual truths.”

Registration runs until 1 p.m. and children can see samples of the uniforms each child will receive and can keep.