Sign up for The Good Stuff

Our weekly newsletter filled with news, updates, and inspiring stories of how God is working in the Bay Area.

"*" indicates required fields

Sign up for The Good Stuff

Our weekly newsletter filled with news, updates, and inspiring stories of how God is working in the Bay Area.

"*" indicates required fields

And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences–the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is!

Ephesians 3:16-18 TPT

God’s love is enduring and inclusive. He never quits on nor excludes people from building a relationship with him, and he loves to see those he cares about be included and welcomed in areas when they otherwise wouldn’t have been. 

This is why our church is so grateful and determined to support programs that promote the inclusive mindset that God loves so deeply. Exceptional Sports (E-Sports) is one of those programs, bringing together individuals who are neurotypical and those with special needs to build relationships and change the world through inclusion together. 

We aren’t the only ones who have noticed the inspiration of this program. The Golden State Warriors have also been moved by the inclusive culture E-Sports has created and have reached out to build a partnership over the last several years.

For the first time this past weekend, the Golden State Warriors partnered with E-Sports to host a day of clinics and activities exclusively for E-Hoops families. The E-Hoops Warriors Day at the Chase Center was an incredible and inspiring event, leaving a lasting impression not only on the 225 kids and families who came but also on everyone who saw it happen.

Amy and I have the incredible privilege of serving as directors of the E-Hoops San Francisco program, leading and overseeing a great team of coaches and volunteers. Today we want to share with you a few of the moments from the E-Hoops Warriors Day that built our faith in the power of inclusion. 

The magic of inclusion in action at Chase Center

The Warriors’ Defensive Coach Ron Adams spoke to E-Hoops participants, inspiring all the kids and coaches that they each have special gifts to do good and help others in life. He explained how this is what their purpose in life is all about! 

Additionally, we got to talk to NBC Warriors sportscaster Monty Poole about growing awareness for inclusion. He told us he was inspired by seeing all the kids and E-Hoops coaches lined up in the players tunnel, enthusiastic and ready to hit the court for their Primetime game. 

The E-Hoops Primetime game just before the Warriors’ evening tip-off was thrilling for every E-Hoops player, with kids making incredible shots and displaying inclusion in action on the Chase Center court. The Warriors’ hypeman Franco Finn emceed the game throughout each play. 

E-Sports’ very own director, Greg Bodzioch, was then called to center court to ring the official bell to get the Warriors vs. Raptors game underway.  

The night was topped off with all our families and friends watching Steph Curry and Klay Thompson lead the Warriors to a win! 

Inclusion makes a lasting impact

E-Hoops families expressed incredible gratitude for how much this day of inclusion impacted them and their kids:

“Thank you so much for everything! I am filled with gratitude for what you all gave [my daughter] today.”

“This was DEFINITELY a once in a lifetime experience. We appreciate it so much, and appreciate you  ALL E-Hoops and E-Sports!” 

“Thank you again for all your help and support with our son today and getting him to play on court! He is still talking about it!” 

How inclusion changes lives

Speak out on behalf of those who have no voice, and defend all those who have been passed over.

Proverbs 31:8 Voice

God calls us to seek out those often overlooked by society. Because he so often pursues us to not let us be passed over or discouraged by life, we too can pursue those who have been passed over by others, speaking up for those who often aren’t given a voice.

The partnership between E-Sports and the Warriors is exciting to us because it can help bring hope and inclusion to one of the most marginalized communities, with over 1.3 billion people with disabilities in the world today. 

We are grateful to empower programs like E-Sports to build an inclusive culture in our local and global community!

Go E-Hoops…go E-Sports…go Warriors!!

Ray & Amy Kim 

San Francisco Lead Ministers

Written by

Ray Kim

Ray Kim is a Southern California native who made the Bay Area his home after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley. He is passionate about community service, and is spearheading such efforts as the E-Hoops program at the University of San Francisco.