Ministry takes kids to Siena basketball game
TROY, N.Y. » More than 20 participants in the programs offered by Billy Carter and his Kingdom Ministries were able to have a special outing during the recent school break.
On Wednesday night, thanks to several sponsors, Carter was able to bring nearly 30 boys, ranging from age 3 to 19 years old, to a Siena College basketball game at the Times Union Center in Albany.
Kingdom Ministries, Carter explained, is focused on mentorship, community events and bringing local youth on field trips. The goal is to improve their self esteem and their morals, as well as helping them realize their value, he said. One program offered is a Christian basketball league, which many of the boys who attended the Siena game with Carter participate in.
Carter said he did not want to just bring boys from his program to the game just so that they could enjoy watching basketball. Instead, he said, he wanted them to talk with and experience what a college setting is like, so that he can motivate them more to want to attend college one day.
“This exposes them to a college environment. They see the excitement of the students, the fans, the cheerleaders, the alumni,” said Carter. “I think it helps to get the kids into a college frame of mind, they get to experience the atmosphere of a college environment.”
Carter said the boys were all able to go home with many giveaways thanks to Siena College, and they interacted well with the children in his program during the game.
“The kids had a lot of questions, we’re just grateful,” said Carter. “This is one our ways of getting the children in the program exposed to college.”
Carter said he is able to offer these types of trips and programs thanks to several community organizations and businesses that donate funds or items. Some of those sponsors include Pioneer Bank, the Troy Fire Department’s Union, Bella Napoli Bakery, former city councilman Bob Doherty, Blue Mantis Pest Control, along with Nite Owl News in downtown Troy.
Carter also mentioned how CDTA helps make the basketball game field trip possible by arranging a bus to bring everyone from Troy to the game in Albany.
Carter said he enjoys doing things like this because he wants the youths to forget about any problems getting them down, and he enjoys seeing their excitement at events like the basketball game.
“The smile on their faces is such good satisfaction for me,” said Carter. “When we dropped them off after the game their eyes were still big from the excitement that they just gone through and they can’t wait to get home and share what they experienced, so we just love that.”