What started as a Sunday afternoon game of basketball at Cedarville University has grown into a basketball ministry built on competition, community and gospel conversations. That ministry will be on display at the Spring Slam Classic, an all-star showcase game at 7 p.m. in Cedarville’s main basketball gym on March 14, 2026.
Spring Slam Classic: All-Star Showcase Game Set for March 14, 2026
Cam Arminio, associate director of career services at Cedarville University, began organizing weekly open gym sessions in 2019. What started with 13 participants has expanded into a structured ministry that brings together students, faculty, staff and people from the community.
More than a century after James Naismith invented the game of basketball using two peach baskets and a soccer ball, the sport continues to serve as a platform for competition and community. Arminio said the ministry is part of that tradition, using the game to build relationships and create opportunities for gospel conversations.
“The original purpose for basketball was to share the gospel,” said Arminio. “And that is what we are still called to do — use basketball to bring people together, to build relationships, have good competition and share the goodness of God through it.”
Gospel Conversations Through Sports: Using Basketball to Build Relationships
The ministry now hosts weekly Sunday afternoon open gyms, three major events each year and additional outreach events in the surrounding community.
Arminio is planning the Spring Slam Classic, which will operate like a traditional NCAA game with a player draft, two 20-minute halves, referees and announcers. Peak Retirement Planning is sponsoring the event to provide jerseys, volunteer t-shirts, giveaways and a championship trophy.
Community Outreach in Cedarville: Bringing the Village Together
The Spring Slam Classic aligns with the ministry’s goal of bringing people together from the village and surrounding communities to create opportunities to share the gospel.
“The mission of the basketball ministry is to leverage basketball as a platform for building Christ-centered community, nurturing spiritual growth, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Arminio. “We seek to know and share Christ with others through evangelism, relationships, and competition.”
Participant Testimony: Centerville Man Comes to Faith Through the Ministry
Bradley Lawson, an active participant in the basketball ministry from Centerville, Ohio, began attending the open gyms in spring 2025. After months of consistent playing and involvement, Lawson committed his life to Christ last fall and has connected with a local church.
“I used to go hoop because I just loved the game of basketball,” said Lawson. “But over time, the messages at halftime about the gospel started to sit with me. When I look back on it now, I see how God used the game of basketball and the halftime message to pull me closer to him.”
In addition to Sunday open gyms and events like the Spring Slam Classic, Arminio hopes to expand the ministry’s community involvement through partnerships with local churches, a bi-weekly bible study and jail ministry programs.
“Our goals for the ministry are to continue to be faithful,” said Arminio. “I have seen God use the sport to bring guys together and to build relationships. We want to keep the Sunday open gyms competitive and well-organized and continue to share the gospel because that is the heartbeat of what we do. But we also want to continue to go out into the community.”
Arminio does not separate the competition or love for the sport from ministry. Through excellence on the court and meaningful conversations, he uses basketball to foster intentional relationships and to share the gospel with those in the community.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.