Hartfield Varsity Basketball Mission Trip Recap

Led by Head Coach Chris Goodman, along with Coach Ingram and Coach Lucas, the team spent time in Guatemala City, Chimaltenango, and Xela. Through basketball clinics and games, the team connected with local youth groups and athletes, not just to play basketball, but to have opportunities to share their faith. After each clinic or game, one of our players shared a personal testimony.

“This trip wasn’t about basketball,” Coach Goodman shared. “It helped build up our spiritual foundation, strengthen our team’s camaraderie, and create lasting memories. Every group we met was encouraged by our guys’ willingness to share their faith and their struggles with people they had never met.”

From day one, the players were challenged to dig deep into the condition of their hearts. Coaches led conversations about how what’s in our hearts drives our thoughts, actions, and purpose. Players discussed what it means to be rooted in Christ, and how that changes the way we live on and off the court.

“We asked our guys a simple but profound question,” Coach Goodman explained. “When you walk into a room, do people see you or do they see Jesus? That conversation shaped everything else we did.”

During the trip, leaders saw students step up in remarkable ways. Seniors Noah Sensing, Sam Sykes, and Pepper Wilson stood out as they took initiative, encouraged their teammates, and led both spiritually and practically.

The team returned with a new perspective on what really matters. As the upcoming season approaches, the lessons from Guatemala will go far beyond games and practice. They will influence how this team plays, serves, and leads because at Hartfield, putting First Things First means keeping Christ at the center of everything.

This mission trip is just one example of how Hartfield is different. At every level—academics, athletics, and the arts— we believe that when we seek first the Kingdom of God, everything else will follow.