Special Olympics Team Bests Opponents in Church’s Special Olympics Basketball Game

A Special Olympics team comprised of Lighthouse of Christ Church’s own Michael Cimental, 22, and other San Bernardino area residents living with disabilities “dominated” the game while church and family members cheered them on during the Lighthouse of Christ Church’s first Special Olympics game on July 19 at Elizabeth Davis Park in Colton, said pastor Oly Chavez. The Special Olympics team shot so many hoops against the Lighhouse church team there was no need to keep score. “They definitely took the championships,” Chavez said. Each champion was awarded a medal of honor for his victory. Cimental, who lives with a form of cerebral palsy that causes him to have seizures, has been a member of Lighthouse of Christ Church since it was founded in February this year but has been a basketball fan his entire life. “He knows every basketball stat you could ever think,” his mother, Colton resident Alice Cimental, said. With aspirations of being an NBA player, Michael Cimental was practicing for two hours daily in preparation to attend this year’s Special Olympics summer games at USC in Los Angeles. Due to cuts in the number of players on the Special Olympics team at this year’s summer games, Michael and other teammates were unable to attend. “At the Special Olympics, it was all disabled kids who could play, but this year only one team could play. These kids practice all summer long and they are diligent. Michael was very disappointed that he couldn’t go to the [Special] Olympics this year. He practices a lot,” Alice said. When Pastor Oly heard the news, he wanted to help. “We saw how discouraged Michael was and I told the staff we needed to do something about this,” Chavez said. With a focus of reaching out to its congregation and other community members, the church hosts several potlucks every other Sunday following morning service and reaches out to host events such as this for its members, Chavez explained. “Our whole focus is placing value on people,” he said. “When Pastor Oly suggested (the church host a game), it was a blessing,” Alice said. “We are blessed. Michael’s wanted to play basketball his whole life.” The church made an entire day of the event, purchasing food and beverages as well as the medals awarded to each of the game’s champions. To gather players for the Special Olympics team, Alice reached out to Rachel Padilla at Rainbow Care, a group home for disabled male adults in San Bernardino. Participating players from Rainbow Care included Jeremy Jorgenson, Ryan King, Vincent Betancourt, Delvon Holly, Gary Stern and Dean Jackson; the Special Olympic team went up against a team of other church members in the church-hosted competition. Padilla, who for the last seven years has coached Special Olympic bocce, golf and bowling for the Western San Bernardino Chapter, said she was glad to get the call. “It was nice for the church to put on this event,” Padilla said. “I was really appreciative of it and they all had a great time.” This year’s Special Olympics game may be the first of many to come in future years, explained Chavez, as the church continues to host community-oriented events such as this.