Aaron Scheer, a pastor at Community Church, has been involved in the sport of archery for as long as he can remember.
“It was really my dad who got me started in archery,” Aaron said. “We had great trips and a lot of fun shooting in the yard. We’d play tic tac toe with our arrows. He’d put a lifesaver on a target and we’d shoot at it.”
It’s not surprising that with such a solid foundation in the sport, Aaron has harvested a bear, elk, deer and turkey with his bow and arrow.
But that doesn’t come close to the best part of his archery story. Aaron came to Christ a little over 20 years ago and discovered a way to combine his passion for Jesus with his love for archery.
Aaron is the driving force behind introducing the Green Bay area to Centershot, which aims to share the gospel around the world through the sport of archery.
On Sunday (March 4) there were about 200 people in the GBCC auditorium either competing, coaching or cheering during the Centershot regional tournament. There were archers with wide-ranging skills and ages, from elementary kids to adults. They competed as teams representing different area churches.
“The energy was very high,” Aaron said. “There was great camaraderie and great concentration.”
The tournament on Sunday was the culmination of a nine-week Centershot training program in which participants learned how to properly use a bow and arrow. There is also a spiritual component to the class, which is the part Aaron really loves.
“The Bible is full of archery terms,” Aaron said. “Sin itself is an archery term. It means to miss the mark. We talk about becoming part of God’s family through the whole process of Centershot — what Christ did on the cross, how he covers our sin and makes a way for us as part of God’s family.”
There’s a spiritual connection between using a bow and receiving God’s love. “A major component of shooting archery is you can’t grip and torque the bow,” Aaron explained. “You have to receive the bow and let it do the work, just as we receive this relationship with Jesus. We give Him space to do work in our life.”
Aaron said archery is an empowering sport.
“Archery doesn’t choose the biggest, strongest or most athletic,” he said. “When an arrow leaves the bow, the shooter’s strength is compounded through the bow. That’s another great lesson spiritually. When you move into God’s family there is a compounding effect of his power and love — it opens the door to allow Christ to empower you.”
It’s energizing for Aaron to know that as recently as two years ago virtually none of the shooters at Sunday’s tournament possessed any archery experience. Their skills have advanced, thanks in large part to the many volunteer coaches.
"I love seeing our coaches grow,” Aaron said. "I love seeing moms and dads able to shoot with their kids. Coaches, men and women stepping in, using the passion they have for archery, learning these skills and now they are teaching others. That’s a beautiful thing to watch.”
Multiple shooters on Sunday achieved high individual honors with a score of 228 out of a possible 250. During the coach’s shoot-off, the spectators erupted when the winning shot from 15 meters hit the absolute center of the bull's-eye, which was the size of an aspirin.
"For me the greatest thing about archery is you have to make every arrow count,” Aaron said. "Whether practicing or in competition, they are like decisions. Once you let them go it’s hard to get them back. When I shoot I’m much more deliberate on the process, on the execution of just shooting one arrow at a time.”
Some of the competitors at Sunday’s tournament will advance to the state tournament in Wisconsin Dells later in March. Aaron said it’s possible Green Bay could host the state tournament next year, possibly at GBCC.
In the meantime, Aaron will continue to hone the archery skills he has developed over the past three decades. He has to stay sharp in order to compete with his 11-year-old son, Jake, who he said "is giving me a run for my money."
Aaron added: “I still shoot competitively. Our family shoots together. I love to train others to shoot, especially when it’s in an environment helping them connect with their Heavenly Father.”
If you are interested in giving archery a shot, contact Aaron Scheer at
