WHEN I STARTED JOSHUA HOUSE IN THE FALL OF 1998 THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 3 ACTIVE TEEN YOUTH GROUPS IN ALL OF TYRONE AND THERE WERE NO YOUTH PASTORS AT ALL. IN 2007, GRACE BAPTIST HAS A YOUTH PASTOR, CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD HAS A YOUTH PASTOR, QUESTHAVEN LODGE HAS A FULL YOUTH MINISTRY FOR TEENS AND KIDS. ALONG WITH THOSE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN HAS A YOUTH GROUP, CMA HAS A YOUTH GROUP, NORTHWOOD BAPTIST DOES, WARRIORS MARK UMC HAD ONE THEN AND STILL DOES, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
MANY OF THE CHURCHES HAVE SEEN GREAT THINGS WITH THEIR YOUTH OVER THE LAST 5+ YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION SOME OF THE THINGS HAPPENING AT JOSHUA HOUSE:
WEEKLY AFTERSCHOOL HOMEWORK HELP AND HANG OUT FOR KIDS ON TUESDAYS AND TEENS ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS AFETR SCHOOL. YOUTH GROUP FOR KIDS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS (approx. 15 weekly) AND TEENS/YOUNG ADULTS ON SUNDAY NIGHTS (approx. 30-40+).
MONDAY NIGHTS PROVIDES CHILDRENS' DANCE CLASSES FROM 6-8PM.
THURSDAY NIGHTS HANG OUT AND DINNER FOR TEENS PROVIDED WEEKLY.
PRESNTLY THURSDAY NIGHTS--BALLROOM DANCING LESSIONS ARE PROVIDED.
THREE YEARS AGO WE STARTED A BASKETBALL LEAGUE FOR TEENS THAT DO NOT PLAY FOR THE SCHOOLS. THE 1ST YEAR FOUR TEAMS PLAYED IN THIS LEAGUE BETWEEN BELLWOOD AND TYRONE. LAST YEAR SIX TEAMS PLAYED AND THIS YEAR 10 TEAMS ARE PLAYING IN TWO SEPERATE LEAGUES (REC & COMPETITIVE). THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 8-10 PLAYERS PER TEAM = 80-100 TEENS PLAYING FOR
FREE
IT REALLY IS A GREAT LEAGUE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS WHO WOULD NEVER PLAY ON A SPORTS TEAM.
EVERY YEAR WE GO WHITE WATER RAFTING, TO CREATION FESTIVAL, HOST HOOPSFEST (55 TEAMS PLAYED LAST YEAR), MINISTRY TRIPS (GUATEMALA, DETROIT, BALTIMORE, AND OTHER PLACES).
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE TO READ UP ON TESTIMONIES:
http://www.joshuahousetyrone.org/Page.aspx?ID=49561
KEEP PRAYING FOR THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY! GOD HAS GREAT THINGS IN STORE FOR THEM.
BLESSINGS,