New Lebanon teens ready to open new youth center

In New Lebanon, paint-can lids are popping open and the smell of window cleaner is filling the air as students from the local junior/senior high school spruce up rooms in the Episcopal church.

When they are finished, New Lebanon Christian Youth Ministry will officially open, thanks to both their hard work and the vision of local religious leaders.

Our Savior Church, located across from the high school, has become a place teens can go after school and on weekends to learn about evangelization, ministry and following Jesus Christ.

Need filled

"There has been a need for this in our community for a while," noted Rev. John Close, pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in New Lebanon. "Our youth had no place to go for social activities. Church leaders decided to do something about that."

Late last year, leaders from five Christian churches decided to find a place where local teens could gather. Members of Our Savior offered rooms in their church, but the spaces needed to be repainted and cleaned up.

"Once they finish with it, they will get to name the center for themselves, making it truly their own space," Father Close said.

Youth ministry

Rick Morgan, a member of the West Stephentown Baptist community, is chairman of the adult committee. As a social worker at the high school, he is familiar with the needs of local youth.

"Our first step was finding a place where the teens could go," he said. "Once we knew we had a place for them, we contacted Capital District Youth for Christ. This is an organization that provides ministries and activities for teens that serve to evangelize them through Scripture, prayer and social ministries."

The Christian group, which is based in Latham, offers programs to churches regardless of their denomination. Its website is www.cdyfc.org.

Common prayer

To kick off the new ministry last fall, the student group participated in "Meet you at the Pole." On a specified morning before school began, they met at the flagpole to pray together.

"It served as a special prayer place for them, a unique way for them to begin their school day," Father Close said.

In November, Youth for Christ presented a program to the teens to bring them together as a community.

Mr. Morgan explained that "the non-denominational ministry serves to draw youth and teens together in a positive, Christian atmosphere. The activities are designed to instill integrity in the individual through personal and organizational accountability, relationships, and responsible evangelism. It's a proven program."

"We are relying on adult and youth volunteers right now to help get this ministry up and running," added Father Close. "So far, we've had a very enthusiastic response. I can see nothing but positive results coming out of this effort. We are all very excited about it."

(The churches involved are Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Stephentown Federated Church, New Lebanon Congregational Church, the Church of Our Savior and the West Stephentown Baptist Church.)

(3/25/04) [[In-content Ad]]