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The PowerHouse Youth Center News & Announcements!
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Written by Chris Stevens
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Friday, 14 November 2008 |
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The Energizer bunny appears on many television and magazine advertisements. The big pink bunny with the huge Energizer drum roller skates across the screen beating the big bass drum while the spokesman proudly proclaims about that the Energizer battery just keeps going....and going....and going....!
The Powerhouse Youth Center suffered a setback a couple of months ago when we had to relinquish the lease on the building at 69 Park Street. The empty building which had served as the identity of The Powerhouse Youth Center proved to be too much of an undertaking. In some cases direct opposition to having youth congregated in downtown Canton provoked thought as to what they would become involved in. With skateboarding and the "goth" look becoming more prevalent, many have come to look at today's generation as the generation which offers no hope for tomorrow. Many, when they see youth congregated together, automatically assume the worst. These individuals automatically envision vandalism, delinquency, drugs, and promiscuous sexual relations.
As a youth pastor, someone who is concerned about the youth of our community....our world, I take offense to this perception. There are many young people in our community who are willing to give of themselves more than they even realize they have to offer at times. Over the last three years I have had the honor of working with nearly 150 Canton area youth to accomplish five ministry projects in four different states. There have been literally hundreds of "man-hours" spent by these young people on projects such as painting, roofing, and handicap ramps. These projects have been undertaken at great monetary and physical costs to these fine yount people. They have mashed fingers, slept on concrete floors, eaten "questionable" food, and raised the funding to be able to participate in these projects. The cost to the recipient of the ministry project? $0.
As a youth pastor, this is one of the greatest blessings I have received! A couple of things I would like to ask of you as a visitor to this website. Please pray these young people will continue to have these opportunities made available to them. It takes fundraising efforts. It takes time. It takes determination and committment. It takes sacrifice on the part of dedicated adults and youth workers. Please pray these young people will have the opportunity to have a space dedicated to their well being; a space that is safe and well staffed; a space that offers positive alternatives to what the world has to offer. Right now, in Haywood County, North Carolina that space doesn't exist. The Powerhouse Youth Center is as dedicated as ever to making reality a vision to rescue our youth from the onslought of what "marginal" society has to offer.
At the present time we are looing at alternatives which will provide us with affordable liability insurance, adequate funding, a suitable location, and a state of the art facility which will allow us to meet the needs of our young people. I know this is still a monumental undertaking in a time where there is more financial uncertainties than I can remember in my adult life. I have been reminded and taken back to that realization in my spiritual life where I understand and trust the FACT that I serve a God who is more than capable. Where there is a sincere need and a desire to serve, He will provide!
The Powerhouse Youth Center is not the Energizer bunny of youth ministry....I believe we are more! Not because of who we are, where we live, or where we attend worship, but because WE SERVE A LIVING GOD! He is my POWERHOUSE! |
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