Last Updated April 14, 2009History

It all started with a sandwich and some bubbles...

In the summer of 1997, as youth participating in our Summer Missions Program painted a bus garage on our street, neighborhood children came out to investigate. Glenna Malkemes shared her lunch and blew bubbles with the kids. Life-long friendships were born. Over the next few weeks, Glenna hung out on her front porch, and used leftover Sunday School materials to introduce the children to herself and to the Lord. Within a year, six children were attending church.

During the summer of 1998, we launched a free summer program called Bible CLUB (Creative Learning and Understanding the Bible). We were excited to provide a Christ-centered alternative to hours of video games or unsupervised play. In the fall, Paul and Glenna Malkemes offered to help a couple of girls with their homework. Within a month, their living room floor was covered with ten students requesting help.

Over the past ten years, our Neighborhood Youth Ministries offerings have greatly expanded. In the summers we provide free children's programming that includes sports and fitness clinics, field trips, family-friendly events, and Bible CLUB. For older youth, we facilitate service projects, evening hang outs, Bible study, and job opportunities. For all age groups, we offer homework assistance and mentoring throughout the academic year.