Last Updated May 6, 2007History

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 to introduce the children to herself, and 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.

Within the next few years our Neighborhood Youth Ministries became more organized and formalized. Bible CLUB expanded to include a recreation program, and our official Homework Center opened. At first operating twice a week and consisting of a staff of two—Boston Project founders Paul and Glenna—it soon grew to accommodate an increasing number of students, opening four days a week and employing more helpers. Over the years, the center has been an important part of our work with the neighborhood and has

provided a safe space for us to get to know and grow with our students.

In addition to Bible CLUB and the Homework Center, we run a number of programs for children and youth throughout the year, including special community events and a new summer internship program. But no matter what the program, our goal has remained the same: to build relationships with the neighborhood youth and reveal God’s love to them through our actions.