By Elizabeth Lancaster
The Parsons Advocate
On July 31st Our House Youth Ministries, Inc. introduced the Landing to Tucker County teens in conjunction with the Parsons Church of God’s Celebrate Recovery program. The Landing, otherwise referred to as “teen Celebrate Recovery,” is a 52 week program based on the beatitudes to help teenagers recover from “hurts, habits, and hang-ups.”
Although the Landing will be a large part of the substance abuse intervention program at Our House Youth Center, the program is beneficial to every teen age 13-18, who struggles with the everyday issues of modern society. Teens face peer pressure, stress, family issues, physical and mental abuse, neglect and numerous other problems, which often become too much to handle on their own. This program offers a “safe, healing place where teens can live a freer, healthier, and more God-centered life.” The program offers teens a place to heal by providing spiritual support without judgment or criticism. All teens are welcome and invited to come and check out what the Landing has to offer. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. every Monday at the Parsons Church of God. The adult Celebrate Recovery program meets in a separate part of the church at the same time. Celebration Place, a CR program for younger children, is also offered by the church, thus providing support for entire families to heal. For more information regarding the Landing, visit The Landing Tucker County on Facebook or email landingtccr@gmail.com. For information regarding Celebrate Recovery, contact the Parsons Church of God at 304-478-2910.
One question on many individuals’ minds seems to be, what happened to the proposed youth center project? Despite lack of progress visible to those outside the organization, the board has been working diligently behind the scenes. Our House was awarded a generous grant of $25,000 from State Farm, but a project such as this takes time to be developed successfully. Mounds of paperwork, policies and licensing issues must be completed to open a non-profit organization. In addition, numerous circumstances beyond anyone’s control have occurred as the board worked to complete the facility. However, these obstacles have not deterred the organization. Our House Youth Ministries, Inc. is officially licensed as an independent 501 (c)3 non-profit charitable organization. Policies are nearly complete, and the youth center is in the final stages of construction. Paint is going on walls both inside and outside the facility, and the new restroom is almost finished. Landlords Murl and Violet Nestor supported the project from the beginning and continue to do so by allowing the board to modify the facility located in the back of their apartment building across from the Dollar General in Parsons.
The Landing is only one program to be offered by Our House. In addition to a game room programs will be offered by Our House including free tutoring, special events, community service activities, and crisis intervention referrals in conjunction with other local youth organizations. Tucker County Young Life has been meeting in the youth center facility as the project is being developed and just experienced one of its most successful meeting nights with approximately 56 attending. Young Life is a separate entity spearheaded by Chopper Evans, designed to introduce teens to Christ with extreme antics and games, which draws teens to the program.
The board of Our House is dedicated to its mission “to provide a safe haven and to foster the growth of the youth of Tucker County to become well adjusted, productive adults, who will impact society in a positive manner.” Board members continue to trust in faith the project will be sustainable through grants, donations, business partnerships, fundraising activities, and support from the community and local churches. Plans are being made to open the youth center game room later this fall. For more information or to inquire about becoming a volunteer visit Our House Youth Ministries, Inc. on Facebook, or email Liz Lancaster at ourhouseyouthministries@gmail.com. For information regarding Young Life email chopperevans@frontiernet.net.
