The Brightview Baptist Church saw a strong launch of its youth program on Sept. 11.
Youth pastor Andrew Bird says more than 30 youths attended the launch of the new program.
“Our regular youth centre will be running Tuesday to Friday,” said Bird.
The community youth centre program includes intramural sports, large group meals, a student lounge and volunteer tutors for high schoolers.
Bird says the program will mostly focus on high school students, except for Wednesday, which will run a Pokemon league geared toward younger children.
“I think there was a bit of a need,” said Bird. “They looked at our community and they said there was nothing for youth in our community.”
Approximately one-and-a-half to two years ago the Church bought a restaurant on new property and renovated it into a new church with a semi-separate wing, which is now the youth centre.
“The Church is what saw the need,” said Bird. He explained the goal was to provide a safe, beneficial environment for youth in the community.
Bird says after Brightview Baptist Church moved to its new location a lot of time, energy and donations went into the revocations, this left a surplus from the sale, which went toward new youth centre — as well a more donations.