Crossroads 180 Teen Center takes steps toward 2019 opening
Front to back: Sidney & Maddie Gipe, Andrea Davis, Diane Baird, Riley Miller Josh Thiebaut, Dave McClure, Joey Arbenowske, Jack Fleeman & Pastor Rob Ames
by Tina Cole-Mullins
The lack of things for kids to do in a small town community is nothing new, and throughout the years, the need for a teen center has popped up now and again in conversations throughout the greater Stockbridge area. It was the first subject this reporter chose to address in a Letter to the Editor, published in an issue of The Town Crier in 2004 when she first started writing. Now, after all these years, the vision of a community teen center is turning into a viable prospect.
When local resident Mike Dalton purchased the former Stockbridge Middle School and announced its conversion into the Stockbridge Activity Center, the Crossroads Community Church decided to step forward, and the plan for the Crossroads 180 Teen Center was born. The church secured a spot within the Stockbridge Activity Center, and after a few short months via fund-raising activities and many helping hands, the Crossroads 180 Teen Center is coming to life.
Interim Youth Minister, Jen McClure of the Crossroads Community Church said, “We at Crossroads are so excited about all a Teen Center can and will mean for the youth of our community.”
When asked to explain the name, McClure said, “We chose the name Crossroads 180 for both our Youth Ministry and the Teen Center to highlight the truth that even if your life and circumstances are headed in a negative direction, you can always do a 180 and choose a different, better path.”
In August, volunteer adults and teens came together on a Sunday afternoon to prepare, paint, and bring Crossroads 180 Teen Center another stepcloser to becoming reality. The plan is to roll out the center’s opening in phases.
Phase1 will consist of moving existing Student Ministry events from the Crossroads church building on S. Clinton into the teen center. Phase 2 will be “Fifth Quarter Events” scheduled events to take place after home games. Phase 3 will launch after-school activities.
Currently the Center is painted and is home to community donations that include furniture, a Foosball and ping pong table, and arcade games.
McClure couldn’t say for sure when the Center will open, but the group hopes to launch Phase 1 early 2019. “We are moving steadily forward, both in terms of preparing the physical property and with acquiring adequate adult staffing,” she said, adding that the church is training committed, enthusiastic leaders, vetted to include background checks.
“We currently have a ministry team of almost 20 adults and teens, who’ve already begun activities for 6 through12th graders,” she said, indicating their program would incorporate fun, service, moral and Biblical training.
“The Teen Center is one of our huge outreach goals,” she stated. “It is very much an evolving process right now. We hope to meet teens where they are, and support and inspire them to grow into their full potential in a safe, fun environment.”
Myranda Carr Fairbotham
Mike Beverly
Rod Knieper & Scott Alley
Joe Fairbotham
Jim Patrick
Jack Fleeman
Scott Alley
Darren Hejnal
Just one of fun center games
Andrea Davis, Maddie Gipe, Drew Davis
Joey Arbenowske, Dave McClure, Sidney Gipe, Maddie Gipe, Jack Fleeman
Youth Ministry Group Leading the Way
Jen McClure & Andrea Davis
Bethany Plennert & Ariel McClure. Diva Day–Teen girls were treated to manis & pedis, hair, & make-up for Homecoming.
Ariel McClure & Maddie Bentley
Liz DeKarske & Tayler Varner
Jen McClure & Bethany Plennert
