THe Pastor's Corner for October, 2018

October, 2018 Newsletter

This last weekend was our second experience of Overtime.  What is Overtime?  Overtime is an after-home football game gathering of youth in our community that includes games, music and food.  The idea was originated by the Impact Hill people who wanted to keep something going after the First Christian Church had decided to discontinue their after-football game Fifth Quarter.  What Impact Hill realized was that they were going to need help in resources and social capital, so they turned to the Riverside Church Association.  The churches endorsed the idea and the planning began.  When you buy real estate, they say it is location, location, and location.  By default, the location for Overtime is being held at the Fellowship Church parking lot next to the football field.  Because of location I think it has brought us some excellent participation from the Riverside youth. The first night we help host this event we had 60 young adults.  The second night we help host this event we had 130 youth.  To say the least I think we hit on to something that is going to be a mainstay to our community.

We got two more home football games left in the season and the October nights might get a little chilly.  If the cold comes early this year we can move our outside activity to the inside at Impact Hill (the old High School).  Personally, I am hoping for cool nights that are bug free because I think it will bring the kids in rather than an indoor event.  But that is only my own thinking.  I have been wrong before.

The thought does occur to me that this is another example of where community in unity has made a difference.  Impact Hill could have tried to do this on their own or let’s say a single church decided to take this on. What we are seeing is the results of the many and not the one working together to achieve a goal or a vision.  When the many are coming together all sorts of good things start to happen!

Now I got to lay the real reason for our immediate success is because the Impact Hill people as well as all the churches involved wanted a safe environment for all our youth.  The only way we could do that is to bring the values that we claim from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be the example for behavior that is who we claim to be.  So far, the kids have been great as there is a safe environment and they can come and know they will be treated as God’s children which they are!  Jesus sure does good work!  Amen! 

See you Sunday! 

Rev. Dennis Hopes