The Ark Youth Centre in Penticton re-opened on Friday August 7th

In April, early on a Sunday morning, the newly launched Ark Youth Centre at First Baptist Church, Penticton was flooded with backed-up sewage from the main pipes. This inevitably closed down the emerging youth ministry with kids in the city - a ministry that had built up contact with about 50 non-churched kids since the Ark opened in January 2008.

During the weeks following this disaster contractors and cleaners came by to remove and replace damaged items and to renovate all the flooring, kitchen area, and walls. The church also pulled together and, in addition to repairs done under the insurance claim, it has been able to further update and improve the facility, especially the kitchen area to better serve the youth in our city.

Though the whole episode was a setback, we have seen the Lord move in the intervening period. FBC’s Pastor of Family Ministries, Clark Taylor, who had been foremost in launching this youth outreach program, has had several of the youth come by his home asking when the Ark would re-open. This has enabled him to build even deeper connections with these kids. Furthermore, the enforced closure has enabled FBC to reflect upon better ways to do this ministry, to do further training sessions with leaders, and to improve the facilities.

With the Ark re-opened, once again the pool tables, table-tennis tables, Wii games, chess boards, and computer consoles will come alive with young people enjoying themselves in a safe, Christ-focused environment. Once again the coffee bar will be serving lattes, cappucinos, Americanos, Italian sodas, pizza and cookies to kids looking for a place to "hang out" on a Friday evening. And once again leaders from the church congregation will engage in missional relationship building to a generation desperately in need of meeting Jesus Christ.

Exciting times lie ahead! And all in the Lord's hands!

Photos courtesy of Gail Alcock