In 1992, Chuck Evans, newly installed Executive Director, noticed something that would change the scope of Good News Mission—kids were wandering the streets around Good News with no direction, no supervision and no Gospel influence. He saw young lives headed for trouble and heartbreak, and chose to establish a safe, Christ-centered alternative.

It started small—just a Saturday Bible club in the corner of the Men’s Shelter. Once a month, kids would gather to play games, eat snacks and hear about Jesus. It didn’t take long for the space to fill up. The schedule doubled and children were being saved. The kids kept coming—and so did God’s provision.

For many kids in our community, summer break can feel long and lonely. But at the Youth Center, it’s a season packed with purpose—and a whole lot of fun!
This year, two special trips cap off our eight-week summer program: the Tutorial Bash to Holiday World and the End of Summer Bash to King’s Island in Cincinnati. These trips aren’t just exciting rewards—they represent hard work, spiritual growth and the power of opportunity.

Ten-year-old Jayda earned her spot on the Tutorial Bash with nineteen other kids by completing all 40 required educational worksheets over the summer. It will be her first time ever visiting Holiday World. Jayda first came to the Youth Center for our “Big Day” summer kickoff, a carnival-style outreach that ends with a clear Gospel presentation.

After receiving a flier and hearing about it from her cousins, she asked to come—and she hasn’t stopped since. This summer, Jayda accepted Christ as her Savior at the Youth Center. Now she says she loves going to church, learning about Jesus and coming to a place where the staff are kind and the games are fun.

Friends Jasmine, Julisa and Laila, as well as 21 other Youth Center kids, earned the 3-day, 2-night End of Summer Bash by collecting over 1 million points each through memory verses, church attendance, bringing their Bibles, inviting friends and more. They’ll head to King’s Island together, much like last summer when their destination was Chicago. For them, the best part is sharing the experience with each other, laughing on rides and making memories over food.

Our Youth Center Director shared, “In a world full of chaos, drama, violence and depression, the Youth Center gives kids the opportunity for safety, stability, love and hope. The impact is made because we are here—and they know we care.” That care was shown to 191 kids that attended over the summer, with 30 of them making decisions for Christ!

Thank you to every supporter who helps make these life-changing experiences possible. For kids like Jayda, the summer may be ending, but the impact of the Gospel will last forever.