Hope for underprivileged youth
At our campus on the east side of Indianapolis we offer programs for children year-round in our Youth Center. Boys and girls ages 8-18 have the opportunity each day to hear a Bible message, receive tutoring, play sports and video games, and participate in fun activities. We desire to reach kids with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and teach them the better way of life outlined in God’s Word before they head down destructive paths or give in to negative influences.
Youth Center Faces of Hope
Meet Julio
Julio, a curious 15-year-old, has been coming to our Youth Center for nearly four years—and during that time, God has been working in his heart. At first, he was unsure about the Bible and hesitant to accept Christ, even though he regularly heard the Gospel through Bible studies and events. But through consistent truth, encouragement from his mother and powerful testimonies, Julio’s perspective changed. This past October, during our five-day Spiritual Challenge Week, he made the life-changing decision to trust Christ as his Savior. The Youth Center has given him a place to grow, ask questions and experience God’s love firsthand.
Providing Hope Through…
There is no denying that troubled and inner-city youth are in desperate need of intervention. Many boys and girls in our community are growing up with little to no father figure, and often a mom that is too busy trying to keep food on the table to be able to build discipline into the lives of her kids.
Children come from all over the neighborhood looking for companionship, safety, and people who genuinely care about them. We provide them with nutritious meals, help with homework and godly mentoring from people who love them unconditionally.
We offer the opportunity for teen boys and girls to participate in sports by playing on our basketball, football and volleyball teams. For us it is about much more than just sports. It’s creating a culture in which our kids can have fun, learn to work together, be competitive, and even have outbursts in a place where we can step in and be the light they desperately need. Our sports teams offer an opportunity to teach discipline and model godly actions and attitudes.
For many of our Youth Center kids, it is difficult for them to have reliable access to nutritious meals. Underprivileged families with no transportation or funds often resort to cheaper, unhealthy diets and the kids depend heavily on their school for meals. At Good News Ministries we provide hot meals, not just for homeless men, but also for children who attend our Youth Center! Here they can have access to balanced meals and fresh produce.
No matter their background, boys and girls need a place where they can play, interact with other kids and receive mentoring to guide them as they grow. In our Youth Center, children benefit from educational tutoring, at least one nutritious meal a day and a safe haven from neighborhoods filled with drugs, violence and oppression.
Video game systems, full court basketball, air hockey, pool tables and a three story playground are just a few activities that keep our kids busy. Voluntary and mandatory events fill their evenings during the school-year. They are fed a nutritious dinner, participate in our Tutorial Program, attend Bible studies and also have free time to enjoy all the Youth Center has to offer.
When school is out for the summer we switch to a daytime schedule, giving our kids a safe place to exist off the streets while their parents are at work. They participate in community projects, receive 2 meals a day, attend Bible studies and earn an end of summer trip by memorizing scripture, attending church, inviting friends and being faithful to our program. Year-round our Youth Center works to build hope into precious, young lives and give them a shot at a brighter future.
Since 1994, our Youth Center has included a daily Tutorial program to support kids academically as well as spiritually. Recently, we’ve enhanced the program with more space, updated laptops, fun educational software, and a revamped incentive system that rewards kids with food, prizes, and special activities for improving their grades and turning in report cards.
Participation is voluntary, and we’ve been excited to see many kids take advantage of the opportunity. Those who choose not to attend Tutorial still take part in a daily Reading Comprehension activity before enjoying free time. By reading a short passage and answering questions, they strengthen their literacy and comprehension skills in a simple, effective way.
We’re passionate about helping every child grow educationally, and these programs are key to building long-term success.