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 Antonio
Antonio has been attending our Youth Center since 2013. He lives in a small apartment with his single mom and younger sister, Arkaysia. One day on a drive down Washington Street, Antonio remembers seeing our playground and it quickly grabbed his interest. He asked his mom if he and his sister could play there, and she agreed to sign them up for our program. They have been faithfully attending the Youth Center ever since!
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.