Complete Story
 

10/07/2013

Faith Haven: North Riverdale, Dayton and Peace, Beavercreek's Partnership to Provide a Safe, Nurturing Place for Kids After School is Out

Faith Haven: A place where kids grow in faith and discover hope through God’s love!

When Peace Lutheran Church (PLC), of Beavercreek was searching for a ministry partner to share in offering an after school program to care for inner city kids, they only had to look a few miles up the road to North Riverdale Lutheran (NRLC), of Dayton. NRLC, an urban congregation with long standing commitment to serving community; who boldly proclaims that they are a gathering place where loving God and serving neighbor is a journey, not a destination; opened their doors, and hearts to a new ministry with a new partner. After several discussions and meetings, a covenant was written and Faith Haven was born!  Faith Haven is an outreach ministry of both the NRLC and PLC congregations whose collaborative mission is to provide an after school ministry one day per week (Wednesdays) serving children (ages 4-12) from the North Riverdale neighborhoods of Dayton.

At Faith Haven, kids find a safe place where they are encouraged to be the unique children that God intended them to be. Enter through the doors of Faith Haven each week and find children learning about and growing in relationship with God through faith based curriculum in an environment where they are treated with love and respect. Kids are grouped together by age and encouraged to discover and grow their personal relationship with God through different learning stations such as art, cookery, games, science, storytelling and video.

Each week, more than 20 kids walk through the doors of Faith Haven…and this program is just getting started!  In addition to the kids, 15 adults from NRLC and PLC congregations show up each week to serve our kids in various ways, such as being a member of the snack or registration team; teaching or being a “table parent” spending time and building relationships with our kids.

In addition to the weekly program, Faith Haven family dinners are served the last Wednesday of each month; kids invite their families, friends and neighbors to share a meal with us and learn about what it means to belong to Faith Haven. 

God has written on the hearts of the PLC and NRLC congregations a desire to serve inner city kids by providing a safe space, a Faith Haven, a place where kids grow in faith and discover hope through God’s love.

 

 

When congregations work together, amazing things happen. Tell the Southern Ohio Synod Office of the Bishop about your partnership efforts so we can inspire others to work together for God's glory. 


 

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