Youth center goes out on the edge

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The EDGE Ministries Youth Center of the Houlton Wesleyan Church is undergoing an extreme makeover thanks to dedicated volunteers and a recent donation. Approximately 2,000 square feet of the youth center, that once served as dorm rooms for Ricker College students, have been undergoing renovations that started in 2004 and are slated for completion in the spring.
Pioneer Times photo/Elna Seabrooks
A GREAT DAY FOR A DONATION — From left are: Wayne Robertson, Houlton Wesleyan Church Pastor; Nick Hopkins, intern; David Rowe, Youth Pastor; and Dan Gould, project manager who is accepting a donation from Lori Weston, an advisor to the Maine Community Foundation.
    Dan Gould, the project manager, said he had a vision along with Youth Pastor David Rowe to meet the needs of area youth with an expanded and improved center. They say when the construction is complete they will bring in media equipment, games like air hockey and a café area with a grill. The plan is to create a safe, fun environment for students from the seventh grade through high school.
    On any given Wednesday, 40 to 60 young people from the greater Houlton area meet for the ministry’s devotional time which uses gospel teachings on how to live a moral life followed by various recreational activities, says Rowe. “We’re teaching them good truths and how it can apply to their lives every day as far as being a moral person.”
    He says the program’s name — EDGE — is not an acronym.  “It’s just living your life for Jesus Christ out on the edge. When the world looks in on the Christian community, I want to be the one out on the edge that they see first. I want to live my life in a way that’s going to impact them as opposed to them getting a jaded view of Christianity by people who are weak in their faith.”
    “It’s going really well,” added Rowe who also said “one of the biggest things we’d like to see is for us to  outgrow this building and maybe look at something bigger.” One of the challenges the youth ministry has had to deal with is working around the schedules of volunteers who donated their labor.
RENOVATION IN PROGRESS — Above, volunteers work on youth center renovations. From left to right are: Arthur Sewell, Dale Korhonen, Joe King, John Jenkins and Danny Gould. To the left are: Thelma Henderson, Greg Miller, Larry Little, Carlene Bartlett and Rev. Wayne Robertson.
    Although the construction may have taken longer than it would have with paid labor, there is an upside. According to Rowe, they are debt-free. “We don’t have any outstanding bills. We owe zero on all the work that has been completed.” Supplies and some furniture were donated or purchased at a reduced rate when people found out what they are doing for the community. “They have really helped out,” said Rowe.  
    Lori Weston, an advisor to the Maine Community Foundation, that administers the Orlie and Vicky Price Memorial Fund, said the youth ministry stood out to her because it is doing something positive for youth in a creative way. “It’s amazing. I can remember when it actually was a dorm and I came here for activities. It’s certainly going to serve the needs of youth. It looks great.” Weston said the memorial fund donated $4,500 to help complete the kitchen area and some of the work on the bathrooms.
    Houlton Wesleyan Church Pastor Wayne Robertson says the progress is incredible and the youth center is a “great opportunity to help youth grow up, advance to adult life, to know the Lord and to be a part of their finding a purpose for their life.” With so many heroes put forth in readily available media — movies, TV, Internet and music — Robertson says it’s a cause for concern. However, he says, he’s not opposed to using the media in a positive way.
    In addition to youth who attend the ministry from up to eight different churches, there are some who are not affiliated with any church. Robertson says word-of-mouth and the popularity of the program within younger circles “carries an enormous weight. Certainly we advertise the events we do, but, we find the kids just carry the ball in getting the word out and they do a great job.”
    For more information on the church’s EDGE Ministries, contact: Houlton Wesleyan Church, 18 Kelleran Street, Houlton, (207) 532-9056.