Urban Youth Outreach of Servants Center
The mission of the Urban Youth Outreach is to demonstrate and
communicate God's saving love to at-risk youth and families in the
Belknap-Lookout/South Creston neighborhoods of Grand Rapids.
About Servants Center
The mission of Servants Center is to help
evangelical churches rediscover their calling to serve the poor through:
Educating and equipping the evangelical Church to
serve the poor through: hikin' in the hood, speaking
engagements, training classes and consulting services.
Developing entrepreneurial poverty ministry models
such as: homeless shelters, Urban Youth Outreach, Trusted Friends,
crisis intervention, and street outreach.
Assisting other organizations (Community Rebuilders,
Berean Baptist Church, Calvary Church) in developing ministries to
the poor.
For more information concerning the Urban Youth
Outreach or other ministries of Servants Center please
contact Joel Shaffer at:
633 Livingston N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 458-2316 Fax: (616) 458-1925
Email:
ShafferUYO@prodigy.net
History of Urban Youth Outreach
While a student at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, Joel
Shaffer responded to Gods call to live among and serve the inner-city
poor. He and a couple of student friends moved into the inner-city. They
opened their apartment to homeless men. Joel observed people running in
and out, day and night, of another apartment in their inner-city
building. He soon realized that street drugs were being sold there. One
night a gun battle erupted between rival drug dealers.
When most people would try to get out of this tough neighborhood, Joel
sensed an even stronger call from the Lord to stay and make a difference
in Christs name. He began to work with the G.R. Vice Unit and the
neighborhood association to help rid his street of the drug houses;
teamed up with Servants Center to help launch a transitional homeless
shelter for men; and worked as a supervisor of the community recreation
program at Coit school until it closed due to lack of funds.
During Joels time as recreation supervisor, he realized the
overwhelming needs and problems among these neighborhood youth. Over 60%
of these kids lived in poverty, while over half of them came from single
parent families. Several were victims of chronic neglect and abuse. Many
joined gangs, experimented with drugs and alcohol, and developed
promiscuous lifestyles. In 1995, Joel and his wife Sherilyn joined with
Servants Center to develop an inner-city youth ministry reaching at-risk
youth from the neighborhood. Along the way they began to form
partnerships with neighborhood organizations such as Coit School and
Camp Fire Clubs. Shaffers also formed a partnership with a neighborhood
church, Berean Baptist to ensure that community children receive
long-term discipleship.
Since 1995 several specific outreach ministries have grown to serve
about 75 youth and families on a weekly basis:
- Bible Clubs and small-group Bible studies
- Tutoring in academic subjects
- Environmental outings
- Role model mentoring/discipleship
- Employment
- After-school recreation and enrichment
- Leadership development/service learning
- Sport outreaches, tournaments, leagues, and
camps
If you are interested in learning more about this
ministry please contact Joel
Shaffer at:
633 Livingston N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 458-2316 Fax: (616) 458-1925
Email:
ShafferUYO@prodigy.net
|
