For four quarters, it's all football.
Come the "Fifth Quarter" in Vandergrift, though, it's the Kiski Area Association of Churches' turn to take the "field."
Since 2003, the churches have been holding "Fifth Quarter" ecumenical gatherings for all youth, grades 7 through 12, after Kiski High School football games.
It's a time of games, food and fellowship at First Lutheran Church, 101 Custer St., Vandergrift, about three blocks from Davis Field, the closest available church. This season opened last week with a strong turn out of more than 200 students, despite the rain and a Kiski loss.
A grandparent there to pick up a grandchild at the 11:30 p.m. conclusion remarked, "I wish there would have been something like this for my kids when they were growing up."
Still on the schedule are "Fifth Quarters" for Sept. 15, Oct. 6, 13 and 27.
"It is our goal to have a safe place for youth to gather after home football games," says the Rev. Keith Deckinger, pastor of First Lutheran and director of the "Fifth Quarter" ministry. "The response that we have received from the community has been overwhelming and we are very pleased with how it has worked out. The police have thanked us too."
Free pizza, wings, snack foods and soft drinks have worked their magic, along with pool tables, foosball, ping pong, air hockey, dart boards, Twister games, Uno, chess and checkers.
One young grateful participant told Deckinger, "I never knew that church could be so cool." When the minister asked what he meant, the boy explained, "I never knew that you could have fun at a church. I expect to be bored. I expect to be told something, but this was fun and I felt welcome."
For several youth, this has been their first positive experience with a church, says the Rev. Phil Gustafson, pastor of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Vandergrift and an officer in the Association of Churches. "The greatest challenge is developing trust," he says. "This program demonstrates how churches can work together for the sake of others and how the community as a whole can benefit from different denominations working together. Youth are also seeking to do things of meaning, so part of our conversation with them will be helping to identify ways they can connect with the community around them."
There is no overt religious activity, but hospitality is offered and information is available on church programs for those who are interested.
"One of the hardest things with reaching the youth is to be real and not try to con them with one thing and then switch to another. That is why we have been very clear that what we are providing is a safe place for youth to gather following the games," Deckinger says. "Spirituality is grown, not injected, and just providing them a place to be helps to build them up. We as churches can make youth comfortable by giving them a place to be and by showing them that we are not out to 'get them' or sell them something, but that we really and truly care about them."
For more information on the "Fifth Quarter," including how to help volunteer, phone: 724-567-6813.
Larger text
Smaller text
Print this article
E-mail this article
