Several churches in the Presbytery have successfully begun new programs which reach out to kids in their communities.

At First Presbyterian in Munising, fifty-six middle school kids attended the last dance held by Kids Underground. The Fellowship Hall in the basement of the church has been outfitted with black lights and a pool table to make it attractive to the kids. The church sits across the road from the football stadium so it’s easy for kids to get there. Once a month an event is held to which all middle school kids in the community are invited. Events include dances, karaoke, and next month a costume party for Halloween. The program is led by young adults in the church and receives wide support from the community. Music is edited for
appropriate language and ideas and Christian values are introduced when possible. For information call Munising Pastor Deborah Hubbard at 906-202-2504.

United Presbyterian Church in Ishpeming has begun a new Neighborhood After-School Club for children in second through fifth grades in the immediate neighborhood of the church. Under the direction of CLP Mary Kelly and Rev. Tina Robb, kids come once a week and spend the first forty-five minutes in quiet time doing homework and the next forty-five doing arts and crafts. Once a week women from the church prepare a meal for the kids and their families. There is no explicit religious content in the program – but it brings the kids and their families into the church. Seven or eight kids usually attend and the church is now thinking about expanding the program to the whole community. For information call Mary Kelly at 906-485-6204 or Tina Robb at 906-486-4230.

Boyne City’s first Presbyterian Church has just begun a new program of mentoring kids in a nearby elementary charter school. The program is connected with Kids Hope USA (kidshope.org) out of Grand Rapids. Mentors meet with an at-risk child for an hour a week and talk and listen to them. Most importantly, they are showing the kids that someone cares about them. Each mentor has a prayer partner in their church. So far a couple dozen Boyne City Presbyterians have been commissioned as either mentors or prayer partners.

Three years ago, Rev, Ron Bown, pastor of the Pickford Presbyterian Church, began holding regional youth events at Lake Superior State. Kids from youth groups of all churches in the western UP are invited to come for a day of activities and getting to know each other. Although all churches are invited it’s mostly Presbyterians and Lutherans who show up. For information Call Ron Bown at 906-647-2595.