Working with Pennfield B.C. Middle School to run a Campus Life ministry was proving to be difficult. Roadblocks from the school’s unwillingness to partner with us prevented us from growing in reaching students. Bethany Mingle, now our Battle Creek City Life Director, had a vision. She knew that transitioning from the Campus Life to the City Life model in Battle Creek would allow her and her team of amazing volunteers to have a bigger impact on the youth in the surrounding community.
The Lord connected us with Battle Creek Community Church, who also had vision for reaching youth and they wanted to partner with us to do that. The church generously offered us use of their old church building to start hosting a City Life club. Through prayerful conversation, we saw the Lord’s obvious leading in this partnership.
Colin Sherfield, Youth Pastor at Battle Creek Community Church, says, “We chose to partner with YFC because of our shared calling to holistically impact students' lives in our neighborhood with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Through the City Life Club, we have seen so many new Christ-honoring relationships be formed with students and leaders, and many of those students also participate in our church's student ministry and Freehub Cycle Club ministry. Our partnership has helped grow the Kingdom of God in our neighborhood in ways neither of us could have on our own.”
Since the City Life club launched in September, we have seen quadruple the number of teens every week than we had in Campus Life! Now, our team is able to offer meals and activities, and spend more with the teens who attend. We have had over 50 students coming to the Battle City Life Club since we started, including some of the same students who used to come to Campus Life Club.
Students and volunteers alike enjoy the City Life environment because they're able to spend more free time building authentic Christ-sharing relationships.
We are excited to see God continue to expand the Battle Creek branch of our ministry!
The Lord connected us with Battle Creek Community Church, who also had vision for reaching youth and they wanted to partner with us to do that. The church generously offered us use of their old church building to start hosting a City Life club. Through prayerful conversation, we saw the Lord’s obvious leading in this partnership.
Colin Sherfield, Youth Pastor at Battle Creek Community Church, says, “We chose to partner with YFC because of our shared calling to holistically impact students' lives in our neighborhood with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Through the City Life Club, we have seen so many new Christ-honoring relationships be formed with students and leaders, and many of those students also participate in our church's student ministry and Freehub Cycle Club ministry. Our partnership has helped grow the Kingdom of God in our neighborhood in ways neither of us could have on our own.”
Since the City Life club launched in September, we have seen quadruple the number of teens every week than we had in Campus Life! Now, our team is able to offer meals and activities, and spend more with the teens who attend. We have had over 50 students coming to the Battle City Life Club since we started, including some of the same students who used to come to Campus Life Club.
Students and volunteers alike enjoy the City Life environment because they're able to spend more free time building authentic Christ-sharing relationships.
We are excited to see God continue to expand the Battle Creek branch of our ministry!
The BC City Life Club launched in the former Battle Creek Community Church building in September and has met 54 students already! Having seen the potential of what the ministry could look like for the neighborhood, BCCC has approached YFC about gifting us the building. With your help in covering acquisition costs, this building could become a center for outreach to all of Battle Creek!
