Stanley (WQOW) - A new youth
center is opening in our area, but this after school hangout is unlike
others. It's being run, in part, by a
man who recently served time in prison. Brian Cole is a pastor who's a
recovering drug user. He now speaks to inmates about the changes he's made for himself and others.
"For like 40 years
or so this used to be the Christian Academy School,
and the Christian
Academy School
moved out this year," said Faith Evangelical Free Church's Brian Cole.
The school was housed in the Faith Evangelical
Free Church in Stanley.
When the Christian school moved out, it created an opportunity.
"Myself and Pastor
Mike thought it would be a good idea to start a youth center in here, since
there wasn't anything in the community really for the kids to do but hang out
at McDonalds and the park, so we started the youth center," Cole said.
With the help of others, the after
school gathering spot came together quickly.
"Trinity Christian
Fellowship donated the ping pong table, the air hockey table, the basketball
hoop, the huge speaker system that you see here. One of the ladies from church
and her son donated the drum set," said Cole.
He admits having trouble
with the law himself, and says a place to hang out could have made a big
difference.
"I
came from a past, I've been in a lot of trouble in my life, and part of the
reason I got into a lot of trouble is because when I was young, I lived in a
small town and there was nothing for me to do. Not that I'm blaming that for my
situation, but I went out and caused trouble. And I want to at least give them
the opportunity to have somewhere safe to go to and hang out," Cole said.
The center
is open 4-6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and longer on weekends.
People of any religion are welcome to use the facility.
