By By GREG KATSKI
Community Editor
The Church of the Good Shepherd hopes that through its Big House event, area adolescents will become better acquainted with God’s house.
Big House, a free event that will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the church, 2425 Market Street Extension, is aimed at middle-school and high-school students. Church members will be grilling burgers and hot dogs and playing live, contemporary Christian music.
Pastor Jay Martin said Big House is about giving “kids a place to feel welcome.” He hopes the informal setting is more inviting to youth, especially those with little church-going experience.
“They can come to a house, not a church,” Martin said.
He views Big House as a calling, noting that the church is located near the McConnell Sports Complex, which hosts many sporting events, and P.S. Jones Middle School and John Small Elementary School.
“I feel like we’re supposed to give to the youth in an unconditional way,” he said, adding that he wants children to know they are valued.
The church hopes to make Big House a monthly event. Martin said it will continue to be held Saturday afternoons, as to not interfere with other churches’ youth-group outings and meetings.
“We don’t want to compete with any youth groups. That’s the reason for doing it Saturday,” Martin said.
The event’s steering committee, which is made up of church members, plans to tweak Big House from month to month.
“I expect it to be an ongoing, organic event,” Martin said, adding that the church has never conducted a community youth gathering.
He wants Big House to mirror the church’s congregation, which he called “diverse.”
“It’s a very accepting environment. Some people call it a refuge church,” Martin said.
He said Big House is a chance for adolescents to have fun, fellowship and “go away encouraged.”
For more information about Big House, call Jay Martin at 945-4231.