CHOCOWINITY — The youth of Haw Branch Church of Christ in Chocowinity will ring in the new year with fun, fellowship and an opportunity to plan for the future.

Middle school and high school students who attend the church, together with their guests, will spend this evening celebrating in a heated barn owned by Gary Respess in the TerraCeia community of Beaufort County, according to HBCC’s preacher Jason Kirkman.

“This is basically just a fun night for the kids, but it’s also a time for looking toward 2014 as far as the church is concerned,” Kirkman said, noting that the construction of a new fellowship hall is one of the church’s bigger projects next year. “We want our youth to be a part of that.”

While teenagers’ roles in a church are often underestimated, Kirkman said HBCC doesn’t want to make that same mistake.

“A lot of times a church will look at kids and youth as, well, later on they’ll be the elders, the deacons of the church,” Kirkman said. “But they’re just as much part of the church now as they’ll be when they are 50 years old.”

Today’s event will feature a Spanish flair, which will be represented in the decorations and the choice of menu. The group will leave the church around 6 p.m. and travel to TerraCeia via bus. The group is expected to return to the church by 1 a.m. Wednesday, Kirkman said.

Tonight’s event is part of the church’s One Way youth ministries. The name of the group is derived from HBCC’s belief that “there is one way to God, and that’s through Jesus,”Kirkman said. The group meets regularly on Sunday and Wednesday evenings and also plans other youth-oriented activities throughout the year.

*For more information about HBCC, its youth program and tonight’s special event, call Kirkman at 252-945-8341.