Niverville Youth for Christ (YFC) is housed at 289 Main Street in the building at the eastern edge of the Bigway parking lot. It is busiest on Monday and Thursday evenings, when it hums with the high energy of its young regulars, both inside and in the outdoor skate park. A cozy living-room arrangement of sofas sits to the right of the entrance. Nearby, the large recreation area is filled with table games, including ping-pong and a variety of video games. A door at the back leads to a gym, a music room, and a pleasant office space for counselling.
Gordon Kroeker has been the director for the past eight years. Other staff include David Ward, program director, and Johnny Long, who works part-time as the skate director. Volunteers supervise activities and support various initiatives.
When counselling is required, young people can make an appointment with Eunice Wiebe, who visits Niverville from Turning Point Counselling Centre in Winnipeg.
YFC Canada fits into the missionary entrepreneur model of ministry. Chapters meet local ministry needs and can take on a unique look, such as drop-in centres, young parent programs, skate ministries, and sports programs.
Fundraising is a constant source of stress for the staff, who always hope to find sponsors with a heart for young people. Staff members are required to source the funding for their own salaries. This requires time, effort, and, as Kroeker puts it, “lots of aunts and uncles who believe in what you are doing!”
Many projects are currently underway at the Niverville YFC, such as a wrestling program on Tuesdays and Thursdays for younger children run by Adrian Bruce, head coach of wrestling at the University of Winnipeg. In addition, David Ward conducts Pathfinder games on Wednesdays and screens volunteers.
Johnny Long recently engaged the youth in a successful clothing drive where donations from kids were sent to Siloam and Union Gospel Missions. Long’s next project is scheduled for July 29–August 9, when he will enable a group of skaters to participate in Skatelife’s Road Rage 2016, travelling across Canada to participate in competitions and be filmed in the process.
Youth who come to the YFC are generally from families who don’t attend a local church. This definitely shapes the philosophy and approach of staff and volunteers.
“We are a parachurch organization,” says Kroeker, “recognizing that other youth groups exist within local churches. Our faith compels us to show love and grace to others.”
Staff and volunteers invest time to focus on the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of any youth who come through the doors.
“We provide a drug- and alcohol-free space where young people can come and hang out.” Kroeker adds that they aren’t hassled with God talk, but “if anyone expresses spiritual hunger, he or she is invited to dialogue and receives wise counsel in an open-ended environment. It is a fine line to walk.”
Niverville YFC is a satellite of the Winnipeg chapter, but it is in the process of drawing up its own charter to be a charitable organization.
YFC hosts an annual banquet with tables paid for by sponsors. “We are blessed with very positive local businesses,” says Kroeker.
There is definitely a history of accomplishments to be celebrated. The origins of a local drop-in centre for young people began in the late 80s, when John Falk started a youth hangout in an old house on Main Street.
