THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 31, 1994 TAG: 9407290235
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAN COOLEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Teens from a Virginia Beach church invited youths at Campostella Square to participate in a weeklong summer recreation program including crafts and sports.
The group of about 30 teenagers from Kempsville Presbyterian Church set up the recreation program near the Chesapeake housing development earlier this month.
It was the second consecutive year the teens visited Campostella Square, working out of a nearby elementary school and other facilities belonging to the Broken Chains ministry. Church youth director Wes Lammay and assistant youth director Scott Cardani coordinated the effort.
``We wanted the teens to learn how to show love to other people,'' Cardani said. ``(That included) how to minister to others and showing them the love of Jesus.''
Several teenagers were stunned at Campostella's environment.
``It's an area with a lot of drugs and violence,'' said Jennifer Heeden, 17, and a member of the church group. ``It was a big surprise to some in our group that there is a poverty level situation like this so close to home, so close to nice houses.''
The teenagers' week consisted of spending structured time with children ages 4-12 and placing them in recreation programs.
The younger children spent time with crafts and games, while the older children had a choice between drama or basketball and football.
The programs had a different twist: the teens did the teaching and the adults helped out.
This new type of teaching must have worked. Many of the 60 kids who showed up initially had little motivation for being there, but almost all of them stayed the entire week.
Some kids came because they had nothing else to do or because there was food. But 10-year-old Harmoney Lloyd gave an answer that pleased the teens.
``It was fun,'' said Harmoney, who was involved in drama. ``We learned about Jesus, and we got to dance.''
The teens were given specific topics to teach, but they also were expected to come up with their own personal stories and Bible verses.
But many of the young teachers found that before they could give lessons, they had to be able to relate to the kids.
``You have to gain their respect,'' said John DiGirolamo, 17. ``You do that by first talking to them and becoming their friend. When you become their friend, they'll respect you. Then they'll listen to you and do what you tell them to do.''
At first, most of the teens said they had trouble getting the kids to pay attention. But the Campostella kids eventually warmed up, as did the teens.
``They were constantly grabbing on to us, soaking up all the love and attention they could get,'' said Will Jenkins, 16. ``They needed our love and God's love and it was easy to give it to them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Nichelle Person, 7, hitches a ride with Fara Atangan during a recent
weeklong recreation program for youths at Campostella Square.
by CNB