By Dorothy Brotherton

OUT of tragedy has come great hope in West Kelowna.

Last summer, Ashley Hyatt, 16, became the victim of murder at a teen party. Both Hyatt and her alleged assailant attended Mount Boucherie Secondary School.

Because Hyatt’s sister had attended youth functions at Emmanuel Church, the funeral was held there. It turned into an evening when youth were able to express grief publicly or privately, receive counsel – or just find someone to listen.

“Hundreds of broken, hurt and lost-looking students poured into the church,” said senior pastor Derrick Hamre.

“It was unlike any event I’ve ever been a part of. The students were met by friends, counsellors and pastors. For over an hour they held each other, cried and prayed. Some lit candles; others texted messages to a large screen in the sanctuary; and still others sat at the altar area consoling friends.”

Andy Gabruch and Ben McGillivray, pastors to youth at Emmanuel, were in the thick of the crisis, both at the church and in local schools in the following days.

 In the months since, Emmanuel youth ministries have grown an estimated 30 percent. Gabruch said 40 to 50 teens have been baptized. A school-based ministry has evolved that involves mainly drop-in sports. He calls it relationship-based – in contrast to activities at the church building, which are faith-based.

“We try to help young people find a deep purpose in life, and provide a safe place to have fun,” said Gabruch, who works with older teens.

Between the schools and the church, every day of the week something is going on that involves Emmanuel youth. About 200 kids are participating in sports, activities, discussions and events.

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“We’re trying to direct their energy to positive things,” said McGillivray, who works mainly with pre-teens.

The congregation felt so strongly about the importance of these programs that they spent more than $200,000 to convert the auditorium into a gymnasium. Saturday and Sunday services continue in the gym, which means setting up equipment each time. The church recently voted to build a new sanctuary and turn over the old auditorium to a youth focus. “It’s built into the DNA of this church, to put kids first,” said McGillivray.

Relationships between the two pastors and school staff and students outside the church have continued to build. “The kids trust us,” said Gabruch. School staff see that trust, and welcome these two young men as mentors and helpers at various events – recognizing that they are all about helping kids make wise choices.

Now plans are laid for school assemblies in April, which will feature international Christian speaker Bob Lenz; he will  address four Kelowna-area schools.

McGillivray himself was not a church kid. He was drawn to Emmanuel from outside the church and the faith. “I heard there were things going on in a youth group, so I started coming. It was a really cool place to be,” he said.

Gabruch got serious about Christ at age 16, when he began looking for purpose and began to understand that God is about relationship.

Both men are now married with families, and believe traditional values are one of the huge issues for youth today, along with issues of boredom, abuse, drugs, purpose and self-esteem.

“Kids long for love. Lack of love breeds all kinds of nasty issues,” said McGillivray.      

These two young men appear determined to foster love, to help kids reach their best potential – and to provide safe places for them to explore issues and find spiritual healing.

January 2011