DATE: Thursday, April 17, 1997              TAG: 9704160196

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 13   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   83 lines

YOUNG LIFE MEETINGS OFFER FUN, MESSAGE

The word is out. The fun is on. The skits are hysterical. The music is upbeat. The message is power-packed and relevant. That's the latest news about Young Life of Western Tidewater which had its kick-off Club Meeting in Suffolk in early March.

That evening, about 25 high school students from Nansemond River High School, Lakeland High School and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy met in the former Virginia Power building now owned by Barton Ford Lincoln-Mercury for their first weekly Club Meeting. Since that night, the crowd has grown and registration is up to over 50 students.

Keith Lowry, Area Director of Young Life in Western Tidewater, is thrilled over the interest. ``I see a tremendous need for Young Life in this area,'' he said, ``and I'm really excited about the great response we've seen in the month of March.''

Becky Garrett, a student at Regent University , is volunteer leader for Suffolk's group. She noted, ``We're so excited about what's happening.''

``The support from the community has been exceedingly more than we expected. Parents and churches have jumped behind us, and people have bent over backwards to help us get started,'' she continued.

Participants have rave reviews for the program as well. Christina Jones, an 11th grader at Nansemond River High School said, ``Luke (Cotturone) told everyone at our church about it. . . I love it here, and everyone's inviting friends from school to come. I think it's going to really grow.''

Tasha Holliman, a 10th grader at Windsor High School, came to Young Life with her cousin. ``I enjoyed it and liked the games,'' she said.

``I really liked the singing,'' her cousin added.

``This is a pretty cool thing,'' noted Misty Bracey , a 9th grader at Nansemond River High School.

During last week's gathering, Bracey and Cotturone got to test their skills against Bill Chorey and Alexandra Filer when the girls fed the boys Coke from a baby bottle to see who could drink the fastest and belch the loudest. It was all part of the zany skits and good-natured fun that makes Young Life a blast for kids.

After some spirited singing and a wild balloon-popping contest, the group settled cross-legged on the floor for a contemporary message from Lowry. Using some vignettes from his recent bus trip, Lowry drew some spiritual principles from his experiences and then tied these to Christ's encounter with the Samaritan woman found in the New Testament. ``He's good at helping us understand the Bible and how we're suppose to live,'' commented one student.

``Young Life is a weekly outreach event designed to give kids a safe place to have fun and hear about Jesus Christ,'' Lowry explained. ``Young Life is a group from a broad diversity of church traditions committed to the purpose of communicating to adolescents of our community in simple and understandable terms who Jesus Christ is and his relevance to their lives.''

The stage has been set for Suffolk's Young Life group to take root and impact the community. An 18-member committee of area adults are supporting the work through their assistance in fundraising, planning and praying for the ministry. A budget has been adopted to provide financial support through the tax deductible gifts of local donors, and a 20-member Board of Reference will offer moral support and spiritual guidance.

For further insight into what Young life is all about, the Suffolk group is sponsoring ``Young Life Night'' at Main Street's Restaurant, 1467 N. Main St., from 7-8:30 p.m. on May 13. ``Come out and meet Keith, watch a short video about Club and hear kids tell about Young Life in Suffolk,'' explained Hunter Clement of Suffolk's Young Life Committee. The event will feature light hors d'oeuvres, a short informative program and a chance to interact with local Young Life volunteers. ``The event is open to the community and we hope people will come and hear about how God is blessing,'' Clement added.

Upcoming plans for Young Life include organizing a summer Campaigners weekly Bible study group for Suffolk students. There's also the opportunity for Suffolk teens to attend Young life Camp in Saranac, N.Y., from Aug. 2-8. ``It was the best week of my summer,'' noted Cotturone who spent a week at Young Life Camp last summer. MEMO: For additional information about Young Life of Western Tidewater,

contact Keith and Noelle Lowry at 399-3664 or Gene and Jean Houchins at

925-4611.

Weekly Young Life Club Meetings are held in the former Virginia Power

building next to Barton Ford Lincoln-Mercury at 1600 N. Main St. every

Monday at 7:30 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by TRUDY CUTHRELL

Luke Cotturone drinks cola from a baby bottle held by Misty Bracey

in a contest at a Young Life gathering.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu