Penn Manor townlively.com
OCTOBER 4, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LX • NO 23
Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church welcomes new youth pastor BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
ast December, Evan Belczyk of Millersville started his own youth group. Belczyk, who teaches health and physical education at Swift Middle School, was inspired to create the group to get to know his students and their families better in a faith-based setting. On Sept. 1, Belczyk officially started his role as a youth pastor at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church (CLPC), 1068 Chestnut Level Road, Quarryville, and the church now serves as a home for his youth group. At first, the group was not affiliated with any church, so students would take turns convening at each other’s homes. At each meeting, Belczyk and the students would play games, hold Bible studies, share a meal and participate in praise and worship music together. The youth group allowed Belczyk to build relationships with students’ families, and it
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also gave students an opportunity to bond with each other. Members of the group would often attend other students’ sporting events to show their support. “I love getting to know my students and their families more, and I love having God at the center of those relationships. It inspired
“It’s been awesome to be able to give the kids more opportunities.” me to go out of my comfort zone and start my own group,” Belczyk said. “I never thought I would end up doing something like this.” Belczyk’s youth group began with nine students, but it quickly grew to include 25 active members. One student’s parents were part of the congregation at CLPC, and they asked the church’s pastor if the group could use the church’s
facility to host its activities. The youth group moved its meetings to CLPC in January. As the pastor and congregation got to know Belczyk and his program more, the church offered him the position as an official youth pastor. Now that the youth group has a home base, Belczyk has the space and resources to host more students, as well as offer them more activities. Since Belczyk became a youth pastor at CLPC, the youth group’s meetings have been attended by more than 40 students. Belczyk plans to utilize the program’s new resources to offer activities like retreats and mission trips to his students. “We never had the resources for things like that before,” Belczyk said. “It’s been awesome to be able to give the kids more opportunities and a consistent place to meet.” Belczyk and his group are currently deciding on a location to visit for a mission trip next summer, which they plan to make an annual activity. See Youth pastor pg 2
Evan Belczyk
BY JEFF FALK
The battle against human trafficking is difficult and continual. North Star Initiative is seeking help to carry on the fight. It is that mission that is really at the heart of North Star Initiative’s annual Tapas Shindig. This year’s fundraising, awareness raising and relationship building event will be presented on Friday, Oct. 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Foundry48, 100 W. Millport Road, Lititz. The event will begin with networking, a silent auction, tapas and
mocktails, followed by a program and live auction, before concluding with dessert and coffee. The theme for the event is “Light Up the Night. - Together we can illuminate the path to a brighter future for survivors of sex trafficking.” “A lot of people ask me, ‘What can I do? I want to get involved,’” said North Star Initiative executive director Melinda Clark. “This is the time to come and get involved. It’s also partnering together to form a community where trafficking is unimaginable, where trafficking doesn’t exist. We encourage people See North Star pg 2
The Southern End steps up to fight hunger BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
Mary Etta Reinhart (left) and her neighbor Brooklynn Sagers participated in last year’s CROP Hunger Walk.
The 44th annual CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Muddy Run Park, 172 Bethesda Church Road West, Holtwood. Registration will open at 8:30 a.m., and the walk will begin at 9 a.m. Activities will be offered for children who participate in the walk, and members of the public of all physical abilities are invited to participate. This year, young walkers will have a chance to participate in a story walk. Pages and illustrations See CROP walk pg 5
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Tapas Shindig to shine light on human trafficking
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