CLEARFIELD — Sometimes, ministry activities are just plain fun.
That’s the idea for a New Years’ Eve, eve event planned for all night Dec. 30 that will feature swimming at the Clearfield Aquatics Center, ice skating at the Ogden Ice Sheet and activities at the Syracuse Family Fun Center that range from bowling, laser tag and miniature golf.
It’s a decade-long tradition of a cooperative effort called The Huddle between area Christian churches. It’s done with the idea of participating teenagers inviting their non-Christian friends to allow them to experience Christianity in a fun way.
“What we want is for kids to invite their friends,” said Brent Hinsley, a youth pastor at Alpine Church who is one of the organizers of the annual event. “Their friends can sign them up.”
Hinsley said the group has always done the all-night activity either the week before or the day before New Years’ Eve.
“We don’t want to interfere with other events the kids have planned this time of year,” Hinsley said. “It’s changed a little bit since the beginning. It’s evolved to an event that the kids enjoy and look forward to.”
More than 100 teens usually participate in the event that starts with an 8 p.m. program that includes a band, comedians and a speaker at the Christian Life Center Church at 2352 East Highway 193. Participants also eat pizza at this venue.
The event then moves to the Clearfield Aquatics Center from 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., the Ice Sheet from 2 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. and to the Syracuse Family Fun Center from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Cost of participating is $20 per teen.
But teens are not invited to just show up at the door. Those who wish to participate must RSVP at one of the participating churches and must agree to ride with organizers in transportation vehicles provided by the various churches.
“Since we drive to all these different places throughout the night, every church is responsible for their own transportation,” Hinsley said. “Teenagers can’t just drive themselves. We want to emphasize safety.”
To RSVP, call one of the following churches: Alpine Church in Riverdale, West Haven and Layton at 801-392-8000 and leave a message; Christian Assembly Church, in Ogden, at 801-399-1337; Christian Life Center, in Layton, at 801-771-7141; Crossroads Church, in Uintah, at 801-721-5974; Elevation Church, in Kaysville, at 801-546-1553; New Hope Fellowship, in Layton, at 801-452-6203; New Zion Baptist Church, in Ogden, at 801-392-2211, or Westminster Presbyterian, in Fruit Heights, at 801-546-0212.
Participants must arrive at the church in which they have made their reservations and receive transportation from the volunteers at the church.
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