An exciting, new place for youth and young adults to have fun will be opening in Indianapolis very soon.
Boomtown, a Christian club and monthly gathering place, will open for the first time at 9 p.m. on June 25 at the Caring Place, a community service center located at 666 E. 22nd St.
For an affordable $3 cover charge, guests 21 and under will be able to enjoy video games, basketball, air hockey, pool and a live disc jockey (DJ Freedom), as well as free food, drinks and other activities.
Spacious areas will be provided in a safe atmosphere for guests to dance, sit and enjoy conversation or even use computers.
Boomtown is being organized by Virtue and Praise, a local church that grew out of an inner city mission and believes strongly in meeting people at the point of their needs.
Pastor Audrey Berden of Virtue and Praise said Boomtown is an outreach designed to provide positive recreation that will help keep youth away from gangs, drugs, alcohol and other activities that can be detrimental to their spiritual, mental and physical health.
“When you look at the history of organizations such as the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club, you see that they were always geared toward youth,” Berden said. “That’s because positive environments are needed to preserve the fabric of our youth. In order to preserve our communities and expand the kingdom of God, the church has to start with young people.”
Berden, the mother of four children ranging from ages 9 to 15 explained that she thought of the idea for Boomtown while waiting for one of her sons to leave school. She was listening to her car radio, and heard Canton Jones.
“Then the idea hit me for a Christian club in Indianapolis. At first I wrestled with that concept, given my strict Pentecostal background,” Berden said, laughing. “I thought, ‘Lord, please let this child come on out of class so I can drive off and dismiss this.”
Later she discussed the idea with her children, who all embraced the idea overwhelmingly, saying they knew of other youth who often complained of not having enough positive fellowship opportunities.
‘Suddenly, the Holy Spirit said ‘Boomtown,’ which sounds like something explosive,” Berden added. “It all happened so rapidly I didn’t have much time to second-guess it.”
While Virtue and Praise is certainly not the first ministry to launch a Christian youth club, it hopes to be the first to have one that actually lasts and gains citywide notoriety.
Anton Peaches, a 16-year-old member of Virtue and Praise, is among several volunteers who are promoting Boomtown by distributing fliers and reaching out to youth. He and many of his friends are looking forward to what Boomtown has to offer.
“It’s going to be great because it will give everyone 21 and under a chance to have fun together in a safe environment,” Peaches said. “You can feel comfortable to bring your friends, whether or not they are believers. I think it’s going to be something refreshing for this city.”
Boomtown Christian Club
When: Saturday, June 25 from 9 p.m. to midnight
Where: The Caring Place, 666 E. 22nd St.
Cost: $3 (21 and under), security will be provided
For more information: Call (317) 388-1541 or visit www.virtueandpraiseministries.org.
