Seeing the rapidly rising crime rates amongst our city’s youth, Virtue And Praise Ministries, Inc., is distributing a straight shot of preventive medicine against the viral toxins which are depriving “Generation Next” of its’ future through death, destruction, or incarceration.
In response, the doors of BOOMTOWN, a youth and young adult positive recreational activity and festivity will be opened for FREE on April 26 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., at the Indianapolis Housing Agency’s 16 Park Community Center, located at 546 E. 17th St.
The theme for the month of April is a Birthday Extravaganza, celebrating the life, love and empowering ministry of Founder and Overseer, Pastor Audrey Berden, whose heartfelt compassion toward at-risk youth is the driving force behind this innovative vision.
As an inner city outreach ministry, Virtue And Praise Ministries is passionately focused on preserving and empowering the lives of our community’s children. Being that we are concerned stakeholders and clergy we find ourselves extremely disheartened by the overflow of juvenile criminal activity occurring in the City of Indianapolis.
From thousands of gang activities, gun crimes, drug activity, rapes and even homicides, over 90 percent of such wrongful behaviors are enacted by males and nearly 75 percent by minorities. Even more alarming, these startling activities peak on the weekends between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
For the past four years Virtue And Praise Ministries has hosted BOOMTOWN, an under 21, faith-based recreational activity for at-risk youth on the last of every month, from March through October. BOOMTOWN provides mentor guided opportunities for health, fitness, athleticism, traditional and electronic gaming, and also an open dance floor. Each month there is a free meal provided and this month a birthday cake for Pastor Berden will be shared with our community’s children. Research demonstrates that youths who participate in spiritually grounded, guided recreation, such as BOOMTOWN have been found less likely to engage in criminal or delinquent acts, or to engage in alcohol or drug use.
For more information, contact Charity Lewis, at 855.VPM.MINS (876.6467) x801, e-mail info@virtueandpraiseministries.org, or visit virtueandpraiseministries.org/boomtown.
