Youth for Christ asks Town to help keep “The Door” open

March 25, 2015 · 0 Comments

“The Door,” a Christian Youth drop in centre, has become a familiar part of Shelburne’s landscape in the last ten years, providing a place for youth ages 10-18 to socialize in a mentoring environment. In 2013, they moved from their mobile unit, a truck often seen at Jack Downey Park, to the Anglican Church manse for a “very reasonable” rate. Yearly costs run around $12000 and the organization has come up short. March 13th, Youth for Christ representatives asked the Town of Shelburne for help to keep “The Door” open.
Bob Sibeon, of the Steering Committee and a member of Cross Roads Church, spoke for the group. He reminded the Councillors that the group had a good history with the Town, which had supported the purchase of the truck years ago, and that The Door was “an important part of the fabric of Shelburne. “We serve kids who are not being served anywhere else,” said Sibeon. The group reports that over 90 youth attend their programs and that numbers are constantly growing as the town expands.
“We have been working towards funding, but we are falling short,” said Sibeon. The costs of operating from a permanent location obviously run much higher than the mobile unit, where the all-volunteer, charitable organization must pay for heat, hydro and expenses like any office. Outside of Council Chambers, the group expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club for a generous donation of $1000 last month, as well as $250 from Cross Roads Church in Shelburne. The Door’s golf tournament raised $2,700 in October and a recent March 7th spaghetti supper raised another $600. On May 2nd the youth at The Door will present a full course roast beef dinner and an original play for further funding.
The Door Youth Director, 24 year old Mandy McCallum, who ministers to the Youth, is paid separately, raising the money through various funding connections and supporters. “Mandy has done a great job in ministry,” says Chair Ken Gallinger, “She attends the Shelburne Ministerial meetings and has improved communications there.” She also spends two or three days a week at the high school during lunchtime as a connection for kids who might want to talk.
At Monday night’s council meeting the Youth for Christ representatives asked Council to consider funding of $5000 to get the group through the year. Councillor Wade Mills, who has been taking strides to form a Youth Committee for the Town, asked if there were any opportunities for provincial funding. The group replied there were not – due to the religious foundation of the organization.
Shelburne Youth for Christ is a satellite of Highland Youth for Christ in Orangeville, one of “30 independently incorporated chapters across Canada.” Highland Youth for Christ has 20 working staff, including satellite leaders like Shelburne’s Mandy McCallum. According to Debbie Harrison of the Shelburne Youth for Christ Steering Committee, the organization was originally created by the Covenant Alliance Church which, according to their Orangeville website, is “a bible believing evangelical church.”
The Shelburne group told Council Monday night that “everyone is welcome at The Door.” Outside of Council Chambers, Chair Ken Gallinger told The Free Press the organization does not force Christianity on the youth – the only stipulation was for members of the Steering Committee: they must “accept Christ as their saviour.” According to Highland’s Youth for Christ website, the organization’s mission is: “To participate in the body of Christ in the responsible evangelism of youth, presenting them with the person, work and teaching of Jesus Christ and discipling them into the local church.”
The representatives did not present mission statements, financial records or plans to Council; nor was there any in Council discussion about why Shelburne’s seven local churches did not fully fund Youth for Christ. Based on their history with the Town, Council went outside of their budget, and made a motion granting $5000 to the group to help support their efforts with Shelburne youth for 2015. Council told representatives they must develop a plan before approaching Council for further funding. Representatives were elated at the support, telling reporters, “Council came through just fantastic; we are really blessed.” Councillor Randy Chambers was the sole objector to the motion for granting Youth for Christ the $5000, saying he had no issues with the group, but as no finances or plan had been presented he felt a “responsibility to the tax payers” and that the “money had not been allocated in the 2015 budget” which had already been passed.
Weekly Events at The Door Youth Centre in Shelburne:
Wednesday: Girls Group 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Thursday: Extreme Zone, after school until 5 p.m. for ages 10–13
Thursday: Guys Group, every second Thursday from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Friday: Drop-in 7:15 – 10 p.m. for ages 13–19
To contact The Door Youth Centre call 519 925-0440 or visit the centre at 304 Owen Sound St., Shelburne.

By Marni Walsh