NEWS & PRESS RELEASES
Ministry Reaches Scranton Youth
BBS student Dennis D'Augustine and Pete Fox started The Coal Mine while they were juniors at BBC. It began with a couple nights spent witnessing on the streets of Scranton, and today they have over 80 teens coming each week to hang out and ultimately hear the Gospel.
The Coal Mine has a specific mission and specific people they are trying to reach. "Our mission is to persuade the unbelieving into a relationship, a lifestyle of knowing God. Our target group is teenagers 13-19," said Dennis, who is the Director.
During the ministry’s short life, it has experienced good times and difficult times. The group started in a facility, but then had to leave causing the leaders to make some difficult decisions. "We trusted God and went to a park where we met from August to December. It was dark and very cold. It was our darkest point where we didn't have anything but teens, ourselves, God, and a park," shared Dennis.
In spite of the difficulties, the leaders determined to continue to minister to the teens. "We made it the best park. We played tackle football, had hot chocolate, grilled out, and played board games," he said.
Then in March, God opened a door when they got word that the Boys' and Girls' Club in Scranton was closing their building. "I called a Christian businessman and told him about the building. He didn't say anything to me for seven months. Finally, he wanted me to make a ridiculous offer. First, they said no then three months later, they said yes," explained Dennis.
Currently, the ministry consists of four components: The Coal Mine, Homey Groups, Street Outreach, Coal Mine Community. "The Coal Mine meets on Wednesday nights. About 30 students from BBC come and help. We're averaging about 80 teens a night. The main point is relationships and outreach. We're trying to get to the point where people know the Gospel is going to be given clearly," he said.
The Homey Groups is a discipleship program that meets on Sundays. Every Friday night Pete, who is the Director of Outreach, supervises the Street Outreach, which actively seeks to reach students in their own environment. Finally, the Coal Mine Community, which meets Sunday mornings, is set-up to minister to the teens' parents. "We just launched our first adult small groups. Our long-term vision is Steamtown Community Church, which we plan on launching spring 2006," Dennis explained.
According to Dennis, all that has happened is due God's work in the teens' lives. "The key to what God is doing is our prayer meetings and our prayer lives," he said.
To see a local newscast about the Coal Mine, click here. For more information on the Coal Mine, send an email to thecoalmine@hotmail.com.
Posted on: 6/1/2005 10:48:17 AM
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