After having to cancel Fifth Quarter in the fall of 2020, Lighthouse Assembly of God youth pastor and outreach coordinator Landon Ritchie and vision coordinator Logan Ritchie are excited to be holding the free community event for students in seventh through 12th grades again this fall. The gatherings are held at the church, 105 Earland Drive, New Holland, following selected Garden Spot High School (GSHS) home football games.

This year's events will be held on Fridays, Sept. 17 and Oct. 8, from 9:30 p.m. until midnight. While Fifth Quarter will offer the same firepits, football, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and free food - walking tacos and iced coffee - as in the past, Logan noted that efforts will be made to encourage more interaction between small groups of students. "There will be more space for students to sit and talk with their friends," said Logan, who noted that one of the parking lots will be arranged like a cafe complete with string lights. "We want to give kids a chance to reconnect and have more community," she said. "We are trying to set it up for kids who aren't interested in running and playing sports by giving them somewhere comfortable to be." Landon noted that an inflatable archway will mark the entrance to the Fifth Quarter event.

In 2019, organizers decided to add a speaker to the gatherings. This year, for the Sept. 17 Fifth Quarter, Landon has decided to talk for a few minutes about overcoming anxiety and battling depression. "A lot of students' lives have been turned upside down (by COVID-19)," he noted. "A lot are struggling with anxiety and depression, but Jesus sets us free from those things." Landon said he plans to spend about 10 minutes preaching faith to the students followed by a salvation call. "Fifth Quarter is an amazing fun event, but if we aren't reaching these kids, we haven't done the full extent of what we could do for our community," said Landon. "These kids need hope. They need to know that there is a church in their community that loves and cares for them and a Savior who died for them. We want to see kids set free and saved."

Landon first had the idea for a Fifth Quarter-type event as a member of the GSHS marching band. "At the football games, he saw all the community that was happening at the stadium," said Logan. "He wondered how we could tap into it."

Landon worked with then-youth pastor Joe Cali to help organize the first Fifth Quarter several years ago. "It was really fun inviting everyone from band to Fifth Quarter," Landon recalled. He noted that the events have attracted more students each year since they were first held. "The largest one our first year (attracted) 75 students," he noted. "It has consistently grown ... and built momentum." He added that in 2019, 350 students attended a single event and that this year he would like to see 400 take part in one evening.

For more information, readers may follow @gshs5Q on Instagram or find "GSHS 5th Quarter" on Facebook.