Last December, Evan Belczyk of Millersville started his own youth group. Belczyk, who teaches health and physical education at Swift Middle School, was inspired to create the group to get to know his students and their families better in a faith-based setting. On Sept. 1, Belczyk officially started his role as a youth pastor at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church (CLPC), 1068 Chestnut Level Road, Quarryville, and the church now serves as a home for his youth group.

At first, the group was not affiliated with any church, so students would take turns convening at each other's homes. At each meeting, Belczyk and the students would play games, hold Bible studies, share a meal and participate in praise and worship music together. The youth group allowed Belczyk to build relationships with students' families, and it also gave students an opportunity to bond with each other. Members of the group would often attend other students' sporting events to show their support.

"I love getting to know my students and their families more, and I love having God at the center of those relationships. It inspired me to go out of my comfort zone and start my own group," Belczyk said. "I never thought I would end up doing something like this."

Belczyk's youth group began with nine students, but it quickly grew to include 25 active members. One student's parents were part of the congregation at CLPC, and they asked the church's pastor if the group could use the church's facility to host its activities. The youth group moved its meetings to CLPC in January. As the pastor and congregation got to know Belczyk and his program more, the church offered him the position as an official youth pastor.

Now that the youth group has a home base, Belczyk has the space and resources to host more students, as well as offer them more activities. Since Belczyk became a youth pastor at CLPC, the youth group's meetings have been attended by more than 40 students. Belczyk plans to utilize the program's new resources to offer activities like retreats and mission trips to his students. "We never had the resources for things like that before," Belczyk said. "It's been awesome to be able to give the kids more opportunities and a consistent place to meet."

Belczyk and his group are currently deciding on a location to visit for a mission trip next summer, which they plan to make an annual activity. In February, the group will participate in a weekend retreat with other youth ministries at Pinebrook in East Stroudsburg. Belczyk and his students raised funds for the youth group and its upcoming programs by serving refreshments at the Solanco Fair in September.

CLPC's youth group meets on Sundays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is open to students between sixth and 12th grades, and sign-up forms are available at each meeting.