The story of Catalyst Ministries is the story of God at work. The nonprofit's founders, Patrick and Gina McNally, credit their faith with laying the foundation for their vision to bring a skills-based learning center to Elizabethtown.

Their story starts in New Hampshire, where Patrick served as the director of a Christian camp and retreat. He realized the need for a Christian retreat center for people in the tri-state area, and he launched Catalyst Ministries in 2003. Headquartered in New York with a mission to reach children, youth and families with the life-changing truth of Jesus, the organization acquired a 110-acre property north of New York City, where the McNallys planned to create the retreat center.

"Our family of 10 was living on Long Island at that time, so we would travel two hours to our camp on the weekends to run the father/son, daddy/daughter and family retreats throughout the summer season," Gina said. "It was a very fun and fruitful time in the rustic outdoors."

They met roadblocks that prevented them from building a full-fledged retreat center, so that part of their vision never became a reality. God, however, did not give up on the McNallys' plans.

"Through a long and very interesting, 'only-God' series of events, we moved to Elizabethtown in 2019, and following that we sold our New York camp property," Patrick shared. "As we prayed about what God was leading us to next, we had a new vision on how we could have a life-changing impact on children, youth and families in the E-town area."

Patrick's background in the trades and Gina's experience in education led them to create a skills-based learning center.

In 2023, Catalyst Ministries purchased a building at 29 S. Market St., Elizabethtown.

"We have been renovating this 8,400-square-foot building, section by section, solely with volunteers," Gina said. "We are currently creating a wood shop and a mechanical shop, and following that, we will be working on creating a kitchen to teach cooking, baking and nutrition."

Patrick serves as executive director, and Gina is the organization's secretary and director of Mommy & Me, Play & Learn, a program for mothers and their children up to age 5.

To make the skills center a reality, the McNallys are relying on community members to volunteer their time and talents to teach classes in the shops.

"This intergenerational connection between caring adults and young people is a missing link to creating a stable society," Gina said. "We need adults who can come alongside the younger generation to model a strong work ethic, as well as good habits for life, family, career and society. Young people need adults to spend time with them to pass on wisdom, knowledge, stories and friendship."

Catalyst Ministries will offer two levels of volunteer options for adults. The organization is seeking adults who want to teach a skill, craft, hobby or passion, as well as adults who would like to serve as mentors to kids.

"A mentor is not only needed for supervision and to help facilitate the logistics of the class, but also to encourage the kids as they are being stretched to learn new skills," Patrick said, adding that Catalyst will provide the training and clearances volunteers need.

The skills center will complement Mommy & Me, Play & Learn, which launched in September.

"We have nine moms and 19 children who meet every other week," Gina said. "Our purpose is to encourage and mentor moms in their very important job in raising future generations. Registration is currently closed, but we have a waitlist, so check out our program on our website."

As for the skills center, the projected date for pilot classes to start is spring of 2026.

"As you can imagine, creating these spaces and workshops in our building takes a ton of time, resources and expertise," Patrick said. "God has provided in such incredible ways throughout the process. We are so thankful to Him for sending us the engineers, skilled carpenters, willing men and women, E-town College students and teens who have volunteered to do demo in a variety of spaces, stud out walls, hang sheetrock, put in doors, windows, concrete, oak flooring, steel beams, trim and paint walls, clean and more."

The initial target age group for the skills center will be middle school students, but the McNallys hope to expand their reach as they grow programs and recruit volunteers, teachers and mentors.

"We have a multi-level, many-phase vision that includes many facets," Gina said. "The possibilities only stop with the imagination."

To learn more about the center or sign up for the Mommy & Me waitlist, visit http://www.catalyst-pa.org.