Rutherford Weekly

Young Life of Rutherford County gives teens an opportunity to connect with each other and Christ in an environment that isn't church. While the Rutherford County program is entering its third year, Young Life itself has been in existence and helping youth since 1941. The program began in Rutherford County after East Rutherford High School Counselor Donna Baldwin saw the transformation her nephew had undergone after he joined Young Life. Baldwin connected with Heather and Sam Banfield, who are area directors, about creating a Young Life here. "Young Life is built on relationships," Heather explained. Young Life is made up of several components, which begins with contact work, she continued. "Contact work is where we go and meet with kids on their turf and then invite them to meet a neutral place and ask them if they'd like to come to Young Life," Heather said. "Basically, we earn the right to be heard by getting to know them. You can't share the gospel if they are unwilling." Then there's Club, which has the feeling of just that. With music and skits, Club provides a means of sharing Christian values without being preachy. Club includes pictures of Young Life Rutherford County members past and current as well as reminders that the students are loved by God. Young Life may bring a message, but it is definitely not church, Heather is quick to point out. "We are the arms of the church, and we reach kids who might not go to church," she said. "Our hope is to get those kids plugged into a local church." Currently Young Life Rutherford County has three leaders, and Heather said she and Sam hope to grow and firm up the program's foundation this year. "Every Young Life is built by local young adults in the community," she explained. "Those adults care about kids and build authentic relations with them." Another component of Young Life is Campaigners, which is when small groups get together. Campaigners alternate with Club, Heather explained. Then, there's Camp. "We tell kids that summer camp is the best week of their life," she said. "Young Life puts excellence into their camp." Camp includes high adventures, zip lines, horseback riding and more. Relationship building, as with other facets of the program, is key during camp. "Meals at camp are served family style," Heather said, "so we all sit together to eat. Campers feel loved and are loved. It's a physical reminder that their Father in heaven loves them." Young Life Rutherford County is open to all high school students across Rutherford County. For more information, visit rutherfordcounty.younglife. org or email youngliferc@gmail.com. The Rutherford County Library's three branches will have new hours beginning Sept. 6. "We did our strategic plan last year, which included surveying library users from across the county. One of the objections we heard more than a few times was that the library's hours are not convenient to today's lifestyles," said April Young, library director. Young first approached County Manager Steve Garrison to see how the library might answer patrons' requests for more evening hours. "He asked that we look at our circulation and see when we have the most foot traffic," Young said. Once the data was compiled, the library presented a proposal to county commissioners to shift hours at each branch location in order to accommodate an evening into their schedules. Commissioners approved the new hours at their July meeting. "Each branch will be open later a different night," Young continued. "We wanted to give an opportunity for those in the county to go somewhere to get materials when they needed them." The Haynes Branch in Henrietta, she said, will be open later on Friday evenings, in part, due to a new teen group that is meeting there. Mountains Branch in Lake Lure will be open later on Tuesdays, and the library's Main Branch in Spindale on Thursdays. "We have already had patrons at each branch to thank us," Young said. "Now that we have some evening hours available, we'll be able to offer extra programming we haven't been able to do before." Thursday evenings will allow for more activities in the Main Branch's DBU (Dream It, Build It, Use It) Makerspace. "The second Thursday night of each month will be a Family Maker Night," said Kenneth Odom, IT specialist. "We will have a planned program with supplies and materials as well as the instructions to build or make something." The first Family Maker Thursday will be Sept. 8 and soda can robot. Those who would like to take part should contact the library to register. The program is free. "We'll also have presentations for adults at least once a month," Young added. "We're trying to hit all groups of the population, and our goal is to offer things so that families can all be in the same building but not necessarily at the same program." The library's book sale will also benefit from the evening hours. The late summer book sale is scheduled to begin the first Thursday evening the Main Branch has later hours on September 8. New hours for each branch of the Rutherford County Library, beginning September 6, are as follows: Rutherford County Library- Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm; Thursday, 11:30am to 8pm; and Saturday, 10am to 3pm. Haynes Branch- Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9am to 5pm; Wednesday, 9am to 2pm; Friday, noon to 8pm; and Saturday, 10am to 3pm. Mountains Branch- Monday, Thursday and Friday, 9am to 5pm; Tuesday, noon to 8pm; Wednesday, 9am to 2pm; and Saturday, 10am to 3pm. OUR 24 th YEAR • ISSUE NO. 35 • September 1, 2016 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 FREE FREE ©Community First Media Community First Media Mon-Sat 11am-6pm E Juice • Glass Pipes T-shirts • & More 719 S. Broadway, Forest City Right off Exit 182 from US74 828-229-3123 ©Community First Media We Finance! Auto Sales Auto Sales M i k e s M i k e s M i k e s M i k e s INC. INC. 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Adult leaders meet with kids on their turf fi rst and get to know them and then invite them to Young Life. Teens from different schools and backgrounds come together for Campaigners and Club. Rutherford County Young Life Members of Young Life Rutherford County participate in Club, one of the facets of the ministry-based program. During this Club teens had a throwback to the 90s night and sang a mash-up of songs from the decade. There are reminders on the walls around the Club that they are loved. Y Lif i b t b ildi l ti hi WE WISH EVERYONE A SAFE & HAPPY LABOR DAY! WE WISH EVERYONE A SAFE & HAPPY LABOR DAY!

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