Social - July 2003

Skaters get a lift through ministry

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

Micah Owensby knows that skateboarders are stereotyped: trouble-makers, drug-users.

Owensby, 13, like many skaters, is used to being told he can’t skate here, he’s not allowed there.

But he just wants to skate.

In rural western Lincoln County, kids’ skate boarding options are limited. The areas that are paved smooth enough to skate usually come with signs saying it’s not allowed.

But one local church is changing that.

Members of Bethphage Lutheran Church, located on N.C. 182, are not only allowing kids to skate on their property, they’re embracing them.

The newly-formed Skate Ministry is quickly becoming the popular thing to do on Tuesday evenings.

The Rev. John Bell said the ministry hopes to offer kids a place to have fun, while at the same time teaching them something.

“We want to help provide a positive place for them to do what they love do and learn about a faith and way of life,” Bell said.

The idea got started when Bell started noticing kids hanging out and skating in the church’s paved parking lot.

He knew they didn’t really have any other options, so he ran with it.

“Rather than chasing them off, I thought we’d find a way to lead them with the Gospel,” Bell said.

He used money from the church’s youth endowment to get the project off the ground.

“It was kind of an amazing process,” Bell said.

One day Bell was outside, screwing wood together to make a “fly box,” which consists of ramps on both sides and a raised piece of wood in the middle for board slides, when he looked up.

“The next thing I knew I had eight boys I’d never seen before,” Bell said. The boys had green hair, spiked hair, body piercings.

Around seven boys usually show up on Tuesday nights to skate, but Bell is expecting that to increase. The skate ministry’s grand opening will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, and
everyone is invited.

Helmets, pads and a liability waiver are required.

Randy Longbine, 23, managed three skate parks in Texas and is helping out at Bethphage.

He sees the positive effects of the skate ministry on the kids.

“It keeps them off the streets,” Longbine said. “They can come out, hang out and keep out
of trouble.”

Besides giving them a place to skate, Bell hopes the ministry will do even more for the kids.

He already sees that happening.

“It’s amazing how you can get kids ages 6 to 21, and they help each other out,” Bell said.

And the skaters are just happy they can have fun and be accepted.

“I think it’s really great,” Owensby said. “They know we’re not bad people.”

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For more information about Bethphage’s skate ministry or to get a liability form, call 704-735-8405.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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