Return to Home Page

EASTOWN MINISTRIES

"A heart for the city"

(616) 785-2721

Location: 610 Benjamin Ave. S.E.
Mailing Address:
 PO Box 151 Grand Rapids, MI Comstock Park ,MI 49506 49321

General Information:

bulletDirectors of Eastown Ministries: Jim & Carol Carpenter, (616)785-2721
bulletFax number: 616 785-2721
bulletE mail address: carpenjim@juno.com
bullet After operating for 14 years under the American Missionary Fellowship, Eastown Ministries has received its own, independent Michigan tax exempt status, and  Federal Non-Profit 501c3 status.
 
bulletFunding: Eastown Ministries is not supported through any one church or organization. We are a faith based, non-profit organization which depends on individuals, churches and businesses for our support.
 
View Youth Center Photo Albums at:   http://eastownyouthcenter610benjamin.snapfish.com/snapfish

Philosophy of Ministry:

Eastown Ministries Youth Center:
Eastown Ministries provides a "safe place" for teenagers and children in the community. We want the children to feel loved and accepted and we seek to encourage them to live productive lives in their homes and communities. We also desire to provide them with the teaching, morals and skills to accomplish these goals with the Bible. We seek to provide physical help, mental and emotional help as well as provide a spiritual foundation of morality and purpose. We also seek to provide an atmosphere to teach the young people and children how to respect others and get along other children as well as adults. We seek to do this by providing several programs and services to the community.
 

LIFE LESSON/GAME NIGHT Thursdays 6:00-7:00 pm
    For children 4-11 yrs old. The first half hour consists of singing, prizes and a life values/morality lesson. The second half hour is game time: carpet pool, basketball, floor hockey, table soccer and shuffle board. The children can also use the computers, learn verses or do crafts in the back room. We average 25-35 children on a Thursday night.
TEEN NIGHT Thursdays 7:00-8:15 pm

    This program is for children 12 and up. This is similar to the program above; a life lesson and game time for older children. We have ministered to over 100 different teens this year, for several months averaging 50 with a high of 60. We also do special things with the teens such as a movie night, an annual lock-in at the YMCA, pool parties, a trip to Michigan Adventure, Basket ball tournaments and other educational and recreational activities.
     Each Thursday night, after the Teen Night program, we take the teenager young men to the Calvin Church to play basketball.

 
TEEN BOYS AND GIRLS METORING PROGRAM Mondays 4:45-6:15 pm

This program is for teens. We call it PTS or Power to Succeed. We are going through a book written by Rev. Davis called "Talks My Father never had with me" and a book by his wife "Talks my mother never had with me". This program deals with subjects such as being brought up without a father in the home, poverty, gangs, racism, how to get a job, how to handle money, and many others (28 topics in all)

 
TUTORING Mondays through Wednesdays 3:30-5:00 pm, Thursdays 3:30-5:30pm

We now have modest funding and have begun a new tutoring program. 
   This new tutoring program more aggressively partners with middle and high school students to help them successfully learn and complete class assignments.  The “homework tutors” will work with students, and their parents and teachers when possible,  to help develop a more coordinated approach to learning.  We have been given the use of a house (614 Benjamin) located next to the youth center where College students and committed adults will provide this homework help to young neighborhood students. We are seeking committed college students to live upstairs ( for reduced rent )and be an active, regular part of this program.
       2-21-08 Eastown Ministries Homework House finished the third week of operation attracting more students each day. Mostly elementary and middle school students started coming. Several high school students have expressed interest and a few have started coming to find a quiet, place to study and get help from a volunteer.
       We need more volunteers to meet the growing number of students who have expressed a need of academic encouragement and guidance.

Note: We are presently seeking a person to help coordinate this program.

ADULT STUDY/SUPPORT GROUP Tuesdays 6:00-8:00 pm

This is an adult Study and support group. Several men and women from the community come. The two hours consists of refreshments, singing, discussion and study time, and prayer. Once a month we have crafts for the ladies. We also offer a clothing closet, food pantry and some furniture. We also have a meal together per month. Occasionally we go on outings together during the month.

 

Monday Night  Basketball, Life Lesson/Mentoring   5:15-7:15 PM at Calvin Church Gym

         Eastown Ministries has developed a relationship with Calvin Christian Reformed Church through which they allow our use of their gymnasium.   Calvin Church has an adult member of their church participate with our adult volunteers in providing supervision.  Our adult volunteers teach Biblical life lessons that will help teenagers find peace, success, and spiritual fulfillment in their lives.  Several of the men who supervise this activity live in the Eastown neighborhood.  The teenagers who participate in this activity must attend the Thursday Teen Night activities, and then sign up on Thursday  for  Monday night basketball.  While we play BBall the girls meet from 6-7pm for their mentoring time.

 

Estimated 2008 Budget Needs:  Please read about our immediate need for buying the building that we have been using!

$7,200 for building rent for 12 months
$1,000 for building repairs/improvements
$4,000 for utilities for 12 months (gas, electric, water and phone)
$2,000 for supplies for the year (books, curriculum, cleaning supplies, computer paper and ink, etc)
$1,200 for Directors Salary for 12 months (Jim and Carol Carpenter raise their own personal support. We should contribute more!)
$1,000 for purchasing snacks and stocking our food pantry for the year to be purchased from Gleaners Second Harvest food bank,
$2,500 for special events for the kids and teens (Lock in at the YMCA, trip to Meijer Gardens, Pool party, Ice Cream Social etc.)
$3,000 for insurance.
$ 600 Speaker fees
$7,400 for funding Tutoring program (This program needs a coordinator.)

  If you would like to partner with us by contributing financial support to this neighborhood youth & family ministry:
please send your financial contributions to Eastown Ministries Treasurer,  1330 Logan SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506.

If you can personally volunteer your time to help in this ministry, please contact Jim Carpenter: Phone (616) 785-2721

We will send you a receipt, and complete financial report upon request.

 

During the past ten years we have rented the building at 610 Benjamin Street that we use as a Youth & family Ministry Center.
 Recently the owner told us that she wishes to sell the building.      We'll need some financial help to buy this building.

 
If you will help us purchase this building for neighborhood youth & family ministry please call Jim Carpenter at: 785-2721