Awana

Pleasant View Baptist Church is moving to the YMCA for their Children's and Youth Programs on Sunday Evenings beginning March 6. According to Pastor Torrey Easler, "We are simply out of space!"

Pleasant View Baptist Church has been a staple in Eden for 60 years now; however, it may be experiencing its best growth ever in 2011. With many new faces, fresh Vision and outlook, and a new schedule of services, there is much excitement in the congregation. "I can just feel it when I step out of my car, even before I get into the Church", said one of the new attendees. "There is spirit of freshness about this place."

PVBC transitioned into a new Children's and Youth Program called AWANA in October. For those who are not familiar with AWANA, it stands for "A Workman, Not Ashamed" and its name is taken right out of scripture from Second Timothy 2:15. The AWANA program provides great struucture and is 2 hours of having fun, building friendships, and Bible training with strong emphasis on Bible memorization. The AWANA program encompasses children from ages 2 through 5th grade and there is also a separate Middle School and High School club as well.

The AWANA program at PVBC has literally tripled in attendance since it began in the fall of last year. "Our desire was to one day reach 100 students and we set that as a goal by the end of 2011 and the Lord has already blessed us to be averaging well over 100 young people in attendance", said Pastor Torrey Easler.

Excited and yet frustrated, Pastor Torrey and the Leadership of PVBC were literally at a stand still. "We just don't have the current facilities to handle much more growth without trying to build and that could take up to 1 to 2 years to accomplish", said Pastor Torrey. "I recently preached a message about Saul's son Jonathan and how God used him to bring a great victory even though the odds were against him. I gave the message a title,' Let's Just See What God Will Do' and literally that very week the Lord laid it on my heart to call Barry Mabe at the Eden YMCA."

After a few meetings by phone and in person a rental agreement was agreed upon and now an ongoing relationship between Pleasant View Baptist Church and the Eden YMCA has been established."We too want to see boys and girls trust Christ as their Savior", said Barry Mabe. "That's the very reason the YMCA was established."

"Wouldn't you know it, the YMCA already closes at 5 PM and that's the very time we would need it." Pastor Torrey also said, "It's just an unbelievable opportunity to go right into a facility like this and be able to continue to grow."

Preparations are now being made to begin AWANA at the "Y" on March 6 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.. With the cooperation of the Eden YMCA and Pleasant View Baptist Church there is no telling as Pastor Torrey preached, "What God Will Do."