PEACE CLUB DRAWS YOUTH TO  THE TRI CITY CONGREGATION.

Tri City Answers Call

When the Tri City, Kentucky, congregation began Peace Club four and a half years ago, nobody guessed the number of people it would touch or how the congregation would experience renewed vitality.

Through the program, the congregation reached out to kids. More importantly, kids brought their friends. Many needed rides to Peace Club, so staff members helped out, giving them a chance to meet their families.

It quickly became clear that some kids came to Peace Club hungry. Some households did not meet basic needs. Tri City is a small, rural congregation. But it stretched its budget to provide a snack with class and activities in the rapidly expanding program.

The congregation sought a World Hunger grant. It funded a full, balanced meal for 40–50 kids Wednesday nights and breakfast for some on Sundays.

Through it all, Peace Club transformed Tri City. The first meeting began with 12 youth. After five years nearly 300 have benefited. Forty kids experienced baptism. So did a dozen parents or guardians.

The World Hunger grant also provides groceries for Peace Club families when the month is longer than the paycheck. It al-lows Tri City to show struggling families the hope and love of the Gospel—the good news of the peaceable kingdom.

See video of Peace Club at www.CofChrist.org/mission/stories.asp —John Sheppard reporting