Clockwise from left are Chris Hughes, 17, Chris Harvey, 15, and Justin Hughes, 13, of Galloway; Charity Hartwell, 15, of Absecon; Nick Hawkes, 15, of Egg Harbor Township; Courtney Gras, 14, of Galloway; and Justin Thomas, 15, of Absecon.

ABSECON – The youth groups at Absecon Presbyterian Church aim to mix good times and good deeds – as demonstrated by their bowling fundraiser Sunday, Feb. 12 at Strike Zone Lanes in Egg Harbor City.

Linda Gillis is the junior high youth director, and JoAnn Sabo heads the elementary group for the church. Both women live with their families in Galloway.

“Both of our groups have components to serve the community,” Gillis said Sunday. “It can be the church community, the community we live in or the international community.”

On Sunday, the community was the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.

“My group, we call ourselves Addicted to Jesus – A₂J – meets weekly,” Gillis said. “We do mission work at least two times a month.”

The elementary group meets monthly, and does mission work three or four times a year, she said.

“We try to hook up at least two times a year,” Gillis said. “We do this together; and we also do fun stuff, with no other purpose than to be fun. Today we’re having some fun for a good cause.”

Community service isn’t necessarily hard, the youth leader said.

“It’s not always work,” Gillis said. “Service can be as easy as walking out your door and doing something nice.”

Other times, it can require effort.

“There’s work,” she said. “We clean up Pitney Road. We try to show the youngsters different ways to serve. Our church does a lot of stuff for the rescue mission – supports it in a number of different ways year-round.”

The bowling fundraiser raised money to build toiletry kits for guests at the rescue mission.

Money raised will be used toward making the kits. Bowlers also donated items for the kits: toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, deodorant and socks. The youth groups will get together again in early March to assemble the kits for delivery to the mission.

“While we have 60 people here today, the whole church is donating items,” Sabo said.

She said there are benefits to all when the youth groups unite.

“My group learns from the great older role models,” Sabo said. “And the older ones learn to be role models. It works at building fellowship for everybody.”

Gillis gave that an amen.

“Elementary kids look forward to coming into my group,” she said. “And my group looks forward to moving on as well.”

And, oh yes, there’s a religions component to all the groups.

“By keeping involved in our activities they learn to become good Christians,” Gillis said. “They’re excited about coming to church, coming to their youth groups. They see that all through their whole lives, how they can continue to grow in the church. They’re mentoring. They see there’s always something going on.”

She said there are 10 in her middle school group.

“They all call me mom,” Gillis said. “And only one child is mine.”

She said the youngsters bring friends to church.

“They’re an outreach to their peers,” Gillis said. “It’s a great thing.”

And the benefits aren’t always reaped by the youngsters.

Gillis said she worked with youth groups for four years at another church, but this is her first experience with middle-schoolers.

“I’ve discovered I have a gift with middle school-age children that I didn’t know I had,” she said.

Photos by Steve Prisament

Purchase photos here. 

lementary group leader JoAnn Sabo takes drink orders with help from Bill Lewis.   From left are Debora Wong, Danitza Figueroa, 11, Sarah Gillis, 12, behind her, Maddie Lewis, 13, Ray Lewis, 10, and behind him, his dad, Bill Lewis. They all live in Galloway.   Sixth-graders Ana Higbee, left, and Annie McManus, both 11 and from Absecon, watch the action.   Nicole Gillis, 8, prepares for her turn in the lane.   An adult team joins in for a good cause. From left are Louise Speitel, Ken Marshall and Maria Carreno, all of Absecon, Melvin Washington of Galloway and Joe Marshall of Absecon.