Drew Cope, Youth Director at NLPC said, “We praise God for the growth we’ve experienced in the last three years.   Going from 40 to over 150 students each week is incredible.  And we’ve found that we’ve had to adjust our methods along the way, in order to continue to reach each teen effectively.  This split is one more planned adjustment that will benefit the students on their level in so many ways, and it will enable us to build more one-on-one relationships with them, increasing our level of effectiveness.”

Themed, ‘Serious about fun… Serious about God…’ Ground Zero focuses on two areas.  One is providing teens with activities and an environment that are fun, safe, & cool where they can feel comfortable and accepted.  The other is reaching teens where they are in life and leading them towards a life changing, moral straightening, outward focused, relationship with Jesus Christ.  Christine O’Connor, office administrator at Ground Zero said, “More and more teens are realizing how blessed they really are and that there are bigger problems in the world than whether or not Bobby Jones likes Susie Smith.  We want to see teens experience the power of God working in their lives, and we want to empower them to reach out and help others.  This is why we do Ground Zero & it is why we do Project: R.A.K.E.”  Project: R.A.K.E is the home repair ministry of Ground Zero.

“We’ve been doing a Friday Night program for 3 years now,” said Atkins.  Its been incredible and I can’t begin to tell you all the stories of how lives have been changed.   And now its time to expand that even further.”

Beginning Thursday, January 8^th 2004, the Jr. High students, grades 6^th – 8^th will no longer be attending the Friday Night program.   Termed ‘ground zero junior varsity’ or JV for short, the 6^th – 8^th graders will now have their own service.  JV will meet on Thursday nights from 7-9 pm at the New London Presbyterian Church on 896 just south of State Rd in New London.  Parents can drop off JV students as early as 6:45 pm and pick them up anytime between 8:15 and 9 pm.  Teens will have plenty of time to hang out in the ‘Big House Game Room’ playing pool, foosball, air hockey, xbox, PS2, game cube, chess, ping pong & other games.  There will be an hour service tailored specifically to the JV crowd where the teens will experience high energy music, games, worship & a great message.  After the service, in addition to all the regular weekly giveaways, this night will be special in that 3 lucky students will be going home with brand new snowboards & everyone will be treated to free banana splits after the service in honor of the ‘New Year, New Ground Zero’ split.

Beginning Friday, January 9^th 2004, the Sr. High & young adult students, grades 9^th – 12^th & college-age will have more time during the Friday night program for games and food.   Titled ‘ground zero. varsity’ or varsity for short, the older students will now have their own service as well.  Varsity will continue to meet on Friday nights, from 7-10:30 pm, at NLPC.  Teens will have even more time to hang out in the ‘Big House Game Room’ and the hour service will be geared up and personalized for the Varsity students.  Each service will include new high energy music, deeper worship & a message that really speaks to the needs of high schoolers & young adults.  After the service, in addition to all the regular weekly giveaways, this night will be unique in that 3 lucky students will be going home with brand new digital cameras & everyone will be treated to free banana splits after the service in honor of the ‘New Year, New Ground Zero’ split.

Ground Zero is the Youth Ministry of New London Presbyterian Church located in historic New London, PA. Ground Zero meets weekly on Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 pm for middle school age students beginning January 8^th and on Fridays from 7:00 to 10:30 pm for senior high & young adults beginning January 9^th.  GZ also meets on Sunday mornings from 11:00 am -12:15 pm.   All 6th-12th grade students & young adults are invited to attend.  New London Presbyterian Church is located at 1986 Newark Road/Rte. 896, 20 minutes north of Newark, DE just minutes south of State Rd. in the heart of New London.  For safety purposes, please drop off and pick up your teens in the rear of the church.  For more information about Ground Zero or the GZ split, please call the GZ Office at 610/869-7332 or visit www.GZYouth.com.