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Highlands Today

The Wheel Brings Church Youth Groups Together

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By RICHARD HENSLEY Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2009

SEBRING - Three of the largest churches in Sebring have banded their youth groups together to form The Wheel, a unique service organization that includes young people from throughout the area.

The Wheel was the idea of Joe Delph, Dustin Woods and Harry Havery, all directors or pastors of youth ministries at their churches.

A core group of 70 middle school and high school students from various churches conduct service projects and help any way they can to improve their communities. Members include young people from the three churches, as well as members from other congregations as well, as well as teens from other communities in Highlands County. Their motto is "Youth With A Purpose, On A Mission, Making A Difference."

Havery, music director at Bible Fellowship, said the project started with Ascend program that his church's youth group was doing. Woods, director of student ministries for Grace Bible, and Delph, associate pastor of youth and activities, joined in to bring all the young people together.

The Wheel signifies the different churches as spokes in the wheel with Christ as the hub of their activities and their lives, according to Havery.
Delph said this program is unique because it brings young people from different denominations together, not keep them apart. And they share a common cause.

"We're in it because it's the best thing for these kids," Delph said.

The organizers said their congregations have embraced the idea of combining denominations for this effort. A few adults, however, have been leery of this because of conflicting messages between denominations. That hasn't been an issue, though. The young people have enjoyed and embraced meeting new friends with one mission - to serve others and worship together, they said.

"I've never seen anything like this before," Woods said. "It's great to be a part of that."

What impressed the three church organizers most was the dedication of The Wheel's membership. The young people were asked if they wanted to enjoy Valentine's Day at a high school dance or provide a service for others. Overwhelmingly the response was to provide a Valentine's Day Social for local senior citizens.
Delph said that a group like The Wheel is needed for today's young people. It gives them refuge and a place to reflect on their busy lives.

"Life comes at them so much faster now," Delph said. "It comes to a point when it's too much, too fast."

For more information about The Wheel, contact Delph at 385-5154, Woods at 382-1085 and Havery at 385-1024.

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