by Elissa Lindsey

Last January 2011, a new club for children with social challenges from anxiety, Asperger’s Disorder or Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD), ADHD and related disabilities had its inception at North Beach, thanks to the efforts of Danielle Thomas and Kurt Brodbeck. The Before & After Club was started, with fifteen families in attendance, to serve as a bridge to the large group settings at North Beach, but has evolved in an unexpected way. The club has grown into an outreach ministry for the kids and their parents.

The goal of the club is to help these kids by using a philosophy and mission similar to the one Northview has – by connecting these kids with each other, with God and with their communities. The club held meetings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month during the school year. During the summer months, the club met for a fun outing at least once monthly to help the kids stay connected.

Most nights began with short “icebreaker” games, meant to encourage the kids to interact and become comfortable with each other and their setting. Afterward, the kids were turned loose to play while parents became acquainted and networked with each other. As time has passed, more parents have taken part in the meetings, led activities and just hung out and resourced with other parents during the kids’ free time. Parents have modeled pro-social behavior with the kids, and the kids have worked on the skills in which they may have been lacking or having a difficult time with. The kids have not only had opportunity to use these skills at North Beach, but out in the community doing fun activities and service projects.

Some of the community activities have included going to a corn maze, having a bonfire marshmallow roast, having “water wars,” playing putt-putt, going bowling and going to the Monon Center. One of their special events was dubbed “Gingerbread House Night.” A project the group tackled together was “Kids Against Hunger” through which they helped bag meals for the poor during Northview’s Good Neighbor Weekend.

The kids, Danielle reports, have become good friends with each other, even outside of the club setting, and as a result, their self-esteem has grown even more. Two of the boys have joined a DIVE group, and three of them have participated in North Beach’s overnight retreat. The kids’ parents have been encouraged and enthusiastic about the growth the kids have experienced. For many of the kids, this has been their first experience in true community.

As word has spread throughout the community, The Before and After Club has grown by approximately one family per month since its inception. While it originally began with families from Northview, about 25 families from Grace, and Bridgeway Churches, as well as the Washington Township area, are now being served by the club.

In keeping with the mission of the group and of Northview, this group will soon have a new name, “North Beach Friends Connected.” In February 2011, a second associated group will be started at the Fishers YMCA teen center, bearing the name “Y Friends Connected.”

More information on this group can be found by logging on to the page, “Building Connections.” at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Building-Connections/268891579826512.