Boys & Girls Club
("Jarvis After School")
is an outreach ministry to the families and children in the community surrounding Jarvis Church. The program is now directed by Theresa Esslinger of the Boys & Girls Club with a professional support staff also from BGC. As always, the success of the program will depend on an able and willing crew of volunteers from the church family. Children receive opportunities for Christian growth and development of life skills in a safe, healthy, and diverse environment.
"JARVIS AFTER SCHOOL" provides after school learning, recreational, and spiritual growth opportunities for children living in downtown Greenville. Many of these children are "at risk". Transportation is provided from school to the church via bus at no cost by the Pitt County School System. Current enrollment is 87 children with a target enrollment of 100. The program runs weekly, Monday through Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m during the school year. During the summer and on some holidays, the program will operate all day, 9 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To participate, children must be registered with the Boys and Girls Club and are expected to pay a small tuition fee.
The program to be offered these children is varied and exciting! In addition to homework assistance and tutoring, children will enjoy directed recreation and sports activities in our beautiful Taft Christian Life Center Gym and on our playground. Field trips will be a regular part of the JAS/BGC experience, and our Jarvis Computer Lab, which is to be retro-fitted with newer PC's, peripherals, and software, will be used regularly by the children. Of course, an important part of each day's activities will be opportunities for spiritual growth. Bible study and devotionals will be offered daily.
FUN is a big part of Jarvis After School!
Click here to see videos of the children "step dancing" with student mentors from ECU. (Note: These videos are Windows Media files. To view them, you must have Windows Media Player, a free download)
Video 1
Video 2
Jarvis Memorial has long been proud of its JAS program. The program has been recognized for its excellence by the city of Greenville, and children who have come up through "JAS" frequently are "at the top of their class" in the public schools. In the 1950's when Jarvis Memorial made the difficult decision to remodel/rebuild its sanctuary/education building complex, a commitment was made to remain downtown and find ways to creatively minister there. The JAS/BGC PROGRAM is an example of this commitment to the inner city. The program was proposed by then-Pastor Tom Holtsclaw in October of 2000 and a committee was appointed to flesh out a mission and vision for the program. The program was officially adopted by the Administrative Council of Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church in July 2002 and a decision was made that the church form a relationship with Sadie Saulter Elementary School.