Bonclarken The YAB turns 25
CHIP SHERER President
his year, our Youth Activ- ity Building (YAB) turns 25 years old! Opened in 1999, this wonderful and versa- tile facility is such a cornerstone for our offerings to youth groups. I want to celebrate these 25 years of the YAB with my article this month.
T In the late-1990s, the Bonclarken
Board was wrestling with how best to meet a clear need. This need was for a new youth facility. The youth leaders of the various camps and conferences had ex- pressed a desire for a large meet- ing/recreational space. However, how best to meet this need? In reading the minutes from those Board meetings, I get a glimpse of how much thought and planning, along with the prayers
and sacrificial giving of our donors, went into the formation of what is now our Youth Activity Building. I contacted Jim Brice, Bonclarken’s Director during the time, to get his thoughts on what transpired. Jim shared with me “We all knew we needed to expand our offerings for youth. Our youth groups had simply outgrown the Chapel and the old gym and need- ed a larger space. Board Chairman Ed Cox and architect Mike Shue (both from the Peachtree Corners ARP Church) worked to design a building that we thought would meet the needs of our youth groups for years to come. When I do we really need something that big? How grateful I am for the vi- sion of the Board to construct such a large and multi-purpose facil- ity. What a glorious day when the YAB opened in 1999!” I share Jim’s sentiments com- pletely. How blessed we are today
that the Bonclarken Board moved forward in faith to build a 12,000 square foot building, because yes, we would need something that big. Their vision was to meet the needs of youth groups. Could they have imagined that Synod, Music Conference, World Fo- cus, and several other non-youth events would be held in the YAB as well? Horizon, Quest, Camp Bonclarken, the Presbytery week- end retreats, and numerous youth groups from other denominations all call the YAB home. The facility is just perfect for our needs. I am often reminded of how we stand today on the shoulders of the visionaries who stepped out in faith to provide Bonclarken with a much-needed facility when the need became clear. Certainly, the visionaries on the Bonclarken Board in the late-1990s are to be commended for their leadership and vision in providing our Youth Activity Building.
Happy 25th Birthday to the YAB!
An Environment for Christian Inspiration and Renewal May/June 2024 9
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