FINDING A WAY TO YOUTH

MILLVILLE -- You could hear it from a block away.

The sound of about 100 parishioners clapping, dancing and singing in
the new year emanated from In His Presence Worship Center, on East
Broad Street, Saturday night as the church's yearly Pre-New Years
Celebration sought to welcome 2008 on a positive note.

Another goal of the holiday celebration, according to Deacon George
Jamison, was to help keep people -- especially young people -- "off
the streets.

"We're trying to save as many souls as we can, trying to stop all the
drug dealers and drug addicts and robberies we see in our community,"
said Jamison, who serves as president of deacons at In His Presence.
"The more people we get in here, the less are out on the street."

Outside the church, Vice President of Deacons James Harden could be
seen greeting people as they passed, encouraging them to join the service.

"We have to do this. We have to make sure that the youth don't get
lost in the street," said Harden. "If we don't get to them, you know
someone else will."

Beginning at 6 p.m. and running for more than 3 hours, the church
service included two guest preachers -- 33-year-old twin brothers
Derrick and Darrell Etienne -- as well as the Fresh Oil and the
Young, Restless and Redeemed Workshop Youth choirs.

Parishioners raised their hands in the air, sang and stomped their
feet as the church's Pastor David Ennis spoke, backed by keyboards
and drums, of the past year and what the next could be.

"We are standing on the brink of a new year, and some of us have been
through some real hell this year," said Ennis from his podium. "We
have to ask ourselves, and one another, for this coming year, What
you gonna do?'"

According to Ennis, part of the problem facing Millville is the lack
of alternative activities for young people that prevent them from
falling into gangs.

"I have been recently working with the city and (Cumberland) county
governments to bring those activities to our young people," he said
after his sermon inside the church. "It can't be just the churches
and the non-profits working to help these kids. We all have to become
stakeholders.

"And maybe it will take something unprecedented. Maybe $1 million
will have to be spent -- on a center for kids who might be future gang members.

Ennis, who said he has just acquired 10 acres of land in Millville,
says the largest hurdle has been the lack of a facility and funding.

"I've always appreciated the State of New Jersey for being able to
find money, even in times of uncertainty," said Ennis. "At a time
when they say grants are scarce, it's still important that we try to
get the city, county and state governments together on this issue.

"Like I said, we all have to become stakeholders. We at the churches
and other non-profits can only do and volunteer so much."

Ennis says possible activities for Millville youth may include
tutoring services, mentoring and "fostering a relationship with those
children that have fallen out of society," who have lost their
parents and may be angry at the world.

The next planned event for the church is scheduled for New Year's
Eve, when 600 are expected to show up at In His Presence for another
celebration, according to Ennis.

"The people here want to celebrate Jesus and bring in the new year,"
he said. "We're just giving them what they want."