By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

Chesterton’s United Methodist Church has long been offering programs and services for the community, and is about to offer another - the Methodist Activity Center on the corner of Second St. and Lincoln Ave.

A bright orange sign announcing “MAC” has already caught the eye of several residents, who in turn contacted the Chesterton Tribune to find out what is happening to the former Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Chesterton First United Methodist Church, located at Second St. and Porter Ave., purchased the old church building and is renovating it to open an activity center sometime this spring.

“There is a concern in the community about drugs. This (facility), like all needs of youth, will require quality time for the youth. Even more than the facility, it will take people to help the youth, Rev. Terry Rhine, said as he led the Chesterton Tribune on a peek preview of the new center.

“We plan to partner with the community to help youth and adults,” he said adding that the Center will be for the whole community and many volunteer adults will be needed to make the center a success.

The former sanctuary is currently under reconstruction to become a place where youth can play basketball, volleyball, or be available for assemblies, movies and so on. The balcony has been removed, exposing the high ceiling and gothic arches emphasizing the stained-glass windows. The colorful windows have been barricaded with Plexiglas, which will keep them from having to be removed. Not only will the Plexiglas protect the windows, it will also provide insulation, he said.

The protective Plexiglas was provided through donations by Trout Glass, Winey Insurance and Express Personnel.

A painting of Jesus on the back wall of the former altar will remain.

“It will be a reminder of why we are here,” Rhine said.

“The opportunities are endless,” Rhine said about the uses for the center.

“ We need to reach more than just the Methodist kids,” agreed Sadie Steciuch, who has been coordinating the activity center project. She envisions area students gathering here to play basketball, get help with homework, or meet here for the coffee shop.

A room already has been set up with sofas and chairs to allow youngsters to visit, play board games or watch videos.

“Kids say they have nothing to do. We need to give them a place to hang out other than at school,” she said.

“The (junior and senior high) students need to be nurtured,” she continued.

Steciuch emphasized that although the center will give area youth a place to hang-out, it will be supervised and will have some rules with a Christian influence. She said she is willing to begin programs, if other adults are willing to be involved.

“ The kids need to feel they are a part of the community. This will be a safe and dry place for them to hang out,” she said.

Although there will be many programs for children in middle school age and up, the center will also offer programs for adults Rhine said.

Florian Steciuch has envisioned a soup kitchen on the lower level, Rhine said. The vast lower-level room can be used for numerous activities. Boy Scouts can use it for the Pinewood Derby and for overnights, to name a couple of possibilities.

“The Vision Team has discussed where they want the church to be 15 years from now. They decided to stay rather than relocate,” Rhine said. The activity center is just one of the goals the Vision Team visualizes for the downtown church.

Posted 3/30/2004