Connecting community
Olde Forge Junction is connecting lives through activities, faith
Date published: 8/27/2005
By JESSICA ALLEN
The Rev. Therese Houghton learned something from her mission trip to Kenya six years ago that changed her life: "I am, because we are."
The African belief that people need each other to complete themselves continues to inspire Houghton.
For the past two years, the 46-year-old Spotsylvania County resident and her three staff members have strived to connect lives through the outreach ministry, Olde Forge Junction. The faith-based group offers an after-school program, recreational activities and spiritual support to the southern Stafford community just east of the U.S. 17/Interstate 95 interchange.
The neighborhood is a mixture of Latinos and black and white Americans.
"It's all about getting to know each other; finding out more about who we are," Houghton said. "It's about building a relationship."
The statement rang true this week when Brazilian soccer players visited Olde Forge and taught 30 boys and girls how to play.
Houghton, who is also director of community ministries for the Fredericksburg Area Baptist Association, learned the 20-member team was coming to Virginia and arranged for them to visit Fredericksburg.
Children of various racial diversities participated in the soccer clinic, but Houghton remembers a time when many of the children didn't really know each other.
In 2002, Stafford County Sheriff Charles Jett approached the Stafford Ministerial Association asking for its help.
The Rev. Steve Aycock, president of the Fredericksburg Baptist Association, attended the meeting and said Jett listed a number of problems in the community including unsupervised children with no organized activities.
Aycock passed the information along to the his missions council. Houghton, who was working at Bragg Hill Family Life Center at the time, was a member of the group.
She worked with some of the children in Olde Forge when they lived in Bragg Hill off Fall Hill Avenue. After months of praying and discussing, Houghton decided to lead the Olde Forge outreach ministry.
Her first step was contacting Bragg Hill's Mozett Petway, who runs the basketball leagues. He organized a group at Olde Forge and things started falling into place, Houghton said.
"The basketball league helped bring the kids out," she said.
George Coghill, a former NFL player with the Denver Broncos who lives in Fredericksburg, also hosted a football clinic.
With help from Joy Waller, an Olde Forge resident, they started an after-school program for kindergarten through eighth grade at her home. It has since moved to Hull's Memorial Baptist Church on Enon Road in Stafford.
Houghton also contacted the county Social Services Department and started working with Danalu Kerr, who is the volunteer service coordinator.
Kerr had been concerned about the community and knew a program was needed for the children, she said.
"I approached several churches and they were not interested," she said. "I think [Olde Forge Junction] helps a church take ownership of a piece [of the ministry] and see they don't have to do it all."
Olde Forge Junction also works to connect adults to community programs that they weren't aware of before, Houghton said.
They also work with Lucha Ministries, a Hispanic outreach program headed by Greg and Sue Smith, missionaries with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Rev. Victor Gomez, assistant pastor at the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, and his wife, Heather.
Lucha helps inform Hispanic residents of the activities and opportunities available.
Junction volunteers are assessing the neighborhood's needs to determine what type of classes they may offer for adults, Houghton said.
Volunteers interested in helping may call Olde Forge Junction at 540/368-0081.
To reach JESSICA ALLEN: 540/368-5036jiallen@freelancestar.com
Date published: 8/27/2005