Ontario Church Opens Doors to After-school Enrichment Program

Greg Houldcroft really wants to see kids “thrive and get to know a God who loves them.” That’s what’s driven him for 15 years to start and maintain Cross Town Impact in eastern Ontario, a ministry offering a two-hour after school program once a week at four different locations in three different cities. The charitable organization reaches students in grades three to six with homework help, a nutritious snack, a craft, and a positive Christian character message. Cross Town Impact aims to see kids who might not have another place to belong have access to loving adult and older teen volunteers focused on growing developmental assets in these young people.

“The more of these they have, the greater they thrive,” Houldcroft said. He believes that meeting kids where they are is essential to the mission. “We’re here to extend the arms of the church, to get right in there—build relationships, and create a safe space for them to grow and thrive.”

Most Impact Zone programs are offered directly in the public schools where the kids attend, something Houldcroft prayed for in the very beginning when meeting with the first school. He recalls the principal then offered: “I’ve got a double classroom upstairs. When can you start?”

While brochures for parents lay out the scope of the program, including its biblical content, and the volunteer-run after-school time is free to the school and participants, Houldcroft has occasionally found some pushback. “Each year, we prayerfully apply to use the schools' community spaces, and it is ultimately up to the principals to grant us approval,” he said. Cross Town Impact had to move from one school location at the beginning of this academic year, finding a new home down the street at Athens Christian Reformed Church, where Houldcroft and his family attend.

“If a program leaves, there is a real possibility that it doesn’t come back,” said Athens CRC elder Jason DeJong, who knows Houldcroft and whose kids, now between 18 and 25, volunteered in the Impact Zones when they were younger. "Our church was excited to offer our facility and help the program continue in Athens. Being able to share with children that God values and loves them is a gift for the whole community.”

Besides the recent tangible support of hosting the Impact Zone, free of charge, Athens CRC supports the program with annual offerings, as do several other Christian Reformed congregations. Winston Visser, outreach mission developer with Classis Eastern Canada (a regional group of CRCs) advocated for the group to become a partner missionary ministry of the classis in 2020. “I advocated that their ministry fit well with Resonate (Global Mission) in terms of engaging youth, developing youth leaders, and positively impacting the community,” Visser said, noting the partnership doesn’t include financial support but a recognition “that our faith and ministry goals align, allowing Cross Town access to our resource network of CRC congregations and donors as an approved ministry.”

Every month they “drill down on one theme” to reinforce the message and center Impact Zone activities around that aspect, Houldcroft said. A recent theme of “begin with the end in mind—have a plan,” included the biblical story of Noah and the flood. Houldcroft invited community guests like a contractor and a baker to talk about how planning comes into their work.

“Kids don’t know these stories,” Houldcroft said. “It’s a beautiful thing to introduce these kids to the Bible in an authentic and loving way.”

Over the 15 years Houldcroft has seen participants from the early days return as volunteers, show up at his community youth group, attend a Cross Town summer camping trip, or apply for an internship. Next month he’s taking a group of former Impact Zone kids to Today’s Teen Conference, a Christian leadership development event.

“I just really want to follow God’s lead and do what we’re doing and hopefully start growing it more,” Houldcroft said.