Community Center

Mentoring, Equipping, Preventing

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Reaching Children, Teens, & Families

Bethesda Mission Community Center: Takeover 717 exists to develop meaningful relationships with children, teens, and families in the Harrisburg area and guide them into a relationship with Jesus Christ so that they can be a positive influence in their homes, schools, and communities. The team at Bethesda’s Community Center is proud of the important role they play in mentoring and equipping Harrisburg’s rising generation.

Takeover 717

Confused about where the Community Center’s phrase “Takeover 717” comes from?

The Takeover is our programming based on 1 Peter 1:18:

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 

At the Community Center, we believe there is a culture and a way of life that has been handed down to the families in this community that needs to be “taken over”. That Takeover needs to be done intrinsically and is the foundation of everything the Community Center does.

Building Expansion

We are undergoing an exciting renovation and expansion! Learn more about the capital campaign and how you can fireproof a life here.

The following programs are designed to accomplish that mission:

After-School Program

Bethesda’s After-School Program serves youth ages 7 through 18 who, for the most part, live in the surrounding neighborhood. A typical week consists of spiritual development, creative learning classes, homework help, arts and crafts, recreation, snacks, and plenty of fun. We also have club nights available on Thursdays, which any of our Dream, Inspire, and Reach students are welcome to participate in.

  • Dream Program
    • 2nd-4th grades
  • Inspire Program
    • 5th-8th grades
  • Reach Program
    • 9th-12th grades

Clubs:

  • Media Club
  • Cooking Club
  • Sports Club

Teen Programming

As part of our Takeover 717 mission, we have a rich teen program that focuses on increasing confidence and building skills in moral values (excellence, integrity, leadership, teamwork, respect, commitment and creativity). In this, we strive to ensure that all programs are interesting, exciting, and relevant.
Hotspot: Teen Night
Hotspot is our weekly event that takes place on Thursday nights for 6:30pm-9:00pm and is geared toward our (Inspire/Reach-aged) 7th-12th graders. There will be dinner, basketball, games, friends, and fun for guys and girls to be had!
Internships
We have internships available for teens to have hands-on experience working alongside skilled professionals who help them develop job skills, be exposed to rewarding careers, and learn Christian character.
If interested, please contact Nashon Walker at nwalker@bethesdamission.org

Families

Due to COVID-19, the Community Center has been limited as to what they can offer entire families during this time. The Community Center’s Takeover 717 team is currently developing programs that will reconvene when the environment allows them to.

Summer Camp

During summer break, we run an 8-week Summer Camp Program offering morning classes, lunch and a large variety of afternoon field trips.

Sports Programs

A2D: Girl’s Basketball Program

A2D (Attention to Detail) is designed to put Central PA’s daughters on a trajectory of growth that builds upon the five pillars of of development for an elite student-athlete:

  1. Confidence
  2. Skill
  3. Athleticism
  4. Problem-Solving Ability
  5. Wellness

 

Takeover Boys Basketball

One thing that separates young, Harrisburg athletes from other surrounding schools is access. A lot of our young men have natural talent but never receive the proper training and mentorship to equip them to succeed. Takeover Boys Basketball program provides the access to adequate materials and skills needed to succeed in both athleticism and social ability.

If you have any questions or would like to be involved with the Community Center’s Programming, please contact Anna Zeigler, at azeigler@bethesdamission.org. 

Andre Cooper
Director of Community Center
acooper@bethesdamission.org
Address: 1438 Herr Street, Harrisburg, PA 17103
Phone: 717.257.5483 ext. 300
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