Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Tucked away in a little hamlet a ways north of Saint Charlesoff of Route 25, the Riverwoods Christian Center feels isolated in a world of its own. It is a sprawling, yet welcoming, 85-acre campus nestled on the Fox River, and it is simply an awe inspiring display of nature. The club met with the Fox Valley Christian Action President and CEO, Jay Curtis, and a few of its benefactors. After a great breakfast, the club learned about Riverwoods site, the Riverworks outreach program, and the Fox Valley Christian Action organization that encompasses all the programs.

1977, founders Champ Boutwell, Tony Danhelka and Paul Johannaber began Riverwoods Christian Center as a camping ministry to enable youth from disadvantaged areas to experience the hope, power and love of Jesus Christ. During the 1980s, the ministry began also to work with families inside their under-resourced neighborhoods and communities throughout the Fox Valley. Alongside local churches, we began providing these families with advocacy, support, education and discipleship. In an effort to expand this successful and much-needed aspect of the ministry, in 2011 Riverwoods reorganized its ministries under the banner of Fox Valley Christian Action and introduced Riverworks Life Skills Outreach. The Mission of Fox Valley Christian Action is to help the local church serve under-resourced communities around them. Their passion is to see the power of the Gospel transform lives of families living in our local public and subsidized housing communities.