Mar 2, 2018 5 min read

CLAYSVILLE – About three years ago, the Rev. Meade Lacock of Claysville Christian Church issued a challenge to his small congregation.

Take the church out of these four walls, he said.

As a first outreach effort, Amber Falosk, who has sat in those church pews since childhood, and other members decided to host teachers from the McGuffey School District for a prayer luncheon. The educators would be served a homemade meal and could leave anonymous prayers in decorated prayer jars.

Adult members of the church would prepare the food, but Falosk wanted the youth to be involved.

“Who better to serve teachers than students?” she asked.

But the number of church young people had dwindled since Falosk was a youngster. The youth group in which Falosk was a member in the 1990s was the last youth group in the church.

With the assistance of sons Rocco and Troy, she spread the word that students were needed to help with the luncheon. They got enough students to serve their 40 guests, and perhaps more importantly, helped launch the formation of the church’s current youth group.

“We’ve been growing ever since,” said Falosk.

About 20 eighth-through-tenth-graders meet in the church basement every other week. They talk, of course, but not on their phones. A purple over-the-door shoe organizer serves as home to the students’ phones for the two hours they are there.

“They like to chat and play games,” Falosk said. “Pictionary is a favorite.”

Another factor that keeps them coming back is their leader.

“Amber is always happy,” said youth group member Alexa Wilson. “I’ve never seen her get mad.”

Agreed Falosk’s son, Rocco, “She doesn’t yell. If you mess up, she makes you do push-ups.”

Lacock said Falosk lights up a room, and makes everyone feel better. Falosk, whose father died when she was young, has been like a daughter to him, he said.

“This group is fantastic. The youth are our future, the most important part of us,” Lacock said. “I’ve been here for 30 years and I’m so impressed with what Amber and the kids have done. And they are fun to be around, so they easily connect with people in the community. Because of this, they’ll be better at connecting when they’re adults.”

Falosk said her connection with the kids comes naturally.

“I’m a kid at heart. They know they can relax and have a good time here,” Falosk said. “I like to be a glass-half-full person. I want to let kids be kids. There is so much pressure for them to grow up.”

While she doesn’t want them to grow up too fast, Falosk does believe in providing practical knowledge to her brood. That’s why she frequently holds life-skill classes, teaching the group everything from washing laundry and shopping with coupons – Falosk took them on a field trip to the local dry cleaner and grocery store – to reading a map and writing a thank-you note.

Falosk incorporates fun and socialization with life lessons, but the driving force behind the group has been service to the community.

“This group likes to help others. That seems to be where their passion is,” she said. “We go by the motto, ‘Be the good you want to see in the world.'”

Over three winters, the group collected and distributed more than 600 coats, and before it went out of business last year, a local assisted-living home was a frequent and favorite hang-out for the kids. They played bingo with the residents, threw birthday parties and held ice cream socials.

“The kids loved interacting. They realized spending time with somebody could really change their life,” said Falosk.

This year, they collected backpacks and filled them with essentials – blankets, socks, cough drops, bandages, rain ponchos – and Bibles, which they donated to a homeless shelter in Wheeling, W.Va.

Their current project includes painting suitcases to be given to children who receive assistance from Washington County Children & Youth Services.

The idea came from a radio show, in which a social worker talked about a little boy going through the court system who carried all of his possessions in a garbage bag. Falosk, who has a love for vintage suitcases, took from her supply, and youth group members painted and decorated the lids, most with Bible verses or words of encouragement.

“CYS is going to give them to kids who need them. That way, they won’t have to put all of their belongings in a garbage bag,” she said.

In their own community, the group has fed the parking meters, performed random acts of kindness, collected money for a resident with no heat and gone Christmas caroling, handing out cards before moving on. Inside the cards, the group had placed bills from $10 to $100, money from the $700 they made by holding a holiday craft auction.

“If you just give them a chance, take the pressure off of them and let them be kids, it’s amazing what they can do,” Falosk said. “I always say, ‘You know what’s wrong with kids nowadays? Nothing.'”

For information or to join Claysville Christian Church youth group, call 724-663-5856.