175 youth celebrate new year at Plains church

Laughter and music rang out as 175 youth counted down the final minutes of 2007 at the Church on the Move in Plains last Monday, but youth group director Rena Garcia said safety and responsible choices were as important as fun at the church's New Year's Eve bash.

Young people from Plains joined youth groups from Stevensville, Hamilton, Polson and Missoula at Church on the Move's New Year's Eve party, and the celebration continued into the morning hours. Revolution Youth, the church's youth group, sponsored the event, which was run by youth pastors Rena and Aaron Garcia.

The Garcias, nearing their third year at the helm of the youth program, have put on two New Year's Eve celebrations, and Rena Garcia said the event offers local young people a safe environment to gather with friends and mark the new year. Last year, the bash drew 88 kids; many more joined the party this year.

The event kicked off with numerous games and activities, including inflatable jousting and boxing, sumo wrestling (complete with costumes), video games, pool and foosball and laser tag in the church basement.

"It was a pretty packed event," she said.

The teens received fake money for participating in and winning each of the competitions, and prizes - including an iPod, the Guitar Hero video game and a digital camera - were handed out. Rena Garcia said the church gave the youth program $1,000 to put on the event.

In between games and hanging out with friends, the youth group feasted on food platters donated by Subway, soda and snacks and a 5 a.m. breakfast. Rena Garcia said kids could only leave the facility with permission, and about 130 kids stayed at the church for the whole night and into early morning.

She said the mains goal of the party were to teach the youth to make wise decisions, keep them safe during the holiday, and provide a secure and fun environment for a New Year's celebration.