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His desire to keep kids off the streets and away from gangs is not what makes John Suggs stand out.
It’s his method of helping kids to help themselves that makes Suggs, the 21-year-old youth pastor of PowerStation Youth Outreach Center, a shining star.
The PowerStation is part of the ministry division of the New Consolation Christian Center, 22nd Street and Snyder Avenue, a church that was formed by the April merger of New Comfort Ministries International and Consolation Baptist Church.
A month ago, Suggs began Friday Night Live, a three-and-a-half-hour program that offers local kids an evening of fun, food, games and God as an alternative to wandering the streets.
To attract attention, speakers are placed in the center’s doorways, blaring secular music — minus the words.
"Our concept is to get the kids comfortable, so we have to de-emphasize Jesus a little bit," Suggs said. "Once they hear the beat of the music, they stop in and check us out."
FNL begins at 7:30 p.m. with a confession session that allows the attendees to write down their personal goals on a piece of paper. Suggs then leads the kids in "What Would You Do?," a twist on the question about Jesus that puts them in crazy, hypothetical non-religious situations to gauge their reactions.
The kids also benefit from "Words to Live By," a segment that has them exchanging the conflicts they encountered during the week and the methods they used to conquer them. Time is also devoted to praising God.
Breaking away from religion, Suggs ends the formal part of the evening with a 25-minute sermon that aims to help the kids better understand themselves and the ways in which they can impact the world.
"Sometimes, I have a Martin Luther King Jr. moment," Suggs mused of his sermons. "Other times, it’s more like a comedy act from the Apollo."
A former communications major at Eastern University, Suggs relies on his charismatic people skills to reach the kids on their level.
"I want to help them to make the right choices in life," Suggs said. "Even simple things, like how to introduce yourself or how to get a job — these are things that nobody’s talking to them about, but are integral to them doing the right things in their lives."
Suggs once seemed headed for a different path in life. After interning at Power 99 FM, he landed an enviable position in the public-relations office for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Suggs said his Sixers experience was unquestionably a great time in his life. His mind and his heart, however, were pulling him toward other things.
"The whole time I was there, all I could think about was kids. It created a conflict — I thought I wanted to be in the business, but my main concern was helping kids."
Before he knew it, the South Philadelphia native was heading the PowerStation Youth Outreach Center, which urges kids to stay close to God during tough points in their lives.
FNL came as a response to the dearth of alternatives being offered to area kids who see drugs and violence throughout their neighborhoods.
Youths can come for the formal activities and stay for the free food, video games, dance studio and basketball nets. More than 80 neighborhood kids turned out on opening night, with the recent rainy weather trimming that number down to an average of 65.
FNL also bears the distinction of being a kids’ program that is actually run by kids. Sixteen teen leaders teach weekly Bible courses and lead most of FNL’s segments by themselves.
Suggs wants to see FNL expand in the fall to include afterschool tutoring programs, as Verizon is poised to donate a computer lab in early July. Eventually, his goal is to build the teens a recording studio.
"I want them to try it all — writing, public speaking, photography, all of it. And I want us to become a community entity, a household name. I want the kids to talk about us in school," Suggs said.
Also on the horizon: the Youth Conference weekend getaway to Eastern University. The July 25-27 trip costs $80 — a fee that covers food, travel and lodging. The conference is devoted to helping the young people develop their inner talents and life skills.
Suggs said that the community has been very supportive thus far, although financial donations are still needed.
"We’re making noise and people are taking notice," he said.
Looking down the road, the pastor added that "if something I’ve said or done has helped these kids to stay out of trouble or make a right decision in their lives, then we’ve been a success."
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To make donations to the PowerStation Youth Outreach Center, call John Suggs at 215-465-0531.
