The Refuge Marks 10 Years Serving Olney
The Refuge Christian Community Center celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 11, with a day full of joy, family fun, and heartfelt gratitude from those who have witnessed its impact on Olney and the surrounding communities.
Co-directors Rodney and Kristy Nantz and The Refuge’s board of directors welcomed families for a day of activities that turned the center’s spacious gymnasiums into a playground of excitement. Children bounced and laughed their way through a giant inflatable obstacle course and bounce house, lined up for colorful face painting, and filled the gym with the sugary scent of cotton candy. In the second gym, glow-in-the-dark dancing and bouncing provided laughter and music.
Families like Crimson and Steven Kinyk’s shared their appreciation for The Refuge. Crimson said her son, Hunter, has enjoyed activities there, while Steven often brings him along when he works out in the gym. “The Refuge is very important to the com munity,” she said. Megan Jeske agreed. She brought her daughters, Caroline and Laura, to Saturday morning’s activities, while her older daughter, Mal lory, volunteered at the anniversary dinner that evening. “Our kids real ly love the summer pro gram,” Mrs. Jeske said. “Mallory worked at the after-school program and loved it.”
A Mission Rooted in Community
The seeds of the Christian community center that would become The Refuge took shape in a house on Main Street in 2013 or 2014, Mr. Nantz said. The Refuge grew out of a vision shared by Justin Pieget, president of the LF and Carla Perry Foundation, and others to create a place where children and families could hear the word of God and find fellowship. The Nantz family joined in 2015 as ministry lead ers and soon took on the role of co-directors as the current facility at 1418 W. Elm Street was nearing completion.
“The idea was to build a community center that would reach into the hearts of the community to support families and support churches,” Mr. Nantz said, adding that he often “saw God’s hand moving upon the heart of anyone involved” to remove obstacles to its success
Mr. Nantz, who worked as a driver-trainer for Waste Corporation of America, and Mrs. Nantz, who built websites, both left their home and ca reers in Graham to pur sue their longtime dream of ministry together. Their employers support ed the move, and their son, David, then a high school senior, was able to finish his schooling in Graham while the family settled in Olney.
Growing Programs and Lasting Impact
From its modest be ginnings—with local teachers volunteering to lead activities such as homework help—The Refuge has expanded into a hub of activity. Today, under the leadership of children’s program di rector Jacqueline Gober, The Refuge offers an af ter-school program for 18 elementary-aged chil dren with Bible lessons and homework help; weekly Wednesday night youth Bible lessons and dinner that draw 60–90 ju nior high and high school students; summer camps that welcome 20 children for the morning sessions in art, science and cook ing; and a summer feed ing program with no limit on participation.
Special events, such as “5th Quarter” parties after home games, youth rallies, and service proj ects, connect The Ref uge to area churches and schools.
Former teacher Jan Braddock recalled using The Refuge’s gym to host an Easter egg hunt for her second-graders when rain threatened to cancel the event, underscoring its value as a community gathering space.
The ministry is fund ed through a mix of pri vate donations and grants from foundations, Mrs. Nantz said.
Celebration and Gratitude
Saturday’s festivities closed with an anniver sary dinner, catered by Fowler’s BBQ of Throck morton, and a slideshow highlighting a decade of service, programs, and smiling faces. The eve ning offered what Mrs. Nantz described as “a calm night and fellowship with each other.”
Olney Junior High School Principal Ed Ber ngen, a Refuge board member, said at the cel ebratory dinner follow ing the morning activities that the ministry’s reach now extends to thou sands each year.
“Our ministry is reaching thousands of people every year,” Ber ngen noted, praising the Nantz family and their dedicated staff.
Board member Lynd sey Miller spoke moving ly about the impact the Refuge has had on Olney families and, along with fellow board members, presented Mr. and Mrs. Nantzi with camping gear as a token of appreciation.
Reflecting on the past decade, Mr. Nantz credit ed the community’s sup port and God’s guidance for the center’s growth and endurance.
“God has worked in a way that has brought us to a place to long to see people know they are loved, cared for, prayed for, regardless of the cir cumstances they are in,” Mr. Nantz added.