Rogers pastor takes unique approach for after-school program

The Rev. Dale Jirousek (center), pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Rogers, and his wife, Jan Jirousek, talk Wednesday to Rogers Heritage High School freshman Brett Lemmond about the church’s “Way Out Wednesdays,” an after-school program for teens.
The Rev. Dale Jirousek (center), pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Rogers, and his wife, Jan Jirousek, talk Wednesday to Rogers Heritage High School freshman Brett Lemmond about the church’s “Way Out Wednesdays,” an after-school program for teens.

"Free Snickers," the Rev. Dale Jirousek called. The pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Rogers, Jirousek offered candy bars to those in passing cars. Standing near the busy intersection of Walnut Avenue and Olrich Street, he hoped to build the excitement for the church's new WOW program.

The church offers "Way Out Wednesdays," for children in fifth through 12th grades, as a safe place to go after school. Snacks are provided, and students can make use of the church's game room -- which includes ping pong, pool, air hockey tables and more -- to study or "just 'hang out,'" reads a flyer.

Way Out Wednesdays

Who: Peace Lutheran Church

What: After-school program for youth, community meal

When: 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday

Where: 805 W. Olrich St., Rogers

Cost: Free

Information: 636-2140, peace-church.org

A Bible study starts at 4:30 p.m., Jirousek explained, and at 5:30 p.m., students, their families, church members and community members join for a meal. The church's praise team leads a "Singspiration" at 6:15 p.m.

"When we grew up there were more two-parent families; there were no divorces and shared custody," Jirousek said. "I want this ministry to serve two-fold: to fill the needs of the kids and to outreach to the community.

"It's not social ministry if we just minister to our own people," he continued. "We see Peace Lutheran as a community church."

Jirousek explained he serves as a "supply" pastor for the church. He was asked to preach one Sunday when the full-time minister left, but he has stayed for two years. Jirousek and wife Jan served as youth ministers for his entire career in churches in the Midwest and hold youth ministry close to their hearts.

Last year, the pastor noticed many students walking past the church traveling to and from school. Bonnie Grimes Elementary School, Elmwood Middle School and Heritage High School lie within a few blocks of the church. He hopes to invite these students -- who might be sitting home alone with nothing to do -- into his church.

"All these kids are walking by," Jirousek said. "I want to let them know we have this ministry and give them a brochure."

With the brochures, Jirousek hands the kids Snickers candy bars. He calls it his "Snickers Ministry."

On a recent trip to a convenience store, Jirousek saw that a regular Snickers candy bar costs $1.49, recalling his days as a youth when they cost just 10 cents. "The Snickers are just a small way to show the youth that someone cares about them," he said.

"Come see the crazy man with the candy," Jirousek told two boys walking past the church after a day at high school.

Jirousek admitted his approach seems unconventional for this day and age. "If you see someone on the street, they are usually asking for something," he said with a laugh.

"But when Jesus said to go out into the mission field, he wasn't kidding."

The pastor never stands on the street alone: this Wednesday his wife joined him. Jirousek stressed that all volunteers for the WOW program undergo background checks through local law enforcement agencies -- including him and his wife.

"I would expect anyone working with children to have a background check -- in fact, a lot of insurance carriers require them," said Mike Girlinghouse, bishop of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Local organizers compiled parent permission slips and other procedures to keep the children safe.

One of the students Wednesday replied, "I'm not interested," and walked on, bringing a look of pain to Jirousek's face. The other did speak with Jirousek and left with a brochure and a handful of Snickers bars.

"I'm disappointed but not deterred," Jirousek said. "It's just our society. We'd rather not interact with people."

While many area churches offer evening programs for youth, an after-school program seems unique.

"Given how busy our kids' lives are, we are adapting programs in new and different ways," Girlinghouse said. "We want to offer opportunities for all kinds of things to help the youth plug in to the church."

On a recent Wednesday afternoon -- with Jirousek wearing a hat of blue balloons shaped like a whale -- the pastor settled into a game of air hockey with Sean Gwatney, a sixth-grader.

"Who's winning?" someone asked.

"Me," proclaimed Gwatney. "It's five to zero."

"He was pretty excited about coming," shared his mother, Laura Kibeler. Kibeler works as the director of the church's Peace Kids Preschool. She noted that Sean would just hang around home or the church until her workday was done.

"It's awesome," the sixth-grader noted. "It's a good thing to know there's a place to have some fun after school."

NAN Religion on 10/03/2015

Upcoming Events