Our Story

Since 1994 Refuge Youth Ministry of First Assembly of God, Gastonia, North Carolina has endeavored to impact students in our community with a message of faith and friendship.  Our home base has been the gymnasium at the First Assembly Christian Academy which gave a large facility to utilize but has been very taxing on our team due to the multi-use of the facility.  During that time our leadership dreamed of the possibility of having our own space for youth ministry.

The dream is now being realized in the 9,000 square foot Student Union facility.  This space provides a large gathering place for services, concerts, and special events; a break-out room for Middle School ministry and the expansion of an after-school tutoring and homework help ministry; and a fully functional cafe' with sofas, tables, chairs, TV's, and games where students can hang out.  Also, there's a 1,300 square foot patio off the cafe' where students can enjoy the outdoors.

With the opening of The Student Union comes a dream fulfilled, yet we realize that our story is far from being over.  There are many more chapters to be written as we open the doors wide for students to connect their lives to faith and friendship!