"We are in a very unique situation," says the pastor of Brooklyn Covenant Ministries. "The community has around 300 new homes, but even though there is new housing stock, there is no sense of community. We're going in there as an organizer to try to create community."

That will mean crossing racial, ethnic and economic divides that have resulted from the rapid gentrification, Boyce says. "We want to be a community church. The community can look to us not only to provide formation, but we can also provide opportunity for us to live and work in community."

Boyce says the church decided on the VBS Summer Academy program because "we recognize there is such a large number of children in our community who seem to be caught not having enough money to go to a full summer camp, and those that are literally in the streets all day."

The camp began Monday and will continue through August 31. The program includes academic enrichment, a multi-cultural music and literacy program, computer labs and mentoring. Trips, dance, yoga, drama, chess and other recreation also are offered. The church serves breakfast, lunch and healthy snacks. Cost for the program is $17 a day.

Students who attend summer school in the morning can attend the camp in the afternoon. The camp lasts until 6 p.m. to allow working parents the opportunity to work a full day. The camp offers open enrollment so that students can attend part or all of the summer.

Boyce says planning began four months ago, and that it has been a lot of work, "but we are doing what God has called us to do."