.our story

OUR STORY

Oneighty began as a dream in Rev. Joseph Sorce's heart long before it was a landmark in the township of Brick.  Having traveled to Oklahoma to attend Bible school, he witnessed something that he had only envisioned in his own heart, a place where teens could gather, enjoy free games, live music and hear  messages that would impact their life for eternity.  The first time he set foot in Oneighty located in Tulsa Oklahoma, he knew that Brick NJ needed something like this as well.

After graduating from school in 1997, he and his family returned to New Jersey and launched a local church in Brick called New Beginnings Christian Fellowship. Within the first few months, Pastor Joe began holding meeting for youth in his own basement.  In 1998, the youth outgrew his basement and moved to the school where the church was holding worship services.  A year later, arrangements were made to begin having youth meeting in a clubhouse of a local condominium complex on the northern side of Brick. 

There were nights when 80 + teens jammed themselves into that condo clubhouse,  and it was obvious that we needed still a bigger and better facility to host these teens.  In April 2000, before he had a building to meet for his own congregation, Pastor Joe rented 5,700 square feet on Brick Blvd that eventually became Oneighty Teen Center.  With a grand opening on July 7, 2000, one hundred teens showed up to see what Oneighty had to offer.

Throughout the years, Oneighty has always been a place well known in our community as someplace safe for teens to go and have fun.  Some of the highlights of Oneighty through the years have been:

Aug 2000 - hosted popular radio station B98.5 for a remote and money machine giveaway

Sept 2001 - hosted Pro Skater Josh Kasper for a crowd of 207 teens

May 2005 - hosted first BIG night with a giant ten foot pizza and 24 foot long sub.

April 2006 - hosted first skateboard competition at Brick Skate park for a crowd of 500+ and free concert by rock band Subseven.

Oneighty is still interested in what it has always been interested in; turning teens' lives around.  The word Oneighty means to turn and go in the opposite direction.  That is what we endeavor to provide for youth, a place to escape the pressures of their generation and turn their life in a positive direction.