Ocean City Tabernacle to Keep Son Club After School Program

By MADDY VITALE For nearly 20 years, the Ocean City Tabernacle has provided a free after school program for children in the community called the Son Club. But when the president of the Tabernacle, Pastor Jay Reimer, and his wife, Missy, who ran the Son Club, were ousted by the Board of Trustees recently, some parents were worried that the program would cease to exist. Not so, said Laurel Sarian, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees. She issued a statement confirming that the board will keep the program intact just days after OCNJDaily.com published a story about a community petition drive to keep the Son Club alive. “The Ocean City Tabernacle Board of Trustees has heard that there are rumors circulating in the community about the Son Club after school program,” Sarian said in an emailed statement on behalf of the board. “The Son Club has been part of the OC Tabernacle ministry and the Ocean City community since it was established in 2006.” https://youtu.be/aceBJlU0uyU Sarian further stated that, “The Board of Trustees has never considered cancelling the Son Club and is currently working on plans for the 2024-2025 school year.” The Son Club is a free after school program for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. During the school year from Monday through Friday, volunteers and staff provide tutoring, snacks, Bible lessons, sports, games, enrichment and life skills classes for local students. Ocean City resident Kristin Lento, a married mother of five, started a petition drive on May 23 to garner support for the program and the Reimers and to recognize their contributions to the community. Four of Lento’s children have attended the Son Club program. Lento told OCNJDaily.com on Friday that she is happy that the Son Club will remain a program at the Tabernacle, but she wishes that it was relayed to the parents sooner. “I think the community will be thrilled to know Son Club is to continue but why did the new board wait until the petition accumulated so many signatures to make a statement? I wish they were transparent with the parents, employees and community from the beginning,” Lento said. Lento also said that the Reimers were an integral part of what made the Son Club program a success. “Missy and Jay are the main reason why Son Club has been so successful,” she said. “They keep everything running like a well-oiled machine. They treat their staff and the children like family while spreading God’s word.” Son Club volunteers and kids play sports. Lento’s petition goal is to have 500 signatures. As of Friday afternoon, there were 337. To view the petition click here: https://www.change.org/p/support-missy-and-jay-reimer-in-the-tabernacle-and-son-club-community?source_location=search Jay Reimer noted in an interview earlier this week that he and his wife enjoyed their time with the Tabernacle and the Son Club. “Missy and I truly value the affirming support of so many in the Ocean City Tabernacle and Son Club community. It is such a privilege and blessing to serve these people and their families,” said Reimer, who was president and pastor at the Tabernacle since 2018. He confirmed that he was no longer a part of the Tabernacle, but declined to elaborate. Missy Reimer said that she “learned that the board no longer considered me an employee as of May 3.” Currently, Board of Trustees member Ed Kaiserian is the interim president of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is a major part of Ocean City’s history, religion and culture. According to the Tabernacle’s website, in 1879, four Methodist ministers (Ezra B. Lake, James Lake, S. Wesley Lake and William Burrell) purchased Peck’s Beach to create a Christian seaside resort and camp meeting place. The men formed the Ocean City Association, which mapped out the town, building streets, bridges, infrastructure, railroads, schools and the Tabernacle itself. The Tabernacle continues to uphold the vision of its four founders: that Ocean City remains a pure retreat that exemplifies the spirit, values and faith of Christianity, according to the website. The Ocean City Tabernacle is located at 550 Wesley Ave. For more information call 609-399-1915 or visit www.octabernacle.org. The Ocean City Tabernacle.