Tulsa City Leaders Expand 'Operation Bridges Of Faith'

A program that helped hundreds of at-risk children in Tulsa get off the streets and improve their lives will continue and grow this summer. City leaders gathered today to kick off Operation Bridges of Faith.

Churches, temples, and synagogues open their doors to a selected group of at-risk kids for mentoring and basketball games, and it doesn't just help the young people who hit the court.

"We're helping them recruit people into their Christian fellowship, or any type of religious fellowship, that wants to be involved in this organization," said Victoria Bartlett.

Pastor Tim Newton, of the Tulsa Dream Center, said, "This opens up those doors to a church to bring back new, young life, that energy the churches need nowadays."

Last year, the program just focused on north Tulsa, but it was such a big success, city leaders want to expand across the entire city.

4/10/2012 Related Story: Tulsa Mayor Announces 'Operation Bridges Of Faith'