Josh Cousineau believes in the atmosphere of faith.

“It is real,” he says.

For the past two years Cousineau, 23, has been the driving force behind Atmosphere, a service at East Auburn Baptist Church for young people ages 12 to 30.

“Atmosphere gives teens a place to be real with their faith and religion. Jesus was real with people. He never put on a faade,” says Cousineau.

The program includes two worship teams run by and for teens, giving young people some ownership of church services, Cousineau says.

“Kids wear normal street clothes. One kid asked if she could wear a hat. The answer was yes. It’s who we are; we just dress normally.”

He recalls that 25 kids showed up for the first service; average attendance is now about 100. And last Christmas, there were 300 teens at the service.

Faith for them is real, Cousineau says. “It’s a lifestyle that they grab onto and live out beyond what their family and culture have taught them.”

His own family, parents Roger and Barbara Cousineau, have been a big influence on him. His dad is the pastor of East Auburn Baptist Church.

Seeing young people arrive week after week keeps him motivated, Josh Cousineau says.

“Seeing 100 kids wanting to be there, driving their friends to church on a Saturday night at 8 and not leaving until 11 (well after the close of the service at 9:30), I ask myself, ‘Where else could they be?'”