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2016 VBS: Adventure Week Recap
Last week our church was transformed from EvFree to Foreverland and for the entire week over 900 kids in the 1st–6th grades came to laugh, play and learn about the "Hero" who came to restore what was broken. Here are just a few highlights from this amazing week:
On the 1st–4th grade side:
- A couple of women waited with eager anticipation to receive the list of kids they would be counseling during Adventure Week...only to discover they had 10 boys. Despite lots of squirreliness and TONS of energy, these counselors loved their kids deeply and did not want their time with them to end.
- There were some moments when the groups seemed like mere red, blue, yellow, and green blurs as they rushed across main campus as part of our Adventure Week scavenger hunt. The kids had a blast!
- Counselors watched as kids used a simple yet profound craft to remember the gospel. Kids all over the 1st–4th grade side were quick to tell what each color on their bracelet meant as they recalled how Jesus acted as their Redeemer.
On the 5th and 6th grade side:
- Kids experienced everything from Human Foosball to memorizing verses with shaving cream and cheese balls to exploring our church’s Good Samaritan Center and packing bags for the homeless as a way to experience just a few of the ways our church reaches out to our community.
- Volunteers from every generation showed up day after day pouring themselves into loving on these kids. We had the welcome crew in the parking lot; the leads pointing the kids toward our Savior through art, games and times of responding to the stories; and counselors willing to do anything and everything to demonstrate that our God is not only a God of laughter and joy, but that He is the one who restores our souls and gives us the hope and courage we need to face a broken world.
Each and every one made an impact for the kingdom.
Each side was also challenged to raise funds for welcome kits for Syrian refugee families with babies. To help spur on the giving, both sides did a boys against the girls challenge everyday. Representatives from the side bringing in the lesser amount everyday had to suffer some consequence. The competition aspect helped energize the kids on both sides, but at the end of the day it was so awesome to see these kids giving everything they had and reaching out to their neighbors to help provide for those in need. Together, all the kids raised over $6700!
Through over 200 volunteers, each using their gifts in unique ways, kids on both sides of the campus experienced that our God is a God of restoration, He loves us, He walks with us always and when He looks at us he says “You are My masterpiece!” Between both campuses, 147 decisions to follow Jesus were made. Rejoice with us!
—Nikki Bridgeford and Zack Thompson, EvFree Kids & Young Families Team
View the full gallery of photos here.
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A Lemonade Stand for Syrian Refugee Babies
I originally reached out to Zack Thompson mid-week, to tell him about our VBS: Adventure Week lemonade stand to raise money for the Syrian baby refugee kits. The kids were having so much fun together building their idea, I just had to share. Their joy was so special!
For two days, the 1st and 4th grade daughters of three families came together, made signs and developed a cheer. They shared the cheer with each visitor.
“Baby Syrians are in trouble!
So let’s help them—on the double!
With a glass of lemonade, and a donation too…
You’ll be helping the poor ones too! Woo-hoo!”
On the first day, the stand was in front of our house and on the second, it was at a busy four-way stop near our home. (We asked the family living there for permission to set up shop there.) We were out from about 3:30–5:30pm. The girls decided to offer “free” lemonade and explained to visitors why they were raising funds, how it would be used and who would receive the support...
Click here to read the rest of this story from Kari Lentz and watch the video of the girls sharing their cheer.
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Click here or on the link below to read other stories or to submit your own. We want to hear how God is working in your life.
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Rainbow Express Volunteers Needed
August 1–5, 8:15am–2:15pm
Do you enjoy working with kids with and without special needs? We're looking for a few more young adults (ages 18+) to help with all the fun events like recreation, crafts, Bible stories, and more! Email RainbowExpressCA@gmail.com if you’d like to help.
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OC United
Want to make a difference in your city? At OC United we're equipping missionaries to unleash compassion and empower the vulnerable across Orange County. Visit our website to find new ways YOU can be a part of the change. Visit our website or email us to find new ways YOU can be a part of the change!
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