The church is alive and buzzing with activity this week as children from the community gather to participate in our Summer Camp (VBC). This year’s theme is Egypt: Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace!

We will be discovering together how God gives us:

Hope
Special abilities
Wisdom
Forgiveness; and a
Family

The music is fantastic! I am sending this blog out earlier this week so that you might consider popping by for our Opening Session at 9 am each morning. Come and experience God through the eyes of a child. Honestly, watching the children do the actions and sing along at the top of their lungs is something to behold. Just being in the midst of it builds up my faith!

Come also to support the dozens and dozens of volunteers (40+), without whom this event would be impossible.

I love meeting with parents as they drop off and pick up their little ones. One particular encounter caused me to pause and reflect on our role as the church. I was chatting with a lovely woman who has lived in the area for over 16 years. Her 8 year old son was attending VBC for the very first time. As we chatted she shared with me her desire to train up her son with spiritual and moral values but found it hard to go it alone, given that she did not belong to a church and had no faith of her own. What I found interesting was that she found her way to us.

What will be our response?

I believe that families are our greatest untapped mission field. Today, families are struggling in very real ways as the competition for their time and energy becomes more invasive. By family I am not just referring to the “traditional” notion of family: mom, dad and 2.5 kids (what exactly does the .5 refer to anyway???). No, family means YOU … and whatever form your family may look like. The role of the church should be to support families in their effort to be faithful and to equip parents in raising children into faith.

My conversation with the young mom reminded me of our important responsibility as the church.

This Thursday night we will gather at the church at6 p.m. for the Summer Camp (VBC) barbecue. We encourage you to join us in welcoming the children and families of this community who are hungry – not just for yummy hot dogs, delicious treats and a bouncy castle but for the grace and mercy of God … even though they may not know that yet.

Then join us on Sunday morning at 11 am as we continue our three part sermon series on Habakkuk. I am sure there will also be a surprise or two… so come. We look forward to worshipping with you!