Reflections on Summer

As the summer comes to an end, I enjoy reflecting on the special times we had in the children’s ministry. Our summer was packed full with events, service projects, and Bible lessons. At our annual Back to School Bash, the children and I discussed how looking back on memories is a great way to count […]

As the summer comes to an end, I enjoy reflecting on the special times we had in the children’s ministry. Our summer was packed full with events, service projects, and Bible lessons. At our annual Back to School Bash, the children and I discussed how looking back on memories is a great way to count the blessings God has given us. Below are some blessings from the summer.

1)Summer Bash. We kicked off our summer with gigantic water slides and a family devotional. I think the best part of the evening was watching the moms go down the 27 foot water slide.

2)Destination Unknown. We took two mystery trips this summer. We went to the animal safari in Hope Hull, AL and saw many different animals. The best part was feeding the giraffes! Some of the kids even fed them by holding the lettuce in their mouths and letting the giraffes come down for a kiss.

3)Kingdom Camp. Over 70 kids participated in our four-day, children’s camp. We learned about how jealousy, pride, and doubtfulness can mess up our lives, but God is the one who blesses us and stays with us even in the hard times. The kids also participated in group games and activities. Some highlights were playing on the large inflatables and turning the interns into human sundaes. Each year the kids are split into teams and this year Yellow Rooks won the Medieval Tournament games.

4)Maywood Christian Camp. Our kids enjoyed a week filled with bible class, evening devotionals, crafts, and sports. When I asked several of our younger girls what their favorite part of the summer was, each of them replied, “cabin time at Maywood with Kaydee the intern.”

5)Time with Interns. This year we had several split events for the children to spend time with our interns, Luke and Kaydee. Both groups enjoyed pizza and swimming. We also had a nerf and nachos party for the boys. Lots of nerf bullets were shot at Luke and the boys had a blast. The girls participated in painting and pancakes with Kaydee. Both of these events were a hit! We will have more events like this next summer.

6)Service Projects. The children worked to make Birthday Boxes for Agape’s foster care program. Throughout the year these boxes will be given to foster parents to celebrate children’s birthdays. The children’s ministry will continue to replenish these boxes too.

As you can see it was a fun, eventful summer. I appreciate all the work out interns did to make these events happen. God has truly blessed our ministry and I am looking forward to what is in store for the future!

That’s Not a Candle

Several years ago, there was story shared about a woman from Connecticut whose power had gone out during a storm. She left her house to go to a local hardware store to purchase some flashlights, but the store was closed. She returned home and found what she thought...

The Post-Christian Problem

I attended the New Day Conference in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at the end of last week with a small group from Riverchase. It was a good conference and I left encouraged about the opportunities we have to fulfill the call of Christ to make disciples. On Friday evening,...

Josiah’s Reform

In the thirty-one years of his rule, King Josiah proved to be a faithful man of God and a great king of Judah. He served God from the beginning as a young king and grew into a greater understanding of God’s will and a determination to follow that will. He made a...

You Are What You Eat

You Are What You Eat You’ve heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” Simply defined, it means that you should eat healthy if you want to be healthy. This phrase can trace its roots back to the early 1800’s. It came from the 1826 work The Physiology of Taste, in which...

It Is Well

Above the piano in our house is a large wood sign with the phrase, “it is well with my soul” on it. Kimberly and I purchased it during a season of our life together where we were not completely sure what the future had in store for our little family. Since then, the...

Do Over

  I messed up on recording my recent radio programs. The sound quality was so bad Mark could not run them on the air. So, I deleted them and recorded them again.   I sure wish I could do that in real life with all the other mistakes I make. Just delete them...

Don’t Believe Your Preacher

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9 ESV) Here is the test. The “teaching of Christ” is, of course, the very word of God. So, if your...

Balloons Belong in Church

I would like to share with you an excerpt from a poem written by Ann Weems. The beginning of it describes a four-year-old child that brought with her a balloon to church one Sunday. When her Sunday school teacher saw the balloon, she mockingly said to the girl, “We...

Faith

Two important verses: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17 ESV) 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and...

Abide in the Teachings

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. (Psalms 119:105-106 ESV) Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in...