Friday testimonies in the park

Alliance Church

Our teams finished VBS ministries at the Anglican and Alliance Churches, Friday.  The Anglican team helped with snacks, games, and encouragement.  There ended up being 16 students most of the week.  

The Alliance VBS started from scratch Sunday and we started with 7 and finished with 32.

We will be reuniting with the Pincher Creek team and beginning our trek back to Kent beginning Saturday morning. 

VBS in two churches

Our Anglican VBS team was Dawna Mitchell, Jordan Kelly, Nathan Ruter, and Camden Hartliep.  I was proud of our team because they were away from their peers and they served with a joyful spirit.  Each of them jumped right in with the kids through every part of the program with everything they were asked to do.  This VBS was run by most senior adults who really care about kids and expressed genuine appreciation for our kids.  The theme was, "Jungle adventure."  They were faithful to lead the kids right out of the box.

The Alliance VBS was based on a "Gospel Journey" theme with Mikayla Kagle and Jeff Jacobsen taking the lead.  Our youth team was equally awesome and was blessed by several Fort Macleod teens who jumped right in to support the work. Our kids canvassed the community throughout te week to support the Alliance VBS and the evening Centennial Park outreach and after-party back at the church.

Roles at Alliance VBS:

Tabitha Lovell and Sarah Blair: crafts, skits, song motions

Christine Benner: teaching, support Mikayla, crafts, song motions

Derek Allen and Austin Sisley: teaching

Brandon Haynes: games

Luke Jacobsen: led music with guitar
Beck Denney: skits

The themes were:

God created us to be with Him.  Genesis 1:27  Creation story

Our sins separate us from God.  Romans 3:10-11 Cain and Abel story

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds.  Ephesians 2:8-9 

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again, 1 Cor. 15:3-4   Resurrection

Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life

     and

Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever.  John 3:16 Nicodemus and Jesus story

Rodeo clean-up

Our kids picked rocks, moved dirt, cut back plants, painted, mowed, cleaned and swept in the pavilion, and picked up garbage Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at the Midnight Stadium rodeo grounds.  Today, a group served at a church family home to do clean-up.

Park outreach

Tonight, we hosted about 20 FM youth who enjoyed volleyball, frisbee, and steal the flag, and just hangin'.  Then, we had testimonies from our team--Luke Jacobsen, Austin Sisley, Nathan Ruter, and Chris Dellicker.  Each of our kids spoke during the nightly sessions about tehir struggles, journeys, and how they are looking at where tehy are at with Jesus.  

Pastor Ralph from the Alliance Church pulled me aside after the time at Centennial Park to share that two messages, one on Monday and another tonight, revealed deep struggles that led some to strongly consider suicide.  A particular FM adult was profoundly touched by what each shared. 

Then, there was the last youth from our team to share in Nathan Ruter.  Nathan shared with amazing clarity and force that brought me to tears.  He shared about being deeply impacted by alcoholism in a very close female person in his life. He was wounded and betrayed.  The Lord brought him face-to-face with 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 as he experienced and gave the love of Jesus toward the special one and others all around him.

The way of love

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:1-2