One More Thing

Hello VBS folks! One more thing before we say farewell to VBS 2008. The kids and the offering from the Unity Service raised $495.40 for the Junction! Amazing!
Pray that the Junction becomes a place where God works miracles in the lives of our College Corner youth and community!

Sunsets on VBS 2008

Hello folks! We had are final meeting last night and looked over the feedback forms. The majority said the VBS was a great time and should be more than 3 nights. Many forms commented that we need more something more for the teens. We have decided to go forward with 4 nights next year and we will address the teen issues in prayer until our first meeting in 2009.
We set some things in stone for future VBS events so that we will avoid future confusion on some basic logistics:

• Community VBS will always be on the first week of August
• it will always be from 6:30pm-8:30pm
• Unity Service will always be 11am-noon
• VBS Praise Team open practice will always be on Sunday one week before VBS starts
• The alternative site in case of rain will always be the Methodist Church
• We will always play loud music, sing, dance, have fun while exalting Jesus
• Ground Hog Day is the official start of Community VBS planning

As the sun sets on the kids summer fun I want to say thank you and God bless for all your help and prayers!

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. - Ephesians 3

Hello folks! Our teen helpers/roadies loaded up the sound equipment and put the stage away and thus ended VBS 2008. The weather was super, the kids were great, the shepherds were happy adn the teens did a great job. The Praise Team rocked the Grove with heavenly tunes and many un-churched kids heard the good news of Jesus Christ! Thanks everyone for making this a great VBS. May God richly bless all and continue to heal our friend Will. I look forward to seeing you all at the Unity Service on Sunday!
Let me shout God's name with a praising song, Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks.
- Psalm 69:30 MSG

Fun Times & Serious Times

Hello folks! God has blessed us with some of the most beautiful weather that I can remember for this time of year in the Ohio Valley! He is truly an awesome God! The kids are having a great time as they run wild through Sonworld. I continue to sense that God is connecting the lesson themes, of choosing Jesus and forgiveness, to the kids hearts in a very deep way. And not just the little kids but the many un-churched teens that are helping as well.
We will continue to pray that God touch our friend Will in very deep way also. Let us ask God to stop the bleeding in Will's brain and help him bounce back from this unfortunate accident. Keep those that were with him when the accident occurred in prayer as well, pray that they not be crushed by guilt but find God and His mercy in coping with their many emotions resulting from this incident. Let's keep Will, his sister and his parents in our prayers as we have a great time on our last night of VBS!

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. - Romans 12:15 NLT

Great Start!

Hello folks! Not only was the weather great but so was the start of this years VBS! I have to admit pirate Gary over in Doubloon Lagoon had the best costume in all of Sonworld! The VBS Praise Team did a great job as well as Mary and all the teen helpers. I sensed a wonderful move of the Holy Spirit during the closing program. God's presence felt like a wonderful breeze blowing upon the children! He is truly an awesome God. Let us sing His praise tonight as we gear-up for day 2! See ya there!
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. - Psalm 22:3 NLT

Ready or Not, Here They Come!

Hello folks! It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood and it is VBS day 1! Please pray for the registration people so that things go smoothly for them. Also encourage all shepherds to see Dave for a daily devotional handout. Direct your shepherds up to the registration area so the kids can easily connect and the parents can meet the shepherds as well. Pray for the VBS Praise Team and the each centers leaders. Pray that all the kids receive all the goodness and power God has for them! See ya tonight!
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”- John 12:32 NLT

National Weather Forecast for College Corner

• Tonight...Mostly cloudy this evening...then becoming partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. West winds 10 to 15 mph...becoming light northwest winds after midnight. Chance of rain 30 percent.
• Wednesday...Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the upper 80s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
• Wednesday Night...Partly cloudy in the evening...then becoming mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Thursday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Thursday Night...Clear. Lows around 60. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Friday...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
• Friday Night...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.
• Saturday Through Sunday...Clear. Highs in the upper 70s. Lows in the upper 50s.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Hello everyone! We are one day away from VBS! The rain has set in for today but they are calling for a nice afternoon on Wednesday and slight chance of showers after that. Let's pray for good weather but in case it doesn't let up our rain site is the Methodist Church. Thanks to all for being involved this year and to Pastor Mick if we have to invade his church!

17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

- Ephesians 1

Breaking News!

Hello folks!
Here is news from last nights VBS meeting:

• Pastor Mick is organizing the other pastors for the Unity Service
• We will be doing Sonworld lessons #1, #3 and #5 - choose to believe, choose forgiveness and choose Jesus
• There are 4 rotations - Bible lesson -games -crafts -snacks plus the opening and closing
• Center leaders will be dressing up to correspond with each part of the Sonworld theme park - Bible lessons are in Galactic Zone, games are in Doubloon Lagoon, crafts are in Wild West World and snacks are in Story Book Kingdom
• Kids will be grouped by last grade completed and their names are:
  Pre-K - Space Cadets, Kindergarten - Buckaroos, 1st grade - Knights and Maidens, 2nd grade - Scallywags, 3rd grade - Aliens, 4th grade - Elves and 5th grade Cowpokes
• Next meeting Monday August 4th, 6PM @ the Junction

Thanks to everyone who work so hard to make this a blessing for the kids. May God richly bless you all and pour out His Spirit on the kids and you at this years VBS!

"I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people:Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters.Your old men will dream, your young men will see visions.I'll even pour out my Spirit on the servants, men and women both. - Joel 2:28-29

Choose 3 please!

Hello folks!
We have some big choices to make as our next meeting draws nigh. We have to choose 3 out of 5 VBS lessons at our meeting next Tuesday! One good thematic flow is 1, 3 & 5 - choose to Believe, choose forgiveness and choose Jesus (see the Sonworld VBS link for lesson overviews). Our craft leader has pointed out that the more logical flow is 1, 5 & 3!
That is a good place to start praying for God's will and direction!

Happy 6th Birthday!

Hey folks! In case you did'nt know it we are going to be 6 years old this summer! That's right, it will be six years ago when the Presbyterians threw in with the Methodist and then the rest is history. Do you remember the last six VBS's?

• 2007 Take the Plunge
• 2006 Sontreasure Island
• 2005 Serengeti Trek
• 2004 Lava Lava Island
• 2003 Son Harvest County Fair
• 2002 Bug Safari
• Maybe we should have a speacil gift for 6 year olds this year?

I thank God for His blessings as the Gospel has touched kids and adults over the last 6 years. I thank God for everyone who has been involved for 6 years or the last 6 weeks! The Gospel is changing lives and will continue to change lives in College Corner. We have God's word on it as we gear up for this years VBS!

Isaiah 55:8-11"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work." God's Decree."For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed.They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them. (MSG)

Hello folks!

Hey I am sorry about the incorrect date on the last VBS post. The pastors meeting will be on July 22nd, 6PM @ the Junction.

Sorry about the confusion - God bless ya' all!

David

Hello VBS folks! Meeting number three is in the books and we're rapidly closing in on VBS week. Sonworld's theme for VBS 2008 is an adventure park. So you know how adventure parks have different areas like a wild west town or a space mountain and so on? Well Sonworld has the same thing and that means our station leaders will be dressing up in character! For example Gary's area is called Du bloom Lagoon so guess what he will look like? That's right, pirate Gary at the helm! To find out what other station leaders will be dressing up as you'll need to be at the next meeting! That information and the rest of what happened at the meeting is listed below:

• Pray for Belinda, she has had foot surgery and is recuperating
• Sorry no youth concert, most bands were scheduled way out in advance of our dates so we will start looking right after VBS for a group next year
• Dave will be visiting the local churches in the next few weeks to promote VBS. So pastors if you see me in the pew I am there to make a short announcement and say thanks for your support!
• There will be an open praise team practice for kids wanting to lead the songs for the opening sessions each night. The practice will be at the Presbyterian Church August 3rd at 4:30
• Churches don't forget we need your volunteer list at the next meeting!
• This year's the kids offering will go to Junction
• We will be asking everyone to bring canned goods to the Unity Service for the Food Pantry
• Continue to pray for a youth leader
• We will be having a follow-up VBS party in September at the Junction. This we will be a great time to help kids get connected to our local churches. If your interested in serving on this committee notify one of the Community VBS representatives
• There will be a Grove lawn mowing and clean up day on August 2nd beginning at 10AM. Tell as many folks as you can to bring rakes and wheel barrows so we can help Brian N. get things ready for insecticides (rain date is Aug. 3rd @ 1PM)
• Attention all pastors! We need you to attend the next meeting to help plan the Unity Service!
• The next meeting will be JULY 22nd @ 6PM @ the Junction!

God Bless everyone and continue to pray that God will bless VBS. Make this years VBS theme verse your prayer for yourself, our community and the kids. Pray they will all give their lives to Christ:

"Choose today whom you will serve." - Joshua 24:15

Meeting #2

Meeting number two is in the books! Here is what we hashed out at the meeting:

The Station leaders are as follows:

• Belinda Crafts


• Julie and Debbie Snacks


• Gary Games


• Preschool Laura P., Stacey & Cindy


• Bible lessons Dave

The number of Shepherds needed from each church are as follows:

• 2 from Church of God


• 3 from Trinity


• 3 from Harmony


• 5 from the Nazarene


• 6 from the Methodist


• 6 from the Presbyterian

Other items

• We budgeted $4oo for crafts


• We will have kids handing out invitations and candy in the 4th of July parade


• We are still waiting to hear back from Instereo. If the band is a no go we plan to get some inflatables for the unity services and some "fun" teen stuff too.

We are in need of a leader for our teen helpers so please be in prayer for the right person for this ministry. God bless each and everyone involved and please continue to pray that God will save and empower many kids at this year's VBS! The world is a changin' so let's point kids to the never changin' God for the pilgrimage on this earth and into eternity!

Mark 10:13-16The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

We finally had our first meeting and it was a good one! We met at the Junction (our new headquarters) and welcomed Harmony Road Church who will be joining us for VBS 2008 and hopefully many more in the future. Here is what was decided at our first meeting:

• VBS will be 3 nights - Wednesday August the 6th - Friday the 8th.


• Saturday the 9th will be a concert for our teen helpers and their friends


• The Unity Service will be Sunday the 10th


• We will be contacting the local pastors to organize a "follow up" committee for the purpose of discipleship


• Our VBS curriculmn will be Gospel Lights SonWorld!

It was great to see everyone and there was a lot of energy at the meeting. God is doing something special with VBS, the Junction and our town. What a pleasure to be used by God to reach His precious little ones who will one day be the leaders in the church!

Please pray for: God to draw kids to Himself, that He would draw the adult leaders for this summer, that He would draw the right band for the teens, that God would draw the right person to share their testimony with the teens, that He would draw the right people from the churches for the follow-up commitee and that everyone involved in leading VBS would exalt Jesus!

John 12:32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

Is it that time already?

Yes it is that time again! It is time to start planning VBS 2008! Before you know it you wont be knee deep in Christmas bills and snow but kids! We are praying that this year God pours out His love, grace and Spirit on all the kids (teachers too!) so they will follow Jesus with all their hearts. Take time to pray about possible changes for this years VBS:

• 3 nights instead 5


• A teen concert on Saturday night at the Grove for youth workers and their friends


• Renting large inflatables for added fun


• Organizing a follow-up for disciple making

But before we start talking about all this possible new stuff we have to do two important things. First, we need to pick a VBS curriculum. A great website that will link you to most everything out there for this summer is -

VBS 2008 Guide http://ministry-to-children.com/vbs/.

Prayerfully check it out give your feedback. The second thing is we must have a meeting. Check your calender and make room for meeting #1. This year we will be meeting at the Junction. The Junction is located in the old Hofers' grocery store in beautiful downtown College Corner.

God bless one and all, and pray that God will draw many kids to Himself and build an even stronger church for tomorrow!