First Annual Block Party

We had kids everywhere. They were running up and down our street, playing games around the church, and eating a variety of different foods and drinks in front of our house. There were balloons and prizes for everyone. One of our church members dressed up as a clown for a drama, and puppets presented Bible lessons. There was singing and lots of smiles.

It was exactly what we had hoped for our First Annual Block Party for the children in our community. Thankfully, God answered our prayers and it was an unseasonably sunny day. Over 100 children showed up, many of them accompanied by curious parents.

Our goal was to simply show our love to others who live in our community by providing a healthy, safe alternative environment where children could enjoy all the things that children love to do. We patterned it from what I remembered of a small carnival when I was a kid. While it was a very humble affair, we believe that God is already providing the “increase” to this new avenue of ministry. Hopefully, next year the other churches in our community will get involved.

A local businessman congratulated the people of the church for developing the vision for reaching out to the community and offered to help us next year. Mothers whose children seldom see new toys in the house thanked one of our church members and commented that all of the children took something home to play with.

Our church members were exhausted. Everyone showed up early in the morning to help and we gathered together late in the afternoon for a short time of prayer to thank God for all that he had done and provided. It was a big success!