I don't know if I shared about how much I love our Children's Church leaders. When I say they are a huge blessing to the body, that even feels like an understatement.
I think it's so important for kids to have other activities/functions at their church besides the VBS or Awana. This way, the kids get to know each other more, and it's also a time for them to bring unsaved friends to church.
Our youth leaders go way above and beyond for the kids, and always try to plan something special and unique for the kids and parents.
However, this time, this function was just for the kids!
They had a 4th & 5th grade lock in! Meaning, they were going to spend the night at church!
Normally, they do this for the Jr. Highers & High Schoolers, so this was a new one for the younger kids.
What's amazing about the leaders is that they not only try to have fun with the kids, but their main purpose is to encourage the kids to draw closer to the Lord. They are enthusiastic about their calling with children, and it definitely shows!
I think it's so important for kids to have other activities/functions at their church besides the VBS or Awana. This way, the kids get to know each other more, and it's also a time for them to bring unsaved friends to church.
Our youth leaders go way above and beyond for the kids, and always try to plan something special and unique for the kids and parents.
However, this time, this function was just for the kids!
They had a 4th & 5th grade lock in! Meaning, they were going to spend the night at church!
Normally, they do this for the Jr. Highers & High Schoolers, so this was a new one for the younger kids.
What's amazing about the leaders is that they not only try to have fun with the kids, but their main purpose is to encourage the kids to draw closer to the Lord. They are enthusiastic about their calling with children, and it definitely shows!
So, the plan was to drop your kids off at church at 3, check them in, and let them do the rest!
First stop, they took them on a little hike!
And to cool off, they went to the water slides!
After all that, the church bus brought them back to church for dinner, where everything was already set up for them!
Don't these look yummy???? Fruit kabobs!
I took these pictures because I was there at the time. My small job that I volunteered to do was set up their plates and buffet table. This is right outside our church cafe. The man on the far right did ALL THE GRILLING and also did the fruit kabobs.
There's my son, Eli, and one of his buddies waiting for their turn to get in line for food!
I took these from Facebook.
Here is the youth pastor giving a message to the kids. This was after they had a time of worship! They even had a fire going in the middle, and made smores!
They also had more snacks that night, and watched a movie in the gym where they all slept.
"YAWN!! What? Morning stretches at 6am?"
There's another room in the gym that we call the "inner court." This is where they had their breakfast!
And finally...the kids got picked up at 9am!
32 comments:
lovely and yummy fruit BBQ
I used to love church lock-ins, but your church does them far better than mine did!
Alicia, it sounds like you have an awesome church!
What great memories were formed for those kids.
Loved the pictures!
Hugs,
Beth
That is totally awesome.
What a GREAT event!
Your church is awesome.
Happy Tuesday, Alicia.
Wow yummy good! I was so involved in my youth group as a kid and it was so much fun. It's something I struggle with since we're not involved in a church around here. I don't know but it seems such a struggle to get all 4 kids ready and out the door and then struggle with trying to leave Allie in the nursery when I know she won't stay and then having to put up with her in the sanctuary plus David's long hours. I know - I'm full of excuses. I just need to shut up and go.
What a blessing! The fruit looks yummy! We hear tour children/youth leaders too!
How great for them...looked wonderful! About those fruit kabobs...VERY cool. I am going to have to remember that some time. Instead of a fruit salad making kabobs.
That looks like a blast. I so agree with you that having a wonderful youth program is critical.
That looks like so much fun! I love that they went on a hike and swimming...trying to wear them out a little before being locked up with them all night:) I used to love lock-ins at church!
Looks like a perfect time! I love church functions for kids like that!
How fun!
How fun!
Wow! the kids look so happy. Its good to let them interact with those who share a common relationship with god.
How fun and special for these kiddos!! They will remember these times for years to come.
Our church does a lock in every year and my daughter loves them. My son will attend his first the next time they have one. It is a great event for young people.
Your pics are great and the kids look like they all had a blast.
Oh!! Lock-ins are so much fun. Can't wait 'til my boys can partake. And, yes. Those fruit kabobs are 100% awesome!
That is really cool. I love how involved you get your children!
That's phenomenal! How wonderful to do that for the 4th and 5th graders. I know my 4th grader would love it.
That sounds like such a fun way to engage the kids! You really have a FUN church! :)
I always loved those lock ins. I like them even better now that I can leave the kids. :) jk
That looks like a great time for the kids, I look forward to the day our church has a group that big.
Oh! what a good idea.. only we have a small church but anyway I can suggest it to the church leaders.
That is just awesome Alicia. I sure wish our church was bigger so that we could have these great things for the kids.
OMG, this is fabulous!
What an amazing church you have! It looks like a HUGE blessing in your children's life helping to create that foundation that they will need as they get older.
You are very blessed Alicia!
You are indeed blessed to have a youth church member who has a calling for kids. The kids surely enjoy their overnight in the church :)
love the pics! I really enjoyed being in the youth group when I was younger and am glad that our church has the same for my boys!
Sometimes, its hard to portray "cool" through church.
Oh my goodness alicia! That sounds like soooooooo much fun. I want to come to your church.
What a great bonding time for those kids!! I can barely get my shy kids to go to Sunday school... much less Awana or vbs!! *sigh* we are baby stepping the shyness out!! crazy... I was so NOT shy as a kid!
Youth leaders like yours are few and far between! What a blessing you have at your church! My son works with the 5th and 6th grade boys from AWANA's and he usually sets up campouts and swim parties for them extra than what he would have to because he loves the kids so much. I am just so proud of him. He is 38 and just lost his wife a year ago. He stuck with his kids though, to show them that when bad things happen, God can get you through.
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