Answered Prayer

This year our church decided that instead of doing a Vacation Bible School at the church they would get members to host "Kid Blast" gatherings in their neighborhoods so that they could get out into the community. It seemed like a great idea since many times the majority of the kids who attend VBS are churched kids. Going into the neighborhoods and getting people to invite their neighbors seems more effective in reaching unchurched kids. For several weeks there has been an announcement in the bulletin asking families to sign up to use their yard to host a club. The clubs are in the morning so that it's not too hot and I'm assuming the reason they're having them outside is so that parents are more willing to send their kids.

I've taught more 5 Day Clubs with Child Evangelism Fellowship than I could possibly count and these Kid Blast clubs sound very similar, but for some reason I was a little reluctant to sign up. Partially because I don't really have a yard and partially because I don't really know my neighbors and there are signs saying no soliciting. Basically I was being chicken. I didn't know how and didn't really want to contact the HOA to find out if I could use one of the playgrounds or the field across from my house, but I was afraid if I tried to do it there without approval we'd get kicked out. I gave myself every excuse I could come up with, but the more I walked around the neighborhood and saw the swarms of kids I knew I had to do something.

So, I found a website with the contact information for the management group that maintains our neighborhood. I don't have contact with the HOA because we rent. I explained what I would like to do to the lady who answered the phone at the management group and inquired about how I could go about getting approval. She said I could write a letter to the board and she would give it to them for approval at their next meet on June 8th or they might be able to approve it by email before the meeting. I was hoping to have the club June 21-24 and she said that would give enough time to get everything approved. My next plan of action was to go to the pool as often as possible to meet kids and parents in the neighborhood so that they wouldn't think I was just some strange lady inviting them to a Bible club. Of course spending time at the pool wasn't exactly a hardship :)

I wrote my email, sent it and got an approval within 24 hours. The lady from the management group write back and said, "All three board members think it is a terrific idea." I have been praying about it for several weeks now hoping to get a positive response, but this was even better than I expected! Not only did they approve it, but enthusiastically! Because of their overwhelmingly positive response I wrote back to see if they would even be willing to put the announcement for it on the neighborhood board. If so, this will help with my problem of "no solicitation" and give credibility to the club.

Clark and I have been going to the pool and it's already helped us get to know a few kids and parents. Children flock to Clark because he's so outgoing and cute so we have made several friends. Hopefully in a month or so we'll have lots of friends to invite to the Bible club. I know God is going to work through this because he's already opening doors. I just have to remember it's His work and be bold in inviting people to come.