Hope Evangelical Free Church

Hope Evangelical Free Church's  2012 BUMP team

This is the fourth time for Hope Evangelical Free Church of Roscoe, Illinois has to return to BUMP and partner with Riverside Evangelical Church to run a VBS. We came with 22 people total - 18 kids and 4 adult leaders. After arriving on Saturday and decorating the church and leading service on Sunday we started our first VBS night on Monday with a total of 15 children in attendance.
Our VBS night starts with a free home cooked dinner for all who will come. Then we play games and do crafts. After that we have a snack and then have our teens lead a new lesson with a new skit every night. They do such a great job.

Game time at VBS

This year our theme is The Big Apple Adventure  and it's all about "when faith and life connect." Back home the teens of Hope serve in their VBS the week before they come on BUMP so they know what they are doing and they are amazing. Each teen brings their own personality and creativity to Bump and it is wonderful to see God's hand in making it all work together for His glory. The best part is that you can see the love of Jesus in their eyes as they make connections with the families here.

Is it hot out? "Ross, take off your backpack... Yes it is hot out"

This year we have had our eyes opened to the religious climate and the opposition to the gospel that surrounds Riverside. We have met Muslims, Mormons, Buddhists and people from all walks of life. We have spent time canvassing the neighborhoods inviting people to join us for VBS, the Adult Classes, and Youth Class.

The Youth Class is a brand new endeavor that involves a partnership between Riversides new Youth Pastor Mark and our Pastor Jim. It has been difficult for Riverside to get their youth ministry growing, but God has given some teens a vision and the group has a direction and hopefully a renewed passion for reaching their neighbors for Jesus. Please pray for continued growth here and for the establishing of a regular youth group night.

Arts and Crafts at Riverside

We've worked hard serving the church in other ways also; weeding gardens, laying mulch, uprooting trees that blocked the sign, cleaning up the courtyard and so much more. It has been such a blessing to be able to do these simple acts of service and see a tangible difference.

Being silly with the little guys

So far this week we have seen two kids come to Christ and a few un-churched families get connected here. Our challenge this year was not so much about the heat, though we have had some feel sick due to the weather and recover quickly, but it has been more about the spiritual battle against the enemies attempt to divide and conquer us through our attitudes. Through continual prayer and a building of love for one another in Christ we are finding the victory. We pray that the children and church we minister to will be blessed and drawn to Christ through our brief time here.