iRock Ministries

intentionally Reaching Our Community Kids

New Life

If the reason for Easter could be summed up in a text message this is how it would read,

“Thanks so much for all you guys do.  I just wanted to let you know that my nephew Eric accepted Jesus Christ as his savior today in kids church.  He was able to tell us the whole story of Easter.  The day before we had asked Eric what happened 3 days after Jesus died on the cross and he said they had a funeral.  He now knows that after three days Jesus rose from the grave and that he now lives in his heart.”

This was received after Pastor TJ and I shared an Easter service with the kids at Warwick AG. That morning nine children gave their hearts to the Lord. Knowing that these children now have the love and hope that only comes from knowing Jesus truly touches my heart and reminds me of the importance of taking every opportunity to tell people about Jesus’s life, death and resurrection offering forgiveness to everyone.

We celebrate Easter in many different ways; egg hunts, candy, family dinners, football, new outfits, and yet there will never be a better way to celebrate than to hear that a child has asked Jesus into their heart.

Preparation for the day takes on many forms, hours of drama rehearsals, shopping, decorating, spring planting, cleaning and a flurry of activity but no amount of preparation should exceed the amount that we put into the spiritual preparation that could lead someone into a personal relationship with Jesus.

Why can’t every day be like Easter? Why can’t we spiritually prepare for every Sunday like we prepare for Easter? Jesus didn’t raise from the dead for us to celebrate one Sunday in the year, he rose from the dead so that we can celebrate every day. Make a commitment today to treat every day like Easter.

Kidtopia Egg Hunt

It was a good day to be investing in the lives of children. Saturday afternoon brought hundreds of children to Calvary’s Kidtopia Egg hunt. Volunteers from the church helped hide/distribute candy filled eggs over the park, register kids and prepare for the gathering of the eggs.

Plethora of balloons

Over 150 sculpting balloons were inflated and secured in a large bag so that with the onslaught of children we would be free to concentrate on interacting with the kids and twisting a plethora of balloons.  Before long there were dogs, cats, hats, swords, rabbits and a few unrecognizable animals. But it’s safe to say that each twist brought a look of amazement and excitement on to the faces of the children. The event wasn’t intended to evangelize that community but it was to show the families that the people at Calvary Assembly of God cared about the children and wanted to invest in their lives. If we are unable to show people that we care, then we have not earned the right to share the gospel with them. Each step and each act of kindness brings us one step closer to bringing a life to Christ.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2Pet. 1:5-8