The Evangel - August 2024

the EVANGEL

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH

Summer Blast & Summer Pop 2024

By Marie Zajdel

“God is so good. He’s so good to me.” Those are some of the lyrics to Pat Barret’s version of “God is So Good,” one of five songs for Summer Blast this year. AAer months of planning and praying by so many, the week of sweet ministry flew by. It is wonderful to take a moment to flect on what our church family was able to do together in that busy week by the empowering of God’s Holy Spirit.

The volunteers began each night by fellowshipping over delicious dinners, which a team led by Jan Conard lovingly prepared. AAer fueling our bodies to serve, we had a meeJng and prayer Jme and then went to our serving staJons. Over 120 kids aOended Monday through Thursday and were greeted by members of our church family who were ready and eager to share the good news of the gospel of our Savior Jesus with them.

Linda Rothey graciously volunteered to lead Summer Pop again. She and her team taught the preschoolers that the gospel, God's word, is all about the Good News of what Jesus has done for us because of his great love for us. The scripture for the week was 1 John 4:9, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." Each night, we used a Bible

(Summer Blast & Summer Pop 2024, cont.)

Summer Blast & Summer Pop 2024

By Marie Zajdel

“God is so good. He’s so good to me.” Those are some of the lyrics to Pat Barret’s version of “God is So Good,” one of five songs for Summer Blast this year. AAer months of planning and praying by so many, the week of sweet ministry flew by. It is wonderful to take a moment to reflect on what our church family was able to do together in that busy week by the empowering of God’s Holy Spirit.

The volunteers began each night by fellowshipping over delicious dinners, which a team led by Jan Conard lovingly prepared. AAer fueling our bodies to serve, we had a meeJng and prayer Jme and then went to our serving staJons. Over 120 kids aOended Monday through Thursday and were greeted by members of our church family who were ready and eager to share the good news of the gospel of our Savior Jesus with them.

Linda Rothey graciously volunteered to lead Summer Pop again. She and her team taught the preschoolers that the gospel, God's word, is all about the Good News of what Jesus has done for us because of his great love for us. The scripture for the week was 1 John 4:9, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." Each night, we used a Bible story to illustrate an important truth about Jesus: Jesus knows me, Jesus takes care of me, Jesus is powerful, and we need to tell others about Jesus.

Summer Blasters learned about and celebrated some of God’s many good giAs: creaJon, salvaJon, prayer, and church family. The scripture for the week was James 1:17, “Every good and perfect giA is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variaJon or shadow due to change.” During the week, God’s good giAs were on full display to those aOending and serving, but in this world broken by sin, we will all have seasons in life that will be hard and ﬁlled with sorrow. In those seasons, may we remember God’s faithfulness and good giAs, and may that remembrance give us great