By Staff
ASHLAND—Ashland Baptist Church was blessed by four separate youth groups from four states this summer in a “July 4 Jesus” outreach.
The four-week Vacation Bible School (VBS) featured church teams from Eastwood Baptist in Monroeville, Ala., Unity Baptist in Fayette, Mo., Riverside Baptist in Denver, Colo., and Calvary Baptist in Alton, Ill., coming to Ashland to work with children from kindergarten age on up through sixth grade.
More than 70 children from Ashland and the surrounding area were enrolled, and 32 made professions of faith.
“It was a great month, and obviously a tiring month, but it was worth it,” Host Pastor Ron Rich said. “Children learned about Jesus and His love, and the parents praised the event. Our church made some new friends, and gained more than 30 prospect families.”
The VBS experience was unique in that it lasted from July 6 through July 31, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Each group brought a different curriculum, which kept the meetings fresh. The youth and adults of Ashland Baptist came alongside the visiting workers to keep things going.
Rich noted that four months of praying and planning and then participation in the event revealed the deep commitment that Ashland Baptist has to reaching children and their parents.
“I also have a great appreciation for the guest youth teams,” he said. “They came trained and prepared. They were pumped and the Lord used them.”