e-news

09/25

The line for the candy cart grows. All photos by Dan Bracken.

123 Kids Walk Into The Avenue...What Happens Next?

A recap from the Ginghamsburg Communication Team

For years, Blitz had been marketed as "the largest party for kids in grade 3-5 this side of the Mississippi."

One week before Blitz, only 14 kids had registered.

That was mildly concerning.

Paige Burckart is Ginghamsburg’s new Kids Ministry director. She had been told Blitz could get big. She had talked with former leaders, studied how the event worked and built a plan for somewhere around 70 to 75 kids.

Then the doors opened.

“I blinked my eyes and all of a sudden we had over 100 kids lined up outside,” Burckart said. “Our line even went all the way to the sidewalk!”

For Burckart, still relatively new in her role leading Ginghamsburg Kids, Fall Blitz was something of a baptism by bounce house.

Blitz is designed to give kids a place to do what kids do best: move, laugh, compete, create and make new friends.

This time around, The Avenue included pumpkin painting, basketball, gaga ball, a bounce house, dancing, musical chairs and, of course, the famous candy cart. Pizza eventually entered the equation too—although more had to be ordered once the crowd exceeded expectations.

But all that activity serves a larger purpose.

Blitz gives Ginghamsburg kids an easy opportunity to invite friends, including kids who might never agree to come to church otherwise.

Burckart heard from regular Ginghamsburg kids who had brought friends for the first time. Some of those friends were already asking if their parents could bring them back.

For some, it may have been their first real introduction to Jesus.

And that changed Paige’s plan.

Five Minutes That Mattered

Burckart came into the night with a lesson prepared. But as she watched the room and got a feel for the kids in it, she realized something.

Some of them didn’t need a deeper Bible lesson.

They needed an introduction.

“I decided at the last minute to scrap that lesson because I realized that so many kids didn’t even know who Jesus was,” she said.

So she simplified:

1. There is someone who loves you.
2. There is someone who listens to you.
3. You are not alone.
4. His name is Jesus.

“When I started to speak about Jesus, the room did feel just a little bit quieter,” she said. “Many of the kids seemed locked in. No doubt some of them had never even stepped into a church before.”

For Burckart, that brief moment became the clearest picture of what success looked like.

Not a perfectly executed schedule. Not a carefully delivered lesson. Not even more than 100 kids in the building. Kids heard that Jesus loves them, and that was the point.

Learning to Expect the Unexpected

Burckart admits she wasn’t quite sure what she was walking into with her first Blitz.

“If I’m being totally honest, I really didn’t know what to expect,” she said.

She met with people who had led Blitz before. She asked questions about transitions, energy and structure. She learned quickly that kids need plenty of freedom to have fun—but also enough structure to keep a night involving 100 children, basketballs, pumpkins, pizza and candy from descending into anarchy.

Then she discovered the other rule of Kids Ministry: plans change.

At one point, a young girl repeatedly approached Burckart, convinced she had broken her arm while playing basketball.

Five minutes later, Paige spotted her moving that same arm back and forth from her mouth to her loot from the candy cart.

Crisis apparently averted.

“If there’s anything that I’ve learned in kids ministry, it’s that you have to be flexible and ready to adapt to any situation,” Burckart said.

That flexibility matters because Blitz isn’t really about pulling off a flawless event.

It is about removing barriers for a kid to invite their friend to church.

They paint a pumpkin. Play basketball. Eat some pizza. Meet an adult who remembers their name.

And somewhere in the middle of all that noise, they hear that Jesus loves them.

A Good Problem to Have

Burckart had enough volunteers to cover each station, thanks in part to experienced Blitz volunteers who stepped back in to help.

But as more kids walk through Ginghamsburg’s doors, the circle of adults around them needs to grow too.

Ginghamsburg Kids needs people willing to play games, lead activities, learn names, listen to stories and help create the kind of environment where kids want to return.

And with Blitz coming back in the Spring, Burckart now knows to expect the unexpected.

Until then, more Kids Ministry experiences are already ahead, including the Harvest Party on October 11, S’mores and Storytime on October 16, and Jingle Jam in December.

The goal isn’t simply to fill The Avenue for one big Friday night.

It’s to make sure every kid who walks through the door has a place to belong—and an opportunity to discover the Jesus who loves them.

If you’d like to be that adult – the one that creates a space that kids want to come back to, there’s a Kids Ministry Volunteer Interest Meeting this Sunday (September 27), after the 10:30 worship celebration. Meet Paige, ask questions and learn more about Kids Ministry. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the one teaching kids how to get the perfect level of toasty goodness on a marshmallow.

Details for Saturday – Whether you've already signed up or are still thinking of joining us, here is a list of things you should know for Saturday:

• Transportation is on your own. We will not be shuttling anyone over to the staging grounds. We suggest meeting your friends here on campus and carpooling over together. Parking will be at a premium Saturday.
• Meet at the Hyatt Center at 9am. The Hyatt Center (450 N Hyatt St) is our designated staging area. However, you cannot park there. We suggest maybe trying the middle school nearby. Be wary of the construction.
• Don't forget to wear your Ginghamsburg shirt! And don't be afraid to dress it up! Tutu's, lei's, beads, pom-poms...whatever you have that would bring an extra layer of fun to the day. If you bring a friend that didn't register or didn't get a shirt yet we do have a limited selection of sizes left (L, XL & 2X). We'll have the shirts with us.
• Be aware of the weather. It's supposed to be beautiful and sunny, but that could change. It could also be a little chilly in the morning; you may want to wear layers.
• Be ready to share. We've purchased candy to hand out and will be sharing invitations to some of our upcoming events. We may be asking you to help hand things out to the crowd.
• Two busses will be a part of the group. Our Ginghamsburg busses will be in the parade. We'll have limited seating for those of you that may not be able to make the walk. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis.
• When you're done, enjoy the festival! The parade ends right at the edge of the Mum Festival. Visit the food trucks, check out the artist's tents and have a great time! Invite people to worship Sunday!

If you have questions about anything, or if we've missed something, just reply to this email. See you Saturday!

Let's do life together – We have several NEW Life Groups that have started. A new one for men. One for single women. One for young families. One for anyone. One for women – married or single – is coming soon. Visit ginghamsburg.org/groups for details on these and other groups that are active now.

Here are more highlights from around campus...

New Bible Study September 30 – Make space for a four-week study designed to help you dive deeper into Scripture. The focus this time is on the Sermon on the Mount! No special book needed this time, just your Bible. Meet at 6:30pm in the Tipp City Backstage Classroom.

More ways to serve – If you're not able to help in Kids Ministry, we have so many other opportunities for you to share your gifts! Visit ginghamsburg.org/serve, select "In The Church" and choose your next adventure.

Come party with us! – Sunday, October 11, 5:30-7:30, celebrate fall with games, food, face painting, hay rides and more! Meet up with your friends and make new ones along the way. Save the date!

Give blood – We're hosting our next blood drive on Saturday, October 10. From cancer treatment to surgery to serious injury, your donation provides help that lasts a lifetime. Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Sign up here. Learn more about donating by visiting Versiti's website.

Invite Others To The Table.

When people are looking for hope, healing, or a place to belong, they often start with a simple online search. One easy way to invite someone to Ginghamsburg is to share your experience in an online review.

Share your story—what you’ve found here, who you’ve met, and how Jesus has made a difference in your life.

ginghamsburg.org