The spirit of generosity, compassion, and fun was on full display at Word of Peace Church in Rogers, Minnesota this past summer. Each year, youth attending the church’s vacation Bible school (VBS) select a cause to support through fundraising. The goal is to connect the participants with programs and organizations that make a difference in the world, particularly those that help children. This year, the selected charitable organization was Children’s Home of Minnesota.
Each day of VBS, the children received prompts to contribute money in a meaningful way that would connect them to the services of Children’s Home. For instance, VBS kids were asked to donate a quarter for each door or every pillow in their house. This personalized approach — attaching their donation to a home or a bed — helped the young donors feel a connection to the challenges other children might face.
Over the course of five days, 300 participating students ranging from preschool to fifth grade, along with their camp counselors, raised nearly $6,000. On the final day of fundraising, the excitement was infectious as VBS kids cheered their achievement and watched Word of Peace Executive Pastor Tyler Strom take a whipped cream pie in the face — a lighthearted incentive that added an extra layer of fun to the fundraising process.
Pastor Strom believes the values of the church and its mission played a significant role in this initiative. “Our church aims to be a community that experiences and shares Christ’s love with all people,” he said. “This activity helped them really understand the importance of helping others. And they were excited to be able to make a difference in the lives of children and their families who are served by Children’s Home.”
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