SHAWANO, WI- Hundreds of children from across the area spent a week making memories, building friendships and learning about faith during Hope Community Church’s annual Summer Blast event in Shawano.
The high-energy week welcomed children entering first through sixth grade for a combination of games, music, worship, Bible messages and activities designed to show kids they are valued and loved.
In four packed days, over 250 kids and over 150 volunteer leaders participated in the event.
Hope Community Church Pastor Kyle Johnson says the event is about more than just having fun, it is about making sure every child knows they matter. “Each kid values. Each kid matters to God and to Hope Church,” Johnson said. “We just want to have a fun time, but also invest the fact that they’re seen, that they’re heard, and they’re acknowledged because sometimes in our world we can get missed.”
Johnson says Summer Blast gives children a place where they can be themselves while also learning about faith and building relationships with others.
Activities throughout the week included high-energy worship, stage games, small group time with leaders, outdoor activities and the popular “Brave Factor” challenge.
Johnson says the Brave Factor is designed to encourage kids to embrace courage and step outside their comfort zones while having fun.
“We believe exercise and bravery and courage is a good thing,” Johnson said. “Instead of being fear factor, being fearful of everything, we want to be courageous in what we do.”
Kids also took part in messy outdoor activities, including challenges where they became part of the fun, and sometimes the mess.
“We make pancakes out of the kids,” Johnson joked. “Put an egg on, put some flour on their heads and they just become the pancake. It’s just a lot of fun and a lot of laughter.”
Summer Blast has become a yearly tradition for families throughout the region, bringing hundreds of kids together each summer for a week focused on faith, friendship and fun.
Comments