Backpack Outreach

Wow! today was so amazing. I’m still standing in awe of all that God did. It started last night with two groups who came from both CC Murrieta and Kingsfield Laguna to go door-to-door and hand out fliers for today’s event. They covered quite a large area and said they were so blessed at how receptive everyone was to what we had planned. I have to say the people in this city are very down-to-earth and real. No pretenses at all – it’s very refreshing. They also stuffed all the backpacks, make bracelets and prayed for Saturday.

We had so many helpers show up early this morning to get the event started. We had volunteers from 5 church in all (3 local churches) who helped cook, paint kids faces, make balloon animals, teach VBS and hand out 250 backpacks. A local fire department sent out a huge hook and ladder and allowed the kids to sit inside and ask questions.

There were so many blessings throughout the day, but two things really stood out to me personally – ok, three things:

1. people came for the backpacks and STAYED for the whole event. There were people who came first thing for backpacks, but sat down and made themselves comfortable while their kids went to VBS, ate hot dogs and got their faces painted. It truly felt like a community event.

2. The sense of community among the participating churches. This is sadly uncommon, but it was so amazing to see all the volunteers wanting to support our ministy @ Kingsfield SanB – even local churches. CC Murrieta sent so many volunteers who spend the day cooking, cleaning, teaching, helping – amazing. San Bernardino Community Church sent their youth group dance troop, Stomp to perform. They were so excited to serve God.

3. We have been meeting in an existing church’s building for the last few months and while they have been helpful, they have also been very skeptical of our intentions. I think all that dissolved as we were a united front for the Gospel. They had their church members present to serve in such a seamless way that is was impossible to tell who attended which church. At the end of the day, they asked us if we’d be willing to join them to help host their Harvest Night event. We were so blessed by the change of heart. There was one of their church members in particular who was VERY resistant to our presence at their church. I saw him later and he was beaming and shared with me how blessed he was by the event and truly believe that our heart is to do God’s work.

We stand in awe of the ways God works and I’m humbled by how often I forget to thank Him for what He’s already done.

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