Team impact gives lessons in strength Christian faith
YOUTH ACTIVITYCHURCH OFFERS SMASHING ALTERNATIVE TO USUAL BIBLE SCHOOL
CARLA HINTON, Religion Editor
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Published: August 22, 2009
Modified: August 23, 2009 at 11:44 pm
EDMOND — Summer vacation may be over for most students but that doesn’t mean vacation Bible school is out.
An Edmond church decided to forego its typical summer Bible school in favor of a special emphasis that begins Monday.
Impact Week at First Baptist Church of Edmond will feature nightly presentations by Team Impact, a group of champion athletes, said
Charles Scheffe, the church’s children’s pastor.
Scheffe said preschool through fifth grade students will be challenged to discover how they can become "agents of change” in their own lives, their community and the world.
"This is the untraditional vacation Bible school happening this year,” he said.
The decision to have the youth-oriented week after school has started came because many families miss out on the summer vacation Bible school due to out-of-town excursions, Scheffe said. He said the church often had the Bible school during the day but Impact Week was naturally moved to the evening because youths will be at school during the day.
Scheffe said younger students are being targeted because they must deal with a culture that negatively affects them even at their age.
"We live in a society that impacts them with so many negative things. We wanted to give them the tools on how they can impact the culture in a positive way,” he said.
Scheffe said young people who attend the children and youth group meetings Sunday will meet Team Impact members.
The special emphasis week beginning Monday will include small groups, activities and presentations by Team Impact.
Scheffe said in Scripture (Luke 10:14, Matthew 19:14, Luke 18:16), Jesus told his disciples to bring children to Him instead of shooing them away as if they were unimportant.
Jesus knew that children can make a positive difference in their communities, Scheffe said.
"I think we do shortchange our children so often and think they don’t have enough knowledge for these things,” he said. "They have the passion and they have the heart to become agents of change.”
Scheffe said Team Impact has visited the church before.
He said the ministry of athletes who inspire others with feats of strength as well as their testimonies seemed a good fit for the special week.
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