SPRINGFIELD—National WMU, Kentucky WMU and Central Association of Kentucky Baptists partnered together for FamilyFest in Lebanon and Springfield for a week of family service projects, backyard Bible clubs, Vacation Bible School, block parties and other ministries July 22-27. More than 150 volunteered.

The goal of FamilyFest is for families, churches, youth groups or friends to “come together with others to share God’s love with the community.” Anyone over the age of six is invited to participate.

A typical day at FamilyFest starts with all volunteers gathering for a devotion and prayer. “We begin the day with this time as a way to bring all volunteers together to focus on God before being sent out for the day,” Lena Plunk, with the National WMU, said.

Testimonios from the previous day are shared and games are played to get the children’s energy flowing. Participants worship together and a local pastor shares the Word. Teams end their time together in prayer.

“It is a beautiful thing to watch volunteers from around the United States come together praying for God to move in and through them throughout the day,” Plunk added.

The rest of the day is spent working on ministry projects. These include VBS type events as well as community service projects. Teams came from around the nation. Many who came this year, particularly those working in a certain mobile home park, made the decision that they would return next year on a mission trip.

Cheryl Hatfield, development specialist of the Kentucky WMU Heritage Fund and associational WMU director, said that they saw God work “just about every day, all day long.”

 “Things would come up. Satan tried to deter us that week in major ways. People were determined that God was going to be the one that got the victory,” she said.

The results of the week were four professions of faith, some of them being participants. In addition, gospel partnerships were formed, as well as saints encouraged.

Hatfield continued, “We were tired, but it was that good kind of tired from serving God. It was a good kind of tired, knowing that God was being honored and praised and the gospel was being shared.

“God has just really gone beyond anything we could have imagined ourselves,” she added. (WR)