At the conclusion of VBS, Brookside Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana celebrates each year with a churchwide combined outdoor service called Summer Blast. It’s a time of gathering for family fun with bounce houses, pony rides, and food, as well as a time of celebration through corporate worship, a message, and baptisms. This year, as they have seen in years past, spontaneous baptisms have occurred during this service.
The primary theme for VBS was about serving others the way Jesus did. That same idea was at the core of Summer Blast with many volunteers coming together to make the event happen. Compassion Director Ryan Delagrange witnessed people joyfully serving the Lord by preparing food, setting up games, and engaging with people in the community who came for the first time. Ryan’s daughter brought her high school friend who doesn’t normally attend church to Summer Blast. Afterward, the friend thanked them through tears after singing along in worship and connecting with others in the youth.
When an unexpected storm destroyed one of the large tents before Summer Blast started, a man in the church body quickly stepped in to offer his own tent to fill in. “It’s encouraging because we have people pop out of the woodwork with so many talents,” says Ryan. “It opens up so many ways Brookside can help in the community. Simply standing alongside someone chopping lettuce or tomatoes also provides an opportunity for deeper fellowship. That type of atmosphere leads to a connection we hope builds long-lasting relationships.”
Summer Blast is an event Brookside plans to repeat in years to come. Doing a combined service outside gives people a chance to “get away from our regular rhythm,” says Ryan. Seeing joy on people’s faces as they serve and celebrate the work of the Lord together is encouraging. “That’s really what we want to create, for people to see that we love and care about them.”
