Loving your community as yourself
Bethel Pentecostal Church reaches out to community with massive party
SARNIA, ON—Sarnia’s Bethel Pentecostal Church is telling its neighbourhood that it is fully invested in the community and it is here to bless families. The church’s annual Family Fun Day has grown from a small outreach event to a community staple.
“It started with a desire to make our community aware that we are here to be a blessing,” says lead pastor Tim Gibb. “We decided to provide a free afternoon of activities. Our first year we had about 300 people, but it has grown consistently every year.”
More than 2,600 people enjoyed this year’s outreach, held September 20, which included pony rides, a petting zoo, a magic show, a Christian BMX and skateboarding team, a variety show, live music, a princess tea, and nine inflatable bouncy castles, slides and challenges.
Everyone attending also gets a free ticket for the barbecue lunch.
“It’s not an evangelistic event, it’s just a community event,” explains Gibb. “We do other things that are very evangelistic, but this event is just to bless. Families can come for an afternoon, watch a few shows, do activities, have lunch and it costs them nothing. The benefit for us is that we get public exposure.”
The first five years were funded entirely by the church, but as the event gained traction, the church decided to partner with local businesses to help cover the costs, increase public exposure and build bridges in the community.
“We want this to be seen as a community event and the business sponsorships give it more legitimacy. The non-negotiables for me are that it is hosted at and by our church and that everything is free,” says Gibb. “We get very encouraging comments and people come away with a very positive view of our church.”
Church member Dorothy Huebl says when she told her co-worker about the event, her co-worker was amazed at what the church was doing for the community—and especially that it was free.
After attending this year’s Family Fun Day, community member Tovah Elliott told organizers, “My daughter and I had such a great time at your event. Everyone was so kind and friendly; from the shuttle bus driver to the food service staff. I look forward to learning more about your church and attending a service in the near future.”
Bethel student ministries pastor Tricia Gibb has been involved in all seven Family Fun Day events. She says when she moved to Sarnia, she saw many people who desperately needed Jesus, but were very hesitant to set foot in a church.
“There are so many stereotypes about churches that most people in our city will never give a church a chance. Some people are unwilling to step into a church to fix their own lives, but they’ll come if they think it’s going to benefit their children,” she explains. “I saw this as an opportunity to introduce my non-Christian friends to my church and ultimately to Jesus.”
Another member of the organizing committee, Connie Berry, got involved for similar reasons. She loves the creative outlet all the planning gives her, but even more, she cherishes the opportunity to show love to hurting community members.
“Love is a universal language and when people are on the receiving end of it, it really does change them,” she says. “Our town is full of lost and hurting people who need Jesus. They need to see that we, as a church, love them and care about them. These are the seeds we are planting as people come for Family Fun Day.”
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