Sharing Faith With Summer Fun

Our last three block parties have been "full steam ahead"
as we present the Gospel in a new neighborhood each week.



Jen Marbach adds color to a Block Party Event!



On June 25 we ended vacation Bible school with our traditional Urbancrest potluck & cookout along with a block party on the church grounds. Then on June 29 we took the bounce house and the kiddie train to the Hunter's Run neighborhood.

120 people from the area plus 61 workers enjoyed the great weather that night along with a performance by our Youth Drama Team. Duane Gillen wrote people's names on grains of rice and placed them in small glass vials (very interesting) and Kyle McQuinn shared the Gospel.

We thank God for the four people who made professions of faith that night. We also praise God for and thank the Youth who took responsibility for set up, tear down and food service. They did a great job!



All of the Block Party locations this summer have been chosen to help promote Living Word Bible Church, our new church plant on Columbus Avenue that begins services on September 11. This past Wednesday was no exception.

There were less people at the Colonial Park North venue than is normal, no doubt due to the high heat index and humid conditions. But even though it was hot and muggy, Pastor Chris Straw (from our new church plant) was able to connect with a couple who were looking for a church home.

3 people made professions of faith following the Gospel presentation and a bilingual guest indicated she may help with our hispanic church plant in the fall. God used us, heat and all, to reach people where they live.



The new Kiddie Train is a hit wherever it goes!






Oh The Places You'll Go!

Although Dr. Seuss wasn't really referring to missions when he said "Oh The Places You'll Go!" it certainly applies to our local missions teams. Here are a few of the places we'll be going in the next few weeks...

Wednesday, July 6: Urbancrest Block Party at Colonial Park North on Monroe Road in Lebanon. Setup at 5:30 PM; Block Party at 6:30 PM.

Saturday, July 9 & Saturday, July 23: Habitat for Humanity Project. Contact Danny Mitchell at mitchdj@go-concepts.com for more information on the location and times.

Sunday, July 10: Cedarbrook Camp Pancake Breakfast and Devotion Outreach. Meal prep at 8:00 AM. Cedarbrook is located on State Route 123 just north of Silver Street in Lebanon. Contact Jeff & Teri Lipot at jlipot@embarqmail.com if you would like to volunteer this weekend.

Monday, July 18--Saturday, July 23: The Warren County Fair on North Broadway in Lebanon. This year's fair booth is in a prime location to greet Fair guests and share Jesus or hand out information about Urbancrest. Sign ups are already underway. Call me at 932-4405 or email me at mwright@urbancrest.org for details.

Also, be on the lookout for a visiting South Carolina mission team in July. We'll want to give them an extra warm welcome and thank you for the help they are giving our Resource Ministry and Living Word Bible Church, our new church plant with Pastor Chris and Janella Straw.

This Friday's blog will be closer look at recent local missions events including June's Big Apple Adventure Bible School and the June 29 Block Party at Hunter's Run. Until then, choose a place to go and share Jesus! You'll be glad you did!

UBC Summer Ministry Teams Warm Up to the Task

Cedarbrook Campground

Even with the 8 AM start last Sunday, ten teens and eight adults from UBC gladly provided a pancake breakfast and short worship service for thirty-two Cedarbrook Campground campers. Four of the campers responded to the invitation; one for rededication and the others for prayer for personal needs.

Tecumseh Trails Block Party

Despite the near 100 degree heat, Urbancrest’s first block party for 2011 was “cool!” We unveiled our new Kiddie Train and treated families from the Tecumseh Trails neighborhood to snow cones, popcorn, hot dogs and nachos. Seventy-four UBC workers and fifty-five guests enjoyed great music by our Kids for Christ children’s choir who used puppets and sign language to sing about Jesus! Thanks to the choir and their parents for attending despite the extremely hot conditions.

It was a special day for an 11 year old boy who accepted Christ after Pastor Shawn presented the Gospel. Another child had questions about what is means to be saved.

A special thanks to Ron Turner and his crew of helpers who created our new Kiddie Train from scratch! It’s just one more awesome tool we can use to show the love of Jesus to our community.









Update on Warren County Detention Center Bible Study Ministry


Emily met Christ and turned her life around
while attending Bible studies at WCDC.

For seven Sundays in 2008, Urbancrest members prayer walked at the Warren County Detention Center in response to God’s call. Through their obedience, God broke down spiritual walls and opened up the opportunity for teams of men and women to lead Bible studies with the WCDC inmates.

Each Tuesday evening, the ministry teams seek to meet the spiritual needs of young people who are experiencing the trauma of arrest and conviction in their lives. Many times, the youth already realize that they’ve blown it, need a Savior and this time of crisis calls for a redirection of their lives.

“Our team is humbled and amazed at the outpouring of God’s spirit of love and grace upon these youth as His Word transforms their lives,” said team member Donna Turner.

We praise God for what He is doing in the lives of these youth, like Emily Easton who recently graduated from Boys Town High School and will be attending Toledo University this fall.



Flexible, Fluid and Faithful

This week kicks off Urbancrest summer missions in a big way! It all begins Sunday morning with our Pancake Breakfast and Devotion outreach at Cedarbrook Campground. UBC volunteers will begin cooking at 8 AM in the pavilion and serve Cedarbrook campers at 8:30 AM. The campground is located on State Route 123 just north of the intersection with Silver Street. If you have questions, team leaders Jeff & Terri Lipot can be reached at jlipot@embarqmail.com.

Wednesday, June 8 is our first Block Party for 2011 at Tecumseh Trails Park on Navaho Drive. Direction sheets are available at the Block Party table in the UBC lobby. Team leaders Kelli Hundley (kellihundley@yahoo.com) and Deanne Clem (clemje@embarqmail.com) encourage Urbancrest families to minister together, share the Gospel and have some fun!

Missions is a fluid, dynamic ministry and sometimes project changes can be discouraging. Due to some local permit trouble, Tristate Habitat for Humanity has asked our Urbancrest volunteers to postpone our involvement until July. Two dates open to volunteer help of all experience levels are July 9 and July 23. Contact team leader Danny Mitchell (mitchdj@go-concepts.com) for updates and more information on this project as the dates are subject to further change.

Remember that our reactions to these changes will be noted by Habitat for Humanity, our community and our congregation. We have an opportunity to show love and understanding toward everyone involved in the process through our actions, which, as you know, speak louder than words. By reacting differently than lost persons during setbacks, we can reflect Christ-likeness and glorify God.

Families, Flapjacks and Faith at Cedarbrook Campground

The Cedarbrook Campground Ministry Team is planning Pancake Breakfasts on June 5, July 10, July 24, August 14 and August 28. They will meet for food prep these dates at the campground pavilion at 8 AM and will serve breakfast guests around 8:30 AM. Besides volunteers, this team could also use extra griddles to get the food ready on time! Interested in helping? Please email Team Leader Terri Lipot at jlipot@embarqmail.com with dates your family can flip some flapjacks!

In addition, this ministry team will host Backyard Kids Clubs July 20-22 and August 10-12. Plans are to use the 2010 VBS (Saddle Ridge Ranch) crafts and stories. It’s an easy way to plug in and serve the families who are camping at Cedarbrook. Contact Terri if you are available any of these dates.

An exciting update is the opportunity to do family ministry at the campground. Cedarbrook Campground has stipulated that the gospel must be presented in some way and we’re sure happy to abide by their wishes! The first weekend for this outreach is tentatively set for Friday, June 17, but there are many more to choose from. Send Terri an email to find out more. 

Last year we hosted face painting, water games, bubble gum blowing contests, Derek Dye the juggler, a scavenger hunt and a hymn sing. This year, Urbancrest families can camp out, host an activity, present the Gospel and make new friends. It’s a great chance to minister as a family during the summer months!

What’s New in Summer Missions at Urbancrest?

This summer we will unveil our new Kiddie Train at the June 8 Block Party at Tecumseh Trails Park! Pick up a flyer at the Block Party table in the foyer beginning May 29 for the details on each week’s Block Party this summer. Block party leaders Kelli Hundley (kellihundley@yahoo.com or 937-367-8429) and Deanne Clem (clemje@embarqmail.com) are looking for a Transportation Coordinator who will organize workers to move the Block Party Trailer from UBC to the block party location and back to UBC each week. A complete Block Party schedule is available on the Urbancrest missions webpage, http://www.urbancrest.info/missions/local_missions/lmissions.htm.

Urbancrest will host a Habitat for Humanity building day on June 18. Team Leader Danny Mitchell (mitchdj@go-concepts.com or 513-282-6397) is holding an informational meeting this Sunday, May 15 at 12:30 PM in Room 201. A construction, photography and feeding teams will assist Randy Fields and his two sons, Brandon and Robert, to build their new home and document the experience. UBC folks can invite their non-believing friends or relations to participate too. This kind of work opens up the door to conversations about faith and the love of Jesus.

For many families, summer means camping out at Cedarbrook Campground in Lebanon, OH. UBC is sponsoring a family-friendly summer ministry that includes weekend outreach events and a Wednesday night Block Party with Dale McCloud and his horse Spirit! Urbancrest families can camp for free on Saturday night, work with the Family Night outreach and then again at the pancake breakfast and devotion service on Sunday morning. Last year’s outreach events touched families from as far away as Australia! Team Leaders Jeff and Terri Lipot (jlipot@embarqmail.com or 513-897-2335) would love to have you work with them this summer.



Praise & Worship at Cedarbrook






Juggler Derek entertains & shares the Gospel



A bubble blowing contest brings out the kid in everyone!

Proclaiming Christ (our Hope) at Easter through Baskets of Hope!



“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead….” [1 Peter 1:3, NJKV]





On Sunday evening, April 17^th, we celebrated our 2^nd year anniversary for our Baskets of Hope [BoH] ministry which we launched here at UBC three years ago! We blessed 126 families Sunday evening with complete Easter dinner and trimmings for them to prepare and share with their families to celebrate Easter together! In addition, we blessed 26 families on Thursday, April 14^th, partnering with our new church planter Chris Straw, Living Word Bible Church. So our total number of families blessed through Easter Baskets of Hope was 152 this year compared to less than half that number our 1^st Easter BoH!

At our Sunday evening service on April 17^th, we worshiped together with our UBC praise team, Kids for Christ [KFC] choir, and our hand-bell choir! Pastor Tom shared a devotional message about the encounter with Christ by the two men on the road to Emmaus. What a change Christ’encounter made in their lives!

Personal lives were also changed at Baskets of Hope as they encountered Christ through the gospel message. We had a total of 2 folks who invited Christ into their hearts and lives [one on Sunday and one on Thursday] and 2 re-dedications on Sunday night! Praise the Lord…new believers were added to the Kingdom of God!



4H Group



Our BoH ministry is also expanding out into the community as well. Irene Parent from our UBC congregation, invited the youth and parents from Warren County 4-H to volunteer and help us! What an awesome team numbering 30+ helped at hospitality and VBS tables, assisted in packing the Baskets of Hope, and helped carry the baskets out to our BoH recipients’ cars. Even better news, the 4-H group joined us in our worship time and heard the gospel too!

 








Our Baskets of Hope initiatives for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are led by Cheryl Kemp. Thanks to our great team leaders that work with her to make all this possible: Kelly Cummings, Nathan Coates, Susan Byrd, Sandy Huddleston, Cathy Dwire and Pat Mitchell. More leaders and helpers are needed to grow this ministry. To learn more about how you may serve in this awesome ministry, contact Cheryl Kemp at ckemp4@woh.rr.com or Mike Wright, UBC local mission’s strategist at mwright@urbancrest.org.