A super-charged, high octane event for kids will blast off this Wednesday and Thursday (July 27 & 28) at Dexter First Baptist Church.

Kidz Blitz Live is coming to FBC for two evenings this week, bringing with it a fast-paced, action-packed experience for youngsters. The action will kick off at 6 p.m. Wednesday, and is open to kids throughout the community.

“It’s going to be crazy,” said Christy Vaughn, Children’s Minister at First Baptist. “It’s non-stop high energy the entire time the kids are here.”

Kids Blitz Ministries is from Nicholasville, Kent., and their team will be in Dexter starting Wednesday morning to prepare and host the two nights of Kidz Blitz fun.

The kids from age 3 through 5th grade will be divided into two teams, and the teams will all participate in a variety of games.

“We’re trying to do something new for VBS (Vacation Bible School). This year we’re trying to do something different,” Vaughn said.

The Kidz Blitz Ministries crew will return to Dexter in October for a family event hosted by First Baptist.

“We have volunteers who will be helping with program,” she explained. ”We’re excited!"

"There are great Vacation Bible Schools out there; we wanted to do something different. They do present the Gospel in their own way with the games and activities. They say they turn kids from spectators to participants.”

Vaughn said the Kidz Blitz crew has what they call a “Tornado Operation” – big machine that shoots out toilet paper “everywhere.”

Kids are invited to attend beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening; each evening will conclude at 7:30 P.M.

The young people at St. Joe General Baptist Church had the opportunity to meet Pastor Phillip Pusey of Jamaica this last Sunday. The young people are part of the congregation’s G.L.O.W. program (Go Light Our World). Brother Pusey is pastor of a growing church in Jamaica! The youngsters included (from left to right): Benjamin Stevens, Dylan Sitze, Anna Bishop, Will Robinson, Joe Rice, Abigail Conner, Caelyn Conner, Caroline Robison, Jake Rice, Natalie Sitze and Madilyn Hampton. The pastor at St. Joe is Greg Stevens of Bloomfield and the G.L.O.W. program leader is Hannah Stickles. St. Joe General Baptist Church is located at 17537 State Highway FF, Bloomfield. (Photo submitted by SMT reader Tracy Robison).

Good morning. I hope you've had a great summer so far. It's been unbelievably hot as of late and there's more of that on the way. I hope you're able to find a cool spot through all of this. It's a very exciting time here at First UMC and there's no other place I'd rather be.

Check out what's happening:

First UMC Helping Other Churches. I'm heading to Kansas City early next week to represent First UMC and visit with Northland Church. This is a brand new church plant located right inside the city. They've heard about what you're doing here in Sikeston and want to know more. I'm eager to meet with their pastor and leaders to discuss how we can help them. On Wednesday of next week, we'll welcome a team from Trinity UMC in Piedmont. They're wanting to sit in on staff meetings, meet with staff and laity, and learn more about how you're doing it here. Hats off to you for being a model to others around the state. Your missional focus is very rare.

Saturday Night Concert. Oftentimes it's difficult to find something for the whole family to do on Saturday nights. Well, we've got a solution for you. This Saturday beginning @ 6pm, we'll offer the Grace Coffeehouse Experience. This will be a casual evening of music from Justin Pobst, Daniel Sexton, Nate Nall, Tony Jones, and The Journey Band. We'll also have coffee and sweets. All of this is FREE. Bring the family and friends and enjoy a Saturday night together.

Parenting Workshop. Speaking of family, on October 1, the premier voice for family and parenting will be @ First UMC. If you have kids in school, you'll want to make plans to be @ our first ever Heartland Parenting Workshop featuring Dr. Tim Elmore. You'll hear more about this soon, but you can check out Dr. Elmore and his bestselling book by CLICKING HERE.

Charles Buck. This weekend we'll begin a 2 part series called "Flashback." We'll welcome back former Sikeston First UMC pastors and their families to give the message. This weekend Pastor Charles Buck will return. He spent 9 years as your pastor. Please spread the word to those who know Charles and let them know he'll be here.

I look forward to seeing you at the Grace Coffeehouse Experience Saturday. Thank you for an amazing first year. I love my church.

Brad Aycock

Kids at St. Joe Baptist Church had a wild celebration last week. In fact, they went a little PandaMania!

St. Joe church held its annual Bible School last week, and youngsters had a fun-filled, and learning-filled five evenings at PandaMania Bible School. With crafts, music, games and Bible Stories, it was a busy week for kids.

According Delisa Sitze, the Bible School averaged 87 youngsters a night for the 5-evening event, with the highest attendance the second night with 95 children.

“The kids had a good, time,” Sitze said. “They didn't want to miss an evening!”

Sitze said the Bible School was so popular, kids often chose attending Bible School, rather than other activities, include baseball practice!

In addition to enthusiastic kids, Sitze said more than 60 adults were on hand throughout the week to volunteer. Many adults were in charge of a "crew" of kids, as well as a wide variety of other volunteer jobs - from games, to crafts, Bible stories, music and more. “This was a good outreach for our church,” Sitze commented.

St. Joe General Baptist Church is located at 17537 State Highway FF in Idalia. Greg Stevens is the pastor.




Submitted photos from St. Joe General Baptist Church

Recently 29 youth and parents from Dexter’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) travelled to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for a summer adventure. The crew left Dexter June 5.

“Over the years the CYF (Christian Youth Fellowship) had many lock-ins and campouts,” but youth leader Tim Holder said this trip was the longest and biggest journey under his leadership.

Two carloads with Holder and his wife Kaye and daughters Kristin and Kelsey, as well as Greg, Kara and Ian Lummukka, Bethany Christian and Erika Cobb left a day before the main group to settle in at Pigeon Forge. According to Holder the group rented two cabins for their week. The cabins were rustic homes, nestled back in a valley less than a mile from the hustle and bustle of Pigeon Forge.

“On Monday the rest of the 20 young people, parents and chaperons left Dexter. Upon arrival the entire group headed to a show at the Comedy Barn – a great family-oriented show with slapstick humor, a ventriloquist, juggler, a trained dog act using rescued shelter dogs, Gospel music and the kids’ favorite, comedian Eric Lambert.” Holder said.

Holder said the Dexter group yelled loud enough that comedian Lambert called Holder to the stage during the act. Holder said video has been posted on the group’s Facebook.

“On Tuesday morning we went to the NASCAR Speed Park where we spent most of the day riding go-carts, climbing on a rock-climbing wall and riding other amusement rides,” he said. That evening the group went to Dixie Stampede.

“You eat everything with your fingers – except Mary Kate Miller, who brought her own silverware in because she knew it was provided at Dixie Stampede,” Holder said.

On Wednesday the group divided, with some going to Scenic Helicopter Tours and some taking in the sun by the pool. That afternoon they all went to Wonder Works, a an “amusement park for the mind” combining education and entertainment in over 100 hands-on exhibits that spark the imagination and challenge the mind.

Dollywood was the destination on Thursday and that evening the youth and adults headed to Great Smoke Mountains National Park for a drive around Cades Cove – an 11 miles drive through the park.

“On the drive we saw more turkeys than I have ever seen there before and I didn’t even count how many deer we saw, including a lot of bucks in velvet,” Holder said. “While on this drive I never heard one person complain that they would rather be playing a video game!”

Holder said that a steady. Light rain was falling on their drive to Cades Cove, but as soon as the group reached the drive the rain stopped.

“God set the stage for a beautiful drive,” Holder said. Each evening the group would gather together for devotional and prayer. “I asked the youth and parents to text me what was the most memorable and almost everyone said the spending time together, doing the lessons and bonding with an extended family was important,” he said. The group returned to Dexter on Friday of that week, and on Sunday, June 26 they led worship for the church family. Those attending included Greg, Kara and baby Ian Lummukka, Bethany Christian, Erika Cobb, Barry, Kim and Jacob Crumley, Tori Buck, Melissa and Julia Hahn, Candy and Mary Kate Miller, Laura and JT Putnam, Valley Reynolds, Cheryl Christian, Kendall Adams, Jordan Dodson, Andrew Garner, Noah Kronk, Addie Kruse, Drake Mitchell, Delany Pullen, and Tanner Rickman.