Family Fun Day, a day of strengthening community, brings out crowd

 

[June 24, 2019] 

Overcast skies and a chance of rain did not keep people away Saturday, June 22, as Open Arms Christian Fellowship hosted their eleventh annual Family Fun Day. The event held in Scully Park offered plenty of free activities and entertainment for people of all ages.

Open Arms has been hosting this popular event since 2009 and costs are offset in part by local business partnerships.

Larry Crawford, pastor of Open Arms, said they typically have over 3,000 people attend from various communities and the church puts on the event because they love the community and want to strengthen it.

Last year, a 5K run/walk was added and medals were given to the top runners.



The top two runners overall this year were Abby Coers and Lincoln Mayor Seth Goodman (not available for awards).

Other top winners were Zoe Biner, Alexis Younger, Kyle Fry and Brendan Heitzig in the age 11-19 category, Gabby Wainwright and Logan Hayes in the age 20-29 category, Abby Coers and Jackson Johnson in the age 30-39 category, Pamela Talkington and Keith Younger in the age 40-49 category, Cassie Smith in the age 50-59 category, and Brad Nickles, Terry Carlton and Barbara Nickles in the age 60 and up category.



Providing fun for kids of all ages were obstacle courses, bounce houses, slides, water tag, safe archery, basketball, tee-ball, boxing, or carnival style games. Other exciting activities included a photo booth, face painting and balloons.

Entertainment on the main stage had various musical genres ranging from rap to country to pop to Christian music and included Emily Hope Music, Daughters of the King, Mario Canon, Big John and the Band, Elvis impersonator Perry Groves, and Ricky Lee Hilton.

The smiling faces of many children and adults showed how much they were enjoying the day.

Shannon Gonzalez said, “I like the entertainment and my kids Rafael, Damian and Ella are having a blast.”

For those who were hungry from all that fun, there were hamburgers, hotdogs, pulled pork, popcorn, snow kones, cotton candy and funnel cake fries.

Deb Neaville said the funnel cake fries were very tasty.

Many volunteers were there to serve and assist as needed.

Volunteer Jamaica Madigan said she loves serving the Lord and reaching out the community.

Tanya Poulos said the family fun day is a great chance to get outside the walls of the church and share God’s love with the community.

After several uplifting Christian songs from Ricky Lee Hilton, Pastor Crawford told why the church hosts this day each year. He said we do this to bring the community together and strengthen the community.

His message was from Luke 7 where a man named Simon was hosting a big party and invited Jesus and others to his home. Simon did not treat Jesus like the guest of honor though he had seen all Jesus did.

A lady who found out Jesus was there somehow slipped in even though she was not invited. The lady was weeping at Jesus’ feet, then wiped the tears from his feet with her hair and then kissed and poured a very expensive bottle perfume on his feet.

Crawford said this lady had a horrible history but had heard about a man who would help her and forgive her sins. Crawford said Jesus often hung out with people you would not see in church.

Simon thought to himself that if Jesus were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman she was.

Jesus answered Simon’s thought by telling him a story about two people who owed money to someone. Crawford said one owed what would be about $500,000 today and the other owed around $50, but the man forgave both debts. The one who had the bigger debt forgiven was more grateful.

Crawford said the woman who wiped Jesus feet had shown him great love and he forgave her sins.

We all have a past, and Crawford said his life was once full of shame. He said, just as he has at times, many may not feel hope. Crawford said he has not always been on the VIP list and does not care if you are rich or poor or where you live. He just wants to strengthen this community.

Crawford told everyone you matter to God and you matter to us. He said we all matter so much to God that he sent his son to die for all of us.

The message ended with an altar call that over 20 people responded to and he led them in a prayer asking Jesus to forgive their sins and be the Lord of their life.

Church member Stan Parker then shared a testimony about being deathly ill on a ventilator and his organs beginning to shut down, but then experiencing complete healing after just a few days. Parker said just over a year later, he is doing very well and working 60 hours a week and is thankful for God healing him.

Crawford asked for those who needed healing to raise their hands and prayed they would experience God’s healing power whether it be physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, relational or any kind of healing they needed.

The day ended with a drawing for door prizes that included footballs, basketballs, bats, free movie tickets, a free oil change from Neal Tire and Auto Service and gift certificates from several area businesses. The final prize announced was the grand prize of five $100 bills and the winner was Ashley Gail.



As volunteer Maritta Robinson (standing) said Family Fun Day is a great day for fun, family and fellowship and everything is free.

[Angela Reiners]