June 19, 2009 - Rowlett -

As Roman Soldiers search the market place where workers go about their business of crafts and food, this week the children participating in Still Water Community Church’s “Survivor Ancient Rome” Vacation Bible School get a taste of what it was like to be an early Christian in the first century.  Families sneak past Roman Soldiers as they make their way from Paul’s home, where he is under house arrest, to the secretive and growing underground church to worship.  The drama heightens as a Roman Soldier’s survival is in jeopardy as God transforms him into a new person as a believer.

Ancient Rome comes to life as five acres of property are transformed like no other Vacation Bible School experience.  The majority of the action is outdoors, with the exception of the secret underground church, where young children along with their families grow in the excitement and the spirit of the theme through various activities including tasting authentic Roman food, making crafts with the shop keepers in the market place and participating in activities like shot put or cardboard chariot races out at the coliseum.

Approximately 150 volunteers participate as family group leaders, actors in dramas, shop keepers, worship team, games team and registration workers.  Behind the scenes many people donated food, supplies, skills in administration, decorating and building sets and sewing costumes.

David Hale, Family Life Pastor, explains, “In America, we are fortunate that we have our freedom.  All around the world there are situations like those experienced in ancient Rome where people are in constant danger, put into jail or worse.  Not only are we bringing children closer to Christ in an authentic way as possible, we are teaching them by relating their experience to the real world where people in certain cultures cannot worship freely.”

Ten years ago as he was working with children at a Vacation Bible School, Hale felt God open up hearts, including his own.  “It is an unmatched experience,” says Hale.  “Gifts are well hidden and God is able to make them visible.”  One of the great joys he witnesses are not only the opening up of young children’s hearts, but that of the parents and adults who are having just as great a time as the children in the activities and games.  At VBS, where priceless smiles are seen and contagious enthusiasm is caught, Hale is confident that stories will be shared about how lives are changed in both children and adults alike.

Members of the church will be doing important work in the real world and there is one small way that children can help.  As an outreach, Still Water Community Church is sending twenty members to Sullana, Peru from July 10 to 19, to help plant thirteen churches (www.e3partners.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=30299). The children at VBS are partnering to transform lives in Peru by competing to raise money and donations for school supplies for children in Peru. 

For children hoping to enjoy further transforming experiences, there is another opportunity to look forward to, which is Camp Gap at Mt. Lebanon Encampment in Cedar Hill from July 6 to 10 (www.mtlebanoncamp.com/summer_camp.html).  Camp Gap is for children who have completed third through sixth grade.  Registration may be made online at the website, www.stillwatercommunitychurch.org or at Still Water Community Church located at 8401 Princeton Road in Rowlett.

About Still Water Community Church

The mission of Still Water Community Church is to reach, teach and multiply by God’s grace and for His glory.

Still Water Community Church was formed as a new church in Rowlett August of 2006 by several families.  After a period of meeting in various temporary spaces, they moved to their current location in September of 2007 where they have three services; two Sunday morning services at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and a third service Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. which was added in September 2008 to accommodate the growth.

You will find a warm and friendly atmosphere at Still Water where there are folks from all kinds of differing walks of life, and who are at different places in their spiritual journey and share the life transforming message of Jesus.

Still Water Community Church
8401 Princeton Road
Rowlett, TX 75089
http://www.stillwatercommunitychurch.org

Pastor Contact:  972- 636-8190

Pastor: Kurt Horting, kurt@stillwatercommunitychurch.org
Executive Pastor: Dan Pence, dan@stillwatercommunitychurch.org
Family Life Pastor: David Hale, david@stillwatercommunitychurch.org

Interviewer: Kin Penney, klp17@msn.com
214-762-8253

###