SPLASHing the SPLASHers! #SPLASHBartow

Your Coley
Jul 15, 2016
3 min read

Showing People Love And Sharing Him! WOW!! As a youth, I can remember a few missions trips that included backyard Bible Clubs, catchy songs about Jesus loving us all, sharing snacks with children who may very well not see a decent meal for the remainder of the day, and sweltering in a costume of some form to perform a musical that had AWESOME songs about God's love for each and every one of us (I did this is camouflage, doing push-ups for The Lord's Army in Baton Rouge, Louisiana one hot summer at my BIGGEST, y'all...). Mission trips are something that we are called as Christians and lovers of God and followers of Christ to do. Whether it be globally or locally, we are simply told to, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men..." (Matthew 4:19 ESV).

While I FULLY believe that global missions are just as important as local missions, I believe with my whole heart that the mission field starts in your own backyard! When I first heard of SPLASH Bartow, it was while sitting in church and thinking to myself, "OH YEAH!! That sounds awesome! Let's get local youth involved in local missions! Okay, yes, I will pray for it!" That year, we pledged to sponsor two youth for the local venture (because neither The Man nor I could devote the three day time frame to help). And that year, my minis attended basketball camp at Atco Baptist Church with an awesome group of youth and adults who devoted their three days to minister and plant seeds of Christ's love into the hearts and lives of the many Atco Village children who attended basketball camp.

Aidan and Riley were hot and sweaty, but they could tell you what SPLASH meant. "Showing People Love And Sharing Him." That was our first year of showing the SPLASH Bartow youth (wherever my minis happened to be attending day camp/Backyard Bible Club), that we SPLASHed the SPLASHers. It all started with Riley saying, "Mommy. Can we do something nice for the bigger kids at Basketball Camp? They did real good SPLASHING us with God's love!" The love and heart of a child knows NO BOUNDS! So we went to the local bakery...and out of my almost broke pockets came the last little bit I had, but it was worth it! My kids BEAMED when they walked into the last day of camp with cookies shaped like fish, flip flops, and starfish. They felt so good Showing LOVE to the youth who Showed Love to them.

The verse on the box is one of my FAVORITE reminders that we are all a wonderful workmanship of God and that we are created just for a purpose such as SPLASH Bartow. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). We aren't just here to show this LOVE for three days, but WELL beyond those three days...into the weeks, months, and years beyond.

This year, instead of buying goodies and sweets, I baked them. I used the talents that the Good Lord gave me to SPLASH our youth who so sweetly served some of sweetest, but in most need of help, children. It feels so good to give back to these sweet kids who could have easily said, "Nah, I think I will hang by the pool or go to the movies instead of going to SPLASH this year." They CHOSE to show love in a nation that is gripped in fear and distrust. They CHOSE to go out and build ramps for the disabled, paint houses and

shutters, hold backyard Bible clubs, and shower special needs kids with attention and love that they may not normally receive from kids their own age. My heart is humbled and warmed.

Each year, though, SPLASH Bartow is in desperate need of adult helpers who can either lead crews, volunteer their time to supervise groups of youth at night, put together lunches, or wash needed laundry for the next day. I have attached links to the various SPLASH sites where you can link up and ask questions, submit prayer requests, and be prepared for this amazing missions venture next year when these youth SUBMERGE on Bartow County, GA and Show the Love of Christ to everyone.