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Austintown kids visit the Shake It Up Cafe
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .A group of preschool and kindergarten-aged vacation bible school students smiled while eating yummy popsicle treats on July 22.
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Neighbors | Submitted.During the TEPC vacation bible school, an unofficial boys versus girls battle arose during the Rescue Mission food drive. Pastor Rick Stauffer promised Tammy Loew, director of Children and Family Ministries, that he would take a pie in the face if the boys lost. Once the final counts were in on July 22 and the girls reigned supreme, Loew (right) offered a pie to Stauffer.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Vacation bible school students Kaelyn (left) and Hadyn Bower enjoyed their lime popsicles during snacktime on July 22.
By SARAH FOOR
From July 18-22, over 120 area kids visited a very special restaurant held within the walls of Tabernacle Evangelical Presbyterian Church. During their “Shake It Up Cafe” vacation bible school, the group learned that the bible is a recipe for God’s plan.
In the Shake It Up Cafe, one only needs a few simple ingredients to follow out God’s word, which were explored each day as “daily specials.”
Throughout the week, the group learned to be ready for God, give happily to Him, believe fully in Jesus, remember Jesus often, and to celebrate God forever.
Director of Children and Family Ministries Tammy Loew found that the cafe theme offered many worthwhile lessons to her group of 3 to 10 year olds.
“I appreciate that this theme teaches ‘God made a recipe for me.’ It says that each one of them are special and that they don’t need to be like everyone else, because God made them unique,” Loew shared.
The bible school also supported a food drive at the Shake It Up Cafe, where the students gathered dry foods, canned foods, toliet paper and paper towels to donate to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.
Each day, the bible school included crafts, games, snacks, and bible story times. By the end of the week, the students left with chef hats, recipe card holders, and aprons that each celebrated God’s word.
Director Tammy Loew hoped that her students had fun and learned about the importance of charity during their week at the church.
“I want them to appreciate what they have, and also to understand how special it is for others when they receive a helping hand they need,” Loew said.