Making church fun for children

By Jordan Cohen

news@vindy.com

LIBERTY

Sometimes children are less than enthusiastic when told to get ready for church. That was not the case Saturday at Church Hill United Methodist Church.

Scores of kids who needed no convincing turned out for two hours of games, prizes and food at the church’s annual Children’s Fair.

“It’s a good way to let the community know we are all about them,” said the Rev. Ken Kelley, pastor for three years. “It’s our way of showing that the church can be a fun place for the kids.”

Andrew Moyers was anything but bored. The Liberty 9-year-old gleefully and endlessly blew a pink whistle after shooting several tiny basketballs through a nearby hoop not much taller than he is.

Shaun Resk, 8, of Hubbard, briefly struggled while trying to catch a wooden fish in a small water-filled plastic fish pond. Using a small wooden rod with string and a metal hook, he finally landed his prey, winning a plastic turtle that hopped when he pressed a lever under the shell.

“This is almost as hard as real fishing,” Shaun said.

“We started this as a safe place for kids to have fun,” said Terri West, who has been children’s director and initiated the fair 15 years ago when she took the job. Her work for the church is, in itself, a story of overcoming obstacles.

“I was a registered nurse, but couldn’t work anymore because I had breast cancer,” she said. West turned her focus on her new position and says it has fulfilled her in ways she could not imagine.

“I think this is what I was meant to do,” said West who is now cancer-free.

The kids, or more likely their parents, paid 25 cents a ticket for each game. The proceeds, usually several hundred dollars, help fund Church Hill’s vacation Bible school.

“No kid should have to pay to come to school to learn about Jesus,” West said.

Church and community donors provided the prizes including stuffed animals, candy, cakes, and an assortment of toys. “Every child wins a prize,” West said.

Parishioners loyally support the fair each year, no one more than Brittany Orzechowski and her husband, who drove with their 4-year old son Jonah from their home in Mantua.

“We have family here and Jonah loves it,” his mother said.

Jonah, a veteran of the fair despite his young age, was already amassing quite a haul as he showed off a paper bag full of prizes. His latest victory came at the “crazy cans” display in which he threw small bean bags to knock down six plastic cans.

Jonah raised his arms in triumph as the cans toppled to the floor.