This year, July 21-25, Parkview Church of Christ is hosting their Children's Summer Outreach program, Vacation Bible School.     This summer, your child can expect:   *A growing knowledge of the Bible *The beginning of new friendships *The growth of current friendships *An in depth study of four "life-lesson" scriptures *A whole lot of fun and excitement     Each day we focus on a specific "Code" God has set for us to live by [see codes].  Each Code focuses on an area children need to grow in.   *Day one: Family Growth *Day two: Relational Growth *Day three: Emotional Growth *Day four: Spiritual Growth         Parkview's purpose for their Children's Outreach program is twofold; to encourage and teach a child to develop spiritually and to develop socially with relationships and into adolescence. We don't feel this ministry should consist of one person leading everything. One person cannot hold the fates of children’s spiritual growth in their hands. It takes a team of teachers, parents and volunteers with a passion for children and a heart for God, working together with the common goal of building up children for the Lord. When this occurs, you will find ministry at its finest and God will bless the work of those.       Encouraging the spiritual growth of a child at church and church activities is essential, but what happens when the child is around peers at home or school? One purpose mentioned above of this ministry is to teach kids how to form relationships, how to be a good friend and overall, preparing them for growing up.       From preschool to elderly, we are constantly confronted with the world’s idea of how we should live our lives, and this pressure can be especially difficult for a child. We believe a child should be taught how to interact with others, how to make and keep friends and how to talk to others about their beliefs all in a Godly fashion. Friendships are a part of life that are essential in growing up, so it’s important to form them wisely.       We believe it is the churches job to help develop an understanding of God’s love by teaching in a non abstract way, encouraging questions on salvation and working with parents to ensure that their children are living in a Godly household. The ministry should build God up in the child’s mind, give the child a desire to want to know more about Him, and consistently be present to display God’s love in their lives.     Because the age range in children’s ministry is so great, different methods of teaching and encouragement have to be implemented. Where first graders may need a song to remind them of the days of creation, a fifth grader might respond better to building their own representations of each day. Manipulating the methods of teaching to fit an age is required so that each child can understand on their level.       We have a passion for ministering to and entertaining children for the Glory of God. Stop in this summer and see what it's all about.     Bradley Brooks VBS Coordinator