CLARION, PA, (BRN) – Over the summer months of 2023, First Baptist Church of Clarion (FBCC) was busy putting evangelism grant funds to good use!

National Night Out

First Baptist Church of Clarion participated in the National Night Out activity sponsored by the Clarion Borough Police Department, Aug. 1, 2023. The activity was from 6-9 p.m. on Main Street in Clarion, Pennsylvania.

Main Street was closed to traffic from 4th Avenue to 8th Avenue and citizens were free to move along Main Street to interact with the various groups and activities, which included food and drinks, face painting, magicians, fire trucks, inflatable bouncy houses, ambulances, police vehicles and a dunking pool.

FBCC had two tables on Main Street. We had Christian themed handouts, chips and candy, glitter tattoos and shave ice. We had up to 20 volunteers from the church to help out, youth and adults.

During the event, we interacted with more than 300 people and had 15 gospel conversations. From our location on Main Street, we could point out our church building which was within one city block of our table location.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School (VBS) at FBCC was held July 10-14, 2023 from 6-8 p.m. The VBS activities were held at the Eagles Pavilion, a community park about three miles from our Main Street location.

We chose to continue on the same theme as last year: “Jesus’ Touch, Teachings, & Miracles.” The daily lessons were the blind man – Matthew 9:27-31; Lazarus – John 11:1-44; Ruler’s Daughter and Woman healed – Luke 8:40-56; The Good Samaritan – Luke 10: 25-37.

Daily activities included an opening, Bible lesson, crafts, recreation and snacks. Once again, the church pianist wrote a song for the VBS program. The song was the memory verse John 9:5 – “As long as I am in the World, I am the light of the world” – set to music.

The Friday schedule was modified to include a closing program, at which approximately 60 parents and other guests attended to see what the children had learned. Overall, we had 128 children attend the VBS.

Have an outreach event you would like to host, but could use a little help when it comes to the cost? Apply for a BRN Evangelism Grant today by visiting brnunited.org/grant!