All-Church Spaghetti Dinner

A Note from David Conrad…

April Showers That May Bring Followers

Dear Church Family,

                Growing up, I heard the phrase, “April showers bring May flowers” nearly every spring when it would start to rain.  This statement, as cute as it is, remains to be fairly true.  The past couple of years in Northwest Arkansas, the May flowers came and the summer sun scorched away their beauty.  The heat of the summer has taken its toll on the pastel colors our land is used to seeing.  I want to share with you how God has changed that phrase for me forever.

                Let me share with you about my experience the last few years in Northwest Arkansas and the April showers I have seen.  My first year at BVCC, I was simply terrified of the daunting task of putting on a spaghetti dinner and pie auction for so many people!  TERRIFIED!!!  The week ahead, we had most of the details in order and the night of, nearly twice the amount of people who had registered arrived to eat a delicious Italian meal.  If you know how I prepare a meal, there is always extra food!  Thank God there was because so many people showed up!!!  I was so excited!  I cannot explain to anyone how much it means to be part of a church that makes student ministry a priority! 

                This is where the April showers come into play.  Every year, as I scan the crowd to watch God’s family in fellowship, enjoying the company of one another, and supporting students in their walk with Christ, it never fails that there are tears of joy being shed.  The tears are for many different reasons I’m sure.  Some of the tears are because the years of prayer, faith and sacrifice have brought the young families into the church that so many wanted to reach out to for years!  These prayers are still being answered!  A lot of the tears are because it was the first family experience at BVCC and we have a great family!  My students and sponsors are always humbled to serve and be loved by our church family.  And yes, even my eyes seem to sweat with perspiration because there is nothing like the church being the church!

                I believe the prayers, faith, sacrifice, and tears of the saints at BVCC are producing an entire flock of May flowers that will be able to stand the heat of life ahead.  Our students are growing and becoming more complete in Christ with each day.  CIY Move conference is a place where students can get away from the distractions of life, saturate themselves with Christ, and be free to see the kind of Christ follower they want to be!  Any of our week long events is about the time equivalent of an entire year in youth ministry!  The cost for a student to go to CIY is right at $400.  Not many students can even think of coming up with that number and many families have multiple students who can go.  The spaghetti dinner has cut that price in half every year!  This year we have 30 spots reserved! 

                I believe that the seeds sown generously, the seeds fertilized with prayer, the seeds watered with showers of tears of joy and generosity -  like at the spaghetti dinner, are all pieces to what helps many students grow into vibrant Christ followers that radiate God’s love to all people!  These students will be able to stand in the desert of Jr. High and High school and share the living water with so many!  I want to say thank you in advance for your partnership in Christ’s call to disciple young leaders in the church!  THANK YOU!!!

The All-Church Spaghetti Dinner will be held on Sun., April 21 @ 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.  Following the meal will be a dessert auction (verbal and silent).  If you plan to attend the dinner and/or would like to provide a dessert for the auction (this can include pies, cakes, minimum 2 doz. cookies, or brownies, etc.)  please sign up HERE.  

In His Hands, 

David Conrad