A student from a youth group giving a hug to a young girl from the community at Rainbow Express this past Spring.

Hundreds of student groups are coming into town this summer to lead Rainbow Express.^®

In fact, we started this week with First Baptist Church of Ninnekah, OK.  Fifteen (15) students arrived Sunday afternoon and headed home last night.

Oklahoma baptists would be proud of these hard-working teenagers. Early each morning, they joined in a variety of jobs around the Mission (sorting clothes, moving food, lifting furniture into trucks),  then spent each afternoon sharing God’s Word with songs, games, crafts, and puppets through Rainbow Express.^®  Even in the burgeoning heat of early summer in May, these students never complained. The JOY they had in the work, impacted all those they encountered.

Prayer undergirds this important work, and love provides the motivation.  Churches set aside resources, and parents pray while their students load into church vans and travel to another state to serve the Lord.   Youth ministers receive the large body of material weeks ahead of time, and students devote a few hours each week in preparation for the trip, learning four days worth of Bible stories, activities, songs, crafts, and games.  When the students arrive, we know already that they could have stayed home, instead of spending their free time like this. They chose to leave the comforts of home for a week to live in spartan accommodations with their youth group, to work long days under the hot Texas sun, so that they could express God’s love in practical ways.  Many here were inspired by their loving sacrifice.

Eternity hangs in the balance.  Last year, more than 27,000 children attended a Rainbow Express^®  event in 404 locations, and 977 of them accepted Christ.   These events are a lot of fun. We know, because the children & youth of our community shoot out of their homes as soon as the Rainbow Express^®  team arrives.  Even after an hour and a half of activity, many don’t want to stay instead of going home.  Rainbow Express is designed for children & youth, and it is truly fun.  However, it is also more than that.

The intersection of families from our community, and student groups from across the US, and the teaching of God’s Word fills hearts with HOPE. We are grateful for the privilege we have of sharing God’s love, and spreading His word throughout our community this summer. Come join us, won’t you? Please keep us in your prayers.  We are excited about the months ahead.