17 Aug Back to School Bash in Findlay, Ohio

The Findlay First UB church (Findlay, Ohio) organized a “Back to School Bash” on August 15 at a local park to celebrate the beginning of the school year for the Findlay area community.

The vision for the “Bash” started six months ago when several local churches came together and asked, “How can we make an impact on our community?” The idea of the school bash was planted.

Four area churches adopted two parks. One park enjoyed the eventual participation of five churches, a Toledo radio station, health department, and Child Evangelism. They provided free haircuts, health inspections, concerts, and games.

Findlay First UB, along with a smaller church, adopted the Riverside park and provided the food and entertainment, the backpacks give away, and face painting by Child Evangelism.

The UB church collected 180 backpacks and filled them will school supplies and Bibles. They also collected 850 cans of pop and close to 1000 hot dogs to be grilled and handed out for free.

In preparation for this, flyers were handed out and Pastor Darwin Dunten was on two radio stations discussing the vision of the “Back to School Bash.” The musical group “Live 4:1” from Fort Wayne, Ind., provided the music and a Christian magician (arranged by the Crosspoint Church) provided the entertainment.

It is estimated that close to 400 individuals from Findlay passed through the “Back to School Bash” at the Riverside park, and 400-500 individuals passed through the Bernard park. Pastor Dunten was also approached by an individual for prayer, and several church women also prayed for a request that was given by an outside person.

The excitement at Findlay First is so great that one Sunday after the event, the people began discussing what they can do next year.

It is the vision of the ad-hock organization to eventually have one church adopt one park on the same Saturday of the year. Meaning, a city-wide “blitz” where the churches go to the people.