The much anticipated Pumpkin Patch Palooza...

Maple Springs is known in the Winston-Salem community as the 'pumpkin church'.  We should be considering we've been running a Pumpkin Patch for 35 years :)  For the past few years, they've held 2 events each fall.  This year, we decided to combine all the efforts and host one big event.  As Joe and I discussed the event, the word we first used to describe it was big....that description quickly changed to epic.  Well, I think it is safe to safe that God turned our simple event into an epic event that was used to build His Kingdom here on earth.

Of course we had our pumpkins, we had inflatables, we had games (including an awesome Go Fish game), we had cotton candy, we had live music (thanks to Brittany Bethel) , delicious hot dogs and veggies burgers, and we had Trunk or Treat.  but the best part- every bit of it was free to the community!!  The event officially started at 5pm but people starting arrive shortly after 4:30.  I think it is safe to say that by 5:30 our parking lot was full and people were having to start to park on the road.

The awesome Go Fish sign!  That game was a hit!

Last night was a glance at what the Kingdom looks like.  It was what the Kingdom on earth is supposed to look like.  I loved walking around and seeing smiles on people faces- hearing great conversations and watching people serve.

The crazy group of Thing 3's!

I found it kind of funny that as I got in my car to begin driving around and collecting things from around the church parking lot the song on the radio was none other than "Build Your Kingdom Here". I turned the radio up loud and jumped out of the car and started dancing- a couple of the other "Thing 3s" immediately joined in.  We sang at the top of our lungs.  The chorus of the song goes like this:

Build Your Kingdom here.

Let the darkness fear.

Show your mighty hand.

Heal our streets and land.

Set your church on fire.

Win this nation back.

Change the atmosphere.

Build Your Kingdom here.

We pray.

Last night, Maple Springs was on fire!  What a blessing!  The Lord truly was using the people of the 'pumpkin church' to build HIS Kingdom here on earth!  Hallelujah!