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Category: Blog
September 30, 2021
Today is National Grief Awareness Day.
At some point in life’s journey, all of us will experience grief.
Grief is a part of life. Whether you grieve the loss of a loved one or the death of a long-cherished dream, the truth is that grief hurts and there is no escape from the pain.
Grief also takes time.
If you are grieving today, remember that you do not walk this journey alone.
Psalm 34:18 tells us:
“The Lord is near to those who are broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Even if you don’t feel like it, God is with you and will help you get through this. There is Hope!
If you know someone who is going through grief today, and you want to help, don’t try to fix it… because you can’t.
Just be there. Being present and offering a hug can go a long way.
The experience of loss can become a defining moment in our life. Allow grief to make you better, not bitter.
Soaked 2021
We are so grateful to Vital Church in Oviedo for hosting its annual Soaked event as a fundraiser for Nathaniel’s Hope!
The event was held on the campus of Vital Church and invited the entire community to have a great time cooling off with the whole family on a variety of wet activities to get SOAKED. Families could slide down massive inflatable waterslides, slip-slide their way down slip & slides, run through sprinklers, play water hockey, and even take a splash in the dunk tank.
Our very own Nathaniel was there and had an amazing time making lots of new friends!
Soaked is unique because it was specially designed for kids with special needs, our VIPs. It kicked off with a “Magic Hour” only for kids with disabilities. This gave these kids with unique abilities the opportunity to participate in the activities without feeling rushed with so many people around. However, most of the VIPs stayed well beyond the Magic Hour and continued to get wet and wild all afternoon.
This FREE event also fed everyone in attendance with wonderful hot dogs and burgers as well as a sweet treat thanks to the generosity of Jeremiah’s Italian Ice.
Vital Church Pastor, Adam Farley said, “This event is designed to celebrate VIPs, introduce the idea of our VIPs to our community, and to raise money to support the vision of Nathaniel’s Hope.” It is such a privilege to partner with such supportive community leaders!
There are lots of great items available in the Soaked 2021 Silent Auction. It is still LIVE until July 17, so get your bids in today! Visit the Silent Auction HERE.
Soaked is an incredible opportunity for churches to create a welcoming environment for VIP families and connect with the broader community. If you are interested in hosting an event like Soaked at your church, please contact us.
Read more about this exciting event from local news outlets:
In case you missed the awesome FOCUS ORLANDO radio interview featuring an interview with our Executive Director, Marie Kuck about our Make ‘m Smile-fari that aired four times on The NEW AM990, FM94.9 The Answer and FM 101.5 The Word, we’ve snagged a clip from the show for you to enjoy now in the comfort of your home! Please feel free to share this link with your friends and family!
Special thanks to host Pete Paquette and #SalemMediaGroup for providing this link and for inviting us to share our story with your audience!
COVID-19 has certainly disrupted all of our lives but for families with children with special needs (VIP kids), the isolation we experience was not uncommon. However, now parents face the challenge of meeting basic needs and health care for their kids amidst shutdowns.
In this webinar, listen to our panel of experienced professionals as they discuss practical ways anyone can bless special needs families during this difficult time. Offering to pick up something at the grocery store, mowing a lawn, or simply chatting with a VIP kid are all simple, practical ways that can make a HUGE difference. Watch the full webinar for more nuggets of wisdom on how you can be a blessing in the lives of VIP kids and their families!
Virtual Church Services for KIDS!!! 
As churches have been forced to close their doors to protect their members, many are offering their services online to continue to bless the community. Here are some that take it a step further and are posting KIDS SERVICES! Many of these are our Buddy Break partnering churches. Check them out and be blessed!
Calvary Orlando – Calvary Kids Services on YouTube
Church in the Son – Kids in the Son YouTube page with Church at Home videos
The Compass Church includes a video lesson and age-appropriate activity pages
Faith Assembly – Kids Way Facebook page features Virtual Vacation Bible School and Kids Church videos
First Assembly North Little Rock SLAM Kids Service
Vital Kids YouTube page with Video Lessons
We want to encourage your VIPs during this time of shut-in. Print these fun coloring pages for your children to color and be reminded that God is with you and He cares for you!
Consider having your VIP color one and give it to a neighbor or family member who may need encouragement!!!
Click the picture below to download…
