The Shoe That Grows Kids at First UMC Bentonville Raise Thousands for New Shoes, Heifer, Rice Bowls By Sam Pierce Featured Contributor,
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hree years ago, Sadie Stratton Wohlfahrt, the Minister to Children and Families at First United Methodist Church in downtown Bentonville, began writing her own Vacation Bible School curriculum. “I felt strongly that we could use this huge momentum of the biggest event of the children’s ministry year, to really make an impact in the world,” Wohlfahrt said. “Rather than playing games that are only loosely related to a theme, and making crafts that end up on the floor of the car or in the trash – I thought we could spend the same amount of time, energy and money, being in the service to our neighbors. “In the process, VBS participants learn about what mission means, and about the needs of their neighbors near and far.” The goal for the participants is to understand faith in action, Wohlfahrt said.
The Shoe That Grows is shoe with five buckles that can be expanded as the person’s foot gets larger, making it last for years. || Photo Provided by First UMC Bentonville
“They will know we are disciples by our love and learn about the kinds of needs that kids their age have across the world; things that we might take for granted like food, clean water, shoes that fit, an education, medication and a safe place to sleep,” she said. “The goal for our beneficiaries was that they would have a sign of God’s love through the gifts we provided.” This year, Wohlfahrt and First UMC Bentonville’s VBS partnered with The Shoe That Grows, Heifer International
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