For several months now, a number of Spokane churches have been working, planning, scheming, inviting, calling and praying about SPOKANE’S 1^st FAMILY DAY.  The idea of celebrating God’s great institution of family on an annual basis was the brain-child of our Slavic brothers and sisters down the street.  

Our hope and prayer is that this celebration will become, in a few short years, not only a city-wide celebration but something that catches on in other cities across our nation and eventually becomes a national celebration of family.  But that’s the long-term, big vision. 

SPOKANE FAMILY DAY will take place this Saturday, August 3^rd, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Liberty Park in Spokane’s East Central Neighborhood.  The goal is to give everyone—families and singles of all ages—a great time together playing games, being outdoors and enjoying food, live music and encouraging Stories-of-Hope about what God is doing through this sometimes challenging thing we call “family.” 

Not only do I strongly encourage you to at least plan to come and enjoy a couple of hours with a lot of God’s people from other local churches in Spokane; I’m also asking for help from 10-20 of you for about two hours (11-1 or 1-3) to help man two of the events people can do together: 

• The FISH DRAG-RACE
• Old-fashioned KICK BALL

Here’s specifically what we need for both.

1.)  Fish Drag-Race:  Have you ever been part of a fish race? Well it’s high time you had a new experience.  Fish races on Spokane Family Day will take place in nice, straight, clean and water-filled gutters (that are capped at both ends, of course).  “How do you train a fish to race?” you ask?  By blowing bubbles behind it, of course, to coax it forward.  First one to the finish line wins…the fish!  We simply need a few “fish-handlers” who can explain the rules and practice “catch-and-release” of some very athletic and good-looking gold fish. 

2.)  Kick Ball:  This will take place at the baseball diamond with people cycling in and out at their leisure.  We just need some good-natured, fun-loving “referees” and “monitors” to keep things happy and moving (and kid tears to a minimum). We’ll make it harder on the adults and more rewarding for kids than your average kick-ball game. 

So…will you PLEASE email me if you would like to help for 2 hours ( ).  Just let me know a.) which event you would like to help host, and b.) which time slot you want to do that (11:00-1:00 p.m. or 1-3:00 p.m.).  I assure you (as best I’m able), that there will be some eternal joys awaiting you. 

So here is the rough schedule of events, list of activities and family-friendly resource organizations you’ll get acquainted with at SPOKANE’S FAMILY DAY.  And don’t forget to leave room for the FREE FOOD and raffle prizes that will be given out all day long. 

SEE YOU SATURDAY!

Family Day Schedule

            11:00               Let the games begin!  Welcome, instructions

            11:15               Live Music:  Countrygrass (Bluegrass)

            12:00               Speaker #1:  Ron Hauenstein,

                                    Testimony/Story of Hope #1: 

                                    Interview with Teen-Aid

Raffle drawing #1

            12:30               Live Music:  Elisha Mitchell, Bethel AME  (Black Gospel)

            1:15                 Speaker #2:  John Repsold

                                    Testimony/Story of Hope #2: 

                                    Interview with CRU and Family Life

Raffle drawing #2          

            1:45                 Live Music:  Classical piano & cello—Pilgrim Slavic Baptist duo (Classical)

Raffle drawing #3

            2:30                 Interview with Spokane Fatherhood Initiative

            2:40                 Prayer for families

3:00                 Event ends

Family Day Event Stations

1. Bouncy Castle(next to basketball court)
2. Kick Ball (Baseball diamond)
3. Fish Drag Race(near basketball court)
4. Face Painting(CRU/Family Life tent)
5. Basketball games (Basketball court)
6. Disc Golf(Liberty Park course, meet at first tee)
7. Corn Hole Toss (grassy area north of the pavilion area)
8. Horse Shoes(horseshoe pits)
9. Face Painting(CRU/Family Life tent)
10. Swimming (Liberty Park Pool—1:00-4:00 p.m, $2-4)

Church & Organization Display & Free Food Booths

1. Teen-Aid
2. Spokane Fatherhood Initiative
3. CRU/Family Life Conference (Face painting)
4. Tom Sawyer Coffee
5. Mosaic/Changing Lives
6. First-Aid Station
7. Hot dogs & popcorn(South Hill Bible)
8. Snow cones & crafts (Jacob’s Well)
9. Ice Cream & drinks(Pilgrim Slavic Baptist)
10. Youth for Christ, Spokane