Constructing a Church, Building a Relationship

“Summer Blast: Built to Last” was the theme of this year’s ministry program for children at Kingsfield Church in Aliso Viejo.

During the week of Aug. 22, 160 children—ages 4-11—wore hard hats and orange vests with reflective stripes.  There were orange cones on the floor and construction signs on the walls. The goal was to teach the importance of building for others and building strong relationships.

“Pastor Chris Norman’s father is in construction,” said Brenda Paternostro, director of Kidz Ministries at Kingsfield, so they were
able to borrow some real vests and hard hats.

The children were divided into eight crews to rotate through activities.  There was a Bible lesson, a craft and an activity.  During snack time, the children listened to guest speakers who talked about building for others.

Hands of Mercy, a nonprofit that helps churches build loft houses for families in Mexico, provided a presentation.  The children learned how simple 12-by-12-foot structures provide protection and shelter for homeless families.

Another speaker was from Habitat for Humanity.  Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, this nonprofit organization builds and rehabilitates homes in partnership with families in need. 

The daily offering from the children at the Summer Blast totaled
more than $675, which will be divided between these two organizations.

To make it fun, Paternostro said, the kids were told to go home and “count the number of tools in your toolbox.  If you have 10 tools, bring 10 cents for each tool.  If you have one roof on your house, bring one dollar.”

It was all about building. Even the interior at Kingsfield Church looked like a construction site.

“When we picked that theme, we didn’t know we would be building into these other suites,” Paternostro said, referring to the additional office space that became available in the Pacific Park Plaza behind 24-Hour Fitness.

Kumon Math & Reading Center was between the church offices and the empty suites, so it agreed to move over two doors, enabling
the church to expand. 

Kingsfield used the Pacific Park location for administrative offices while church services were held at Edwards Theaters in the Aliso Viejo Town Center.  Now that the remodeling is nearing completion, all of the operations will be held in the Pacific Park location. The first church services will be held there Sept. 11.

At Kingsfield Church, they’re building something else—a relationship with the community—so there was no charge for children to attend
the Summer Blast.

Donations are accepted for activities at Kingsfield, but, Paternostro said, “we never charge for anything.  Some people are really struggling, and we don’t want to exclude anyone.  We want to
get to know the community and have them get to know us.”

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To learn more about Kingsfield Church, visit its website
at kingsfieldchurch.org.

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