2022 HOMETOWN HEROES MAGAZINE

2022 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May / June 2022 Page 19 Family Fun Day, one of the church’s largest events, started in 2008. Since then, Crawford said they have held it every year besides 2020, when it had to be cancelled due to covid restrictions. Held in mid-June, Family Fun Day is a free event for the whole community and a way to help people. Crawford said over 2,500 people usually come to the events. Some years, Crawford said, almost 3,000 have come to the event. At the annual Easter egg hunts, members of the congregation and residents from Christian Horizon fill and hide 10,000 eggs for children from around the community to find. The Blessing of the Bikes, held in May, usually brings 30 or more cyclists. Crawford said, this year the Christian Motorcyclists Association is helping with the event. The community Thanksgiving meal is another popular event. Most years, it is held in the sanctuary of the church. In November 2020, when large gatherings were unadvisable, Crawford said they decided to offer meals drive through style. That year, they served more people than ever before. During the early part of the pandemic, when many restaurants were only able to provide limited services, Crawford and the church decided to provide Sunday “drive through” meals. Every Sunday for fourteen weeks, the church partnered with a local restaurant. Crawford said they were serving between 700 and 1,200 meals per week. To help the businesses, the church gave $500 over and above the cost of the meals. Carlton said the church gave these businesses extra money to help bless the restaurants during covid. As he said, “you cannot out-give God.” In recent years, the church started a sports ministry. Crawford said they have a men’s basketball league with six teams made up of both church members and community members. Open Arms has also held a community softball tournament. This summer, Crawford said Open Arms plans to help provide a family friendly “Balloons over Lincoln” weekend. Continue 8