For three years, two Mennonite Brethren churches—more than 1,400 miles apart—have joined forces to give youth a fun-filled, truth-centered Summer Extravaganza. The week-long summer program is for youth in preschool through fifth grade and features worship, crafts, songs, games and snacks that correlate with the theme to ultimately point to the truth of the gospel.
Renewal MB Church (RMBC) in Rapid City, S.D., hosts the event each year with a mission team from Mountain View Church (MVC) in Fresno, Calif. MVC hosts its own Summer Extravaganza, and in recent years has helped RMBC begin its own.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity,” says MVC Children’s Pastor Gloria Wall. “It’s an event where anyone can help because you can incorporate so many random skills. There are so many exciting parts, but I think that definitely is one of them—seeing the body of Christ come together and reach kids in our neighborhoods here or in South Dakota.”
In mid-June, MVC for the third year helped RMBC host its Summer Extravaganza, along with parachurch organization Fellowship of Nations.
Michele Fiester, RMBC elder, is grateful for the body of Christ working together.
“We couldn’t do it without them,” Fiester says. “Really, I think three ministries coming together for one event is such an awesome testimony of how God can bring groups from different backgrounds and even locations for one ministry for his glory.”
Summer Extravaganza isn’t the only link the two churches share. Michele and her husband, Pastor Jon Fiester, sought mentorship and training from MVC when planting RMBC, which built a partnership that still thrives today.
“Mountain View took us under their wing in leadership, discipleship, mentoring of my husband and me and training time in Fresno that gave us tools we could bring back and apply,” Fiester says. “The support alone has been instrumental. They’ve also supported us financially over the years, kept our doors open and have given us the opportunity to have a great youth ministry. Mountain View has been one of our greatest champions, and we are really grateful for that.”
Michele Fiester says that while Summer Extravaganza draws 40-50 youth every year, youth are not the only ones impacted.
Fiester recalls the story of one neighborhood woman who showed initial hesitation to participate in church activities. Intentional conversation and love shown by a MVC missions team and RMBC women at last year’s Summer Extravaganza changed that.
“We connected with her and encouraged her to stay,” Fiester says. “Through her being here and having so many conversations, she came every day, then Sundays and now faithfully for about a year. That would be my highlight from last year.”
Caitlyn Decker is a 2021 graduate of Northwestern Oklahoma State University, having majored in agriculture with a minor in mass communications. Beginning in high school, Decker has written for local newspapers, small businesses, the university campus newspaper and public relations office as well as freelancing. She and her husband, Caleb, live on a farm near New Hopedale Mennonite Church, Meno, Oklahoma, where they are members. They also serve as youth group sponsors.
