By Justin Davis

Cross Point Church in Beckley, West Virginia, recently held the Amazing Chemistry Show, a community outreach event at which over 1,000 people heard the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Planning for the event began two years ago when the children’s ministry team began thinking and praying about a way to engage the local community. The team had two goals in mind: the first was to have an event that would bring families with children to the church; the second was for those attending the event to hear about the love of Jesus Christ. The team found an event that seemed to fit the bill. However, the cost of undertaking such a large event seemed insurmountable. Yet, the team believed this was the plan God had for them, and they took a step of faith and began talking with Josh Denhart, founder of the Amazing Chemistry Show.

After serving as a children’s pastor for over ten years, Josh transitioned all his vocational energies toward KidMin Science, a ministry founded by Denhart. Josh is a seasoned educator with BA in chemistry education, an MA in effective instruction, and earned National Board Certification in young adult and adolescent science. As a former high school chemistry teacher, Josh melded his love for science and for Christ, creating the Amazing Chemistry Show, a traveling gospel-centered stage show with fire, explosions, and foam.

The Amazing Chemistry Show featured two components for Cross Point’s outreach event. One component was school assemblies held in elementary schools where students rotated through hands-on science labs, featuring rockets, slime, catapults, and bridges made out of candy, as well as a stage show centered on character development. The second component occurred at the church with over 100 hands-on science learning stations and a stage show. The event was sponsored through donations from local businesses and organizations in the community, as well as members of the church.

The original plan for the event was to hold one school assembly and one stage show at the church; however, God had other plans. Rhonda Duckworth, children’s pastor at Cross Point Church, commented, “It’s amazing what happens when God is involved in something. Often he grows those plans into something bigger and better than anything we could ever dream possible.”

Ultimately, the event grew to two school assemblies and three sold-out stage shows at the church! The event was free of charge to guests. The obedience of the children’s ministry team to take a step of faith paid off in an amazing way with over 1,000 people coming to the stage shows at the church where the message of hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ was shared. Each family that attended the event also received invitations to additional events being held by the church, including a fall harvest party and a trunk-or-treat outreach.

Cross Point Church is located in Beckley, West Virginia, where Vondie Cook II serves as lead pastor. You can learn more about the church by visiting www.beckleycrosspoint.org.

Learn more about the Church of God movement at www.JesusIsTheSubject.org.

Feature (top) photo: Josh Denhart, founder of the Amazing Chemistry Show, and Rhonda Duckworth, children’s pastor at Cross Point Church.