PHYLLIS BATOR

Youth Pastor Rev. Jonathan Loerop and president of KATW cut the ribbon as they dedicate the new playground at Marco Presbyterian Church.

PHYLLIS BATOR

After having lunch, Sheryl and Todd Toth relax with their children, Tyler, 7, and Ryan, 5 along side the new playground.

PHYLLIS BATOR

Children enjoy the new playground at Marco Presbyterian Church.

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What a wonderful way for a family to spend a Sunday afternoon after church. Hearing the children having a wonderful time in their new playground at the Marco Presbyterian Church would bring tears to your eyes. And the parents were equally thrilled to have such a great addition to their church facility.

Youth Pastor Rev. Jonathan Loerop and president of Kids Around The World (KATW) cut the yellow ribbon as they dedicated the new playground after the 10:30 Sunday service Jan. 13. A picnic followed with free hot dogs, hamburgers, coffee, cake, and soft drinks.

“We had over 50 people from the church laboring over getting the playground ready in three days which was great,” said Loerop. “We recognize that Jesus said ‘Let the children come unto me and do not hinder them.’ So providing a place for God’s littlest of children is what we wanted to do. God loves all his children, middle and big, and we wanted the little children to have a safe place to play. It was built to the glory of God and the joy of His children.”

Jim Rosene is a former pastor who was lead to a ministry with children.

“It began in 1994 over in the Ukraine. I came on board in 2000. Now we have 12 staff members and we just travel around the world and build playgrounds. The next one will be in the Dominican Republic just outside of Santo Domingo. It will be our 100th playground project. For the remainder of the year, we will be in Vietnam, Zambia in Africa, and doing some back in New Orleans for Katrina relief wanting to bring a playground to bring joy and laughter for the children who usually don’t get it,” Rosene said.

He commented that the Marco one was unusual in that two members of KATW were board members and it was a special arrangement. Size of land and budget are the issues. Marco had the land and the playground was designed to fit right in.

Earl Holdsworth and his son worked on this project together. “That’s my granddaughter, Scotia Holdsworth, on the monkey bars. She’s 4 years old and having a fabulous time. My two-year-old grandson is having a good time on the slide,” Holdsworth said.

Sheryl and Todd Toth are parents of Tyler, 7, and Ryan, 5. “This playground is great,” said Todd Toth. “I have memories as a kid of playing outside the church, and now we have children that are at the age where they play and there really hasn’t been a place for them to congregate,” he continued, “and as the pastor said, this is the chance for an outreach, to bring new kids to the church and maybe present the good news of the gospel to them.”

Marge Maas thinks it’s a wonderful opportunity for neighbors to come out and play on the church playground. Maas was the official cake cutter for the outdoor picnic.

Children’s Christian music was playing, some of the children were eating, some were playing in the playground, and parents and grandparents were proud of their children as they watched them go down a slide perhaps for the first time or swinging on the monkey bars. Everyone was having a wonderful time.

The playground truly is a blessing not only to church members but to surrounding neighbors who might have children and wish to come to a service and use the playground. As one person said, “God is good, all the time!”