One thing that our church heavily emphasizes is serving others. Through various programs during the year, families and individuals are encouraged to give of their abilities and time and focus on others – instead of ourselves. My husband and I strongly feel that it is important for our children to learn and understand the importance of putting others before ourselves.

As a member of the Adventures in Odyssey blog team, Focus on the Family is providing giveaway copies of various products for my readers in addition to a free audio series for our family to enjoy. We are participating in the Summer of Service because we firmly believe in serving others – and would do it anyway.

With our school year wrapping up and a bit more free time on our hands, our family is excited to join in with Adventures in Odyssey from Focus on the Family for their Summer of Service – and you can too! Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing how our family is participating in the A.C.T.S. project with Adventures in Odyssey and also holding a few fun giveaways for you all as well {woot!}.

Discover the FUN in serving others!

For over 25 years, Adventures in Odyssey, the audio series from Focus on the Family, has been encouraging kids in their faith. With characters such as Whit, Connie, and Eugene, kids all over the world have been drawn into adventure after adventure – through audio, books, video and more.

The Summer of Service is an endeavor of Adventures in Odyssey to remind kids that “When you serve, everybody wins.” They are teaming up with Christian bookstores around the nation, inviting kids to be a part of the Summer of Service. Not sure how to serve? Bake cookies for a new neighbor, visit an elderly person, help with yard work – the possibilities are endless – and serving can be fun!

The A.C.T.S. {A Call to Service} Challenge and Contest

Adventures in Odyssey is planning a summer full of fun and service. In addition to weekly service ideas and podcasts for the family to enjoy, they are calling on children all across the country to commit to serving their families and communities this summer. AND, they are also looking for TWO children to be Adventures in Odyssey Ambassadors.

During the summer, children participating in A Call to Service {A.C.T.S} can pick up a service log at participating bookstores {or download one online at whitsend.org}. Then collect Adventures in Odyssey character stickers for the hours that have been logged in service. At the end of the summer, children can put together a video clip that tells how they spent their summer serving and why they would like to be the next Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

One hundred winners will receive the brand new AIO Album, and {after online voting} two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent! The out-of-country destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts. You don’t want to miss it! Read the official rule here.

How amazing is that??

Make Plans to Join a Summer of Service

Want to join in with those all over the country that are planning to a summer of service? Maybe you aren’t sure where to begin. Here are a few resources from Focus on the Family to get you started:

• Download a flyer packed with Weekly Service ideas
• Listen to a FREE podcast on the Business of Busyness
• Join in the live webcast and A.C.T.S. launch party on May 22nd at 5:30pm ET

As I mentioned earlier, our family is definitely planning on participating. We’re making a list of things that we can do together to serve others and would LOVE to have your family join in as well. In the months of June and July, I’ll be sharing our projects and hosting a fun giveaway each month as well.

Will you make plans to join us in the Summer of Service? Grab a copy of the Weekly Service ideas, print it off, and get the ideas flowing as a family.

 

Has your family worked on service projects together? What ones have been memorable for you?

How are you hoping to serve others this summer? Leave a comment and share your ideas below!