Thank God for Kids

Centreville Church To Host Former Ringmaster and Rescued Circus Animals to Benefit Sudanese Youth

Rescued exotic animals and a former Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus Ringmaster will be in the “center ring” at a free event at Centreville United Methodist Church May 4, from 4-5 p.m.  The event is one element of a program being undertaken by Centreville United Methodist Church to benefit impoverished, orphaned and at-risk Sudanese youth.

The animals are part of a menagerie overseen by the Rev. Jim Lavender, who, after a career as a circus ringmaster became a minister in the United Methodist Church and founded the Richmond-based Thank God For Kids Ministry.  Thank God For Kids Ministry provides homes to “surplus” entertainment animals, which are shared in safe environments to present object lessons and children’s sermons.  More than 1.5 million children and thousands of adult volunteers have attended Thank God For Kids public events throughout Virginia and the nation.  Lavender illustrates Bible stories and lessons utilizing rescued exotic animals including tigers, African lions, alpacas, a camel, a llama, a kangaroo, miniature horses, miniature donkeys and more.

“Children at our church have been working hard to raise money to help build a school in Sudan for youths with no access to education in a country ravaged by years of civil war,” says Centreville United Methodist Mission Council member Melanie Harrison.  “They are very excited to have the Thank God for Kids Ministry rescued animals here as a way to help them with their efforts.” Admission to the May 4 Centreville UMC event is free, and 100% of any donations and food concession proceeds directly benefit Abukloi, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded by one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan and working on the ground in South Sudan to build a secondary education and vocational facility, and community center, for youth in the region.  For more information on Abukloi, visit www.abukloi.org.

The May 4 event is outdoors, rain or shine. Centreville United Methodist Church is located at 6400 Old Centreville Road, Centreville, at the intersection of Old Braddock Road and Route 28.

For more information, contact Steve Bell, member of the Centreville United Methodist Church Mission Council at stevebell125@verizon.net or 703.394.2242