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Easter Celebrations Hop Into Wesley Chapel

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: April 1, 2009

Thousands of children are expected to squeal with delight during the Victorious Life Church Easter outreach, featuring egg hunts, food and more. The church is planning to reach about 6,500 children through its four-part effort.

On April 11, the church will have Easter egg hunts, games, music and more at three different locations including The Shops at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel District Park and Pasco Woods Apartments.

John Formby, children's pastor, said the annual outreach has grown tremendously.

"We have 75,000 eggs to fill with candy and then use for egg hunts," Formby said. "We used to have big egg hunts here on the church campus, but now it has evolved. We will have egg hunts at many different places throughout Wesley Chapel and the Tampa area."

The outreach at the Wesley Chapel park, 7727 Boyette Road, is a partnership with the Wesley Chapel Rotary. The second annual Bunny Bonanza is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature an egg hunt at 11 a.m., a children's parade at 10:30 a.m. and bounce houses and free food throughout the event.

Lily of the Valley, an outreach center the church operates in Wesley Chapel, will be at the Pasco Woods Apartments, 6135 Ryerson Circle, Zephyrhills from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. That event will include an egg hunt, water slides, free food and ice cream.

The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, will have egg hunts every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., face painting, a bunny trail and $2 train rides.

"Through the bunny trail, children will have passports that they will have to take to different shops to get stamps," Formby said. "Once the passport is full, they bring it back to the Easter Bunny to get a prize."

The church is also handing out all the makings for egg hunts in a self-contained box. The boxes are filled with prizes, eggs, bags and more for families to host egg hunts in their own neighborhoods. Formby said each box should provide enough for 25 children and the church is giving out 50 boxes during the outreach.

"We have taken the huge egg hunts and condensed them into a box so that people can take them into their neighborhoods," Formby said. "There are prizes for the kids, 500 eggs, fingerprint kits, cards telling about our Easter services and door hangers to advertise to the neighborhood about the hunt. Each family can host the hunt how they want and where they want."

In addition to handing out candy, eggs and prizes, the church will also give away something alive.

"We will have caterpillars in these little containers to give to people attending," Formby said. "Seeing how the butterflies change represents how Christ died and rose again because he was given new life. It is a simple way to share the Easter story."

For information, visit victoriouslifechurch.com or call (813) 973-2230.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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