The field behind Jacob’s Church, Jacksonville, Lynn Township, was brightly colored with bouncy houses for kids, and occasionally adults, to play on during the annual Shinefest presented Aug. 10.

There was a tropical bounce house with palm leaves and a waterfall. The water led to screams of delight but a few said it was too cold.

On another, kids jumped up a step and then tried to see how high they could jump and stick themselves to a “wall.”

Special suits made with hook and loop material held them to the black wall.

There was even a very small bouncy house for the little ones. Another was just for sliding.

Lester Backenstoes’ barrel train, operated by Owen Snyder, took kids riding around the field.

There were also balloons to pop with darts and a Skee-Ball set up.

Teen Challenge is a faith-based organization that helps people with drug problems. The local unit is based in Rehrersburg, but Michael Moretti said it is an international organization. The group also has 12-month discipleship classes.

Members evangelize, work in prisons, give testimonies and work with juveniles.

“Jesus Christ is the only way,” Moretti said.

“Kids need a role model. It’s nice to help others but it helps us, too.

Moretti also said Teen Challenge has a drug awareness team. Kevin Cirelli was helping him at their table.

Barbara Sulzer of Kempton was on hand explaining the benefits of Operation Christmas Child, a division of Samaritan’s Purse. Churches can use their own shoe boxes or buy some from the organization. They are filled with toys, pencils, paper, small clothing items -whatever is needed by the poorest of the poor. She said some children have never owned a toy.

Near the Christmas season, the boxes go to an organization that decides who needs the boxes most and distributes them in and outside of the United States.

Each box has a book, “The Greatest Gift,” in the language of the country where it is being sent. Anyone who completes a 12-week evangelism course receives a New Testament.

Sulzer is a resource person with Samaritan’s Purse and said there are 100 churches in this area that participate.