MANSFIELD – The annual Easter egg hunt hosted by Mansfield Baptist Temple was a little extra memorable on Saturday.
For the first time, the church hosted an Easter egg hunt that was tailored specifically towards kids, teenagers and adults with special needs. The free event on Saturday morning included an egg hunt, balloon creations, face painting, prizes and snacks.
The event was hosted by Mansfield Baptist Temple’s youth group, Impact Student Ministries. Youth Pastor Paul Baird said after speaking with organizations like Richland Newhope Industries and Catalyst Life Services, he realized there was a huge need for this service in the community.
“As a church we’re trying to show the love of Christ to our community and serve them, so it’s really an awesome picture of grace,” Baird said. “We don’t deserve anything and we’d never be where we are without God’s grace and other people helping us, so we want to give back to the community.”
More than 1,400 eggs filled with candy were hidden throughout the gymnasium at Mansfield Baptist Temple, and scattered throughout the grounds outside. Egg hunters received paper bags from the church to collect their eggs in, darting around the gym for the colorful treasures.
Baird noted it was important to him to involve the church’s youth group, and as word spread other volunteers including parents and other adult parishioners joined in the effort. Trevor Knepshield, a senior at Temple Christian School, helped one older gentlemen find eggs so as not to disturb his perfectly coiffed balloon hat.
“If you have a normal Easter egg hunt these people might not get to find eggs as much because other people find them first, so having one geared towards them makes it more enjoyable,” he said. “We should be equal to everyone, everyone should get the chance to help them out.”
The excitement on Saturday was infectious. Parishioner Hillary Rissler brought her normally-shy cousin Lauren Loveland to her very first Easter egg hunt, and Lauren fully enjoyed getting a pink balloon sword and having her face painted.
“We’ve tried to bring her to stuff before but she won’t even come in,” Rissler said. “I think she was excited today because she got right out of the car and came in. It’s great for them to be able to do something just for them.”
The joy felt on Saturday was mutual between volunteers and egg hunters.
“One thing we really believe in is the only disability is a bad attitude,” Baird said. “There are so many people who have disabilities and inspire so many with their joy. Every time we serve, especially with special needs, we receive a bigger blessing.”
