This summer I did something I never thought I would or could do. I’ve had many opportunities to be involved in youth, college, and women’s ministry, but there is one big area of church life I’ve never ventured into – Vacation Bible School! The thought of working with kids has always made me really nervous. Last summer I was asked to help, but Annabeth was only four months old and I wasn’t ready to be a part of something so involved. God gave me a passion to pray for my friends who were teaching and I realized what an incredible mission field we had inside our own church. I secretly hoped I would have another chance to say yes. Sure enough, this year I was asked to help in the kindergarten classroom that several of my close friends were helping in. It was a definite yes!
As soon as I said yes, the insecurities and worry set in. Do I really know how to relate to school age children? How am I going to get myself and the kids ready and make it to the church on time five days in a row? What is my role going to be? What if I’m terrible at it? My fleshly mind and the mind of Christ were at war in my head. I resolved that it was going to be an incredible lesson in living beyond myself! Amen?
It ended up being a great week. Praise the Lord! I did not know how we were going to get everything accomplished, but we saw Him do it! Our kids were wonderful and the other teachers amazed me. I’m so thankful God made me get out of my comfort zone and serve at VBS. Our church did LifeWay’s “Saddle Ridge Ranch” and it was great. Being a horse girl at heart, the theme wasn’t that much of a stretch for me. I was in charge of the “dramatic play” rotation, so I got to pretend to camp out and roast marshmallows, paint “gold nuggets,” act out a Bible story, and decorate post cards. It really was a lot of fun. Although I want to give every school teacher a big hug and say God bless you!
These are my Top 10 VBS Memories:
1. My friend My-An wearing a costume to teach about the feeding of the 5,000.
2. When the kids took a package of dried fish from My-An’s lesson and made it our class mascot. They insisted on carrying it to recreation, music, and crafts that day.
3. Being the Minister of Squeeze Cheese during snack time.
4. Feeling like it was 5 p.m. every day when I got in my car.
5. Walking 21 six-year-olds from the gym up to the third floor. C-R-A-Z-Y!
6. Trying to make myself do the motions during music. Ha! That was so hard for me! Also, hearing from the music teachers how enthusiastic Jackson was when his class was in there.
7. Enjoying the relative independence of kids a little older than my own.
8. Sneaking off to the break room for a Dr. Pepper.
9. Sweet little snaggletooth mouths saying their memory verses.
10. Seeing the body of Christ work together to create an amazing week for these kids. I was in awe of what God can do with all of our different spiritual gifts and talents.
Were you and/or your kids involved in VBS this summer? If you have a story or a Top 10 list to share, please do!
We proclaimed him, admonishing and teaching our kids with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end we labored, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully worked in us! (From Col. 1:28-29.)
Amanda,
I felt the exact same way as you about serving during VBS! But this was the year I stepped outside my comfort zone. Our church also did Saddle Ridge Ranch (I’m wearing the shirt to work today!). I was an assistant teacher for the 1st graders. I had the same fears. Not having children, would I know how to grab their attention? Would I be able to relate? As it turns out, yes, God enabled me to do far beyond what I thought I was capable of and I’m more excited than ever to do it again next year!
Turns out, my top spiritual gift came into good use that week. Children need a lot of encouragement and praise and it came so naturally to me!
Aren’t you so glad you joined in? It was so much fun!
I would have to agree with #7. I taught 3rd grade this year and one day said “Does anyone need to go to the potty?” I cracked up and said “You probably don’t say potty in 3rd grade, do you?” I’m used to being at home with my preschoolers!
We did Saddle Ridge Ranch, too, and I was a 5th grade guide. I loved the kids and had a great group, but I was nervous beforehand, too. The person who conducted our training told us to make sure to be good listeners to the kids so they knew they were important to us. I wasn’t sure how important being a good listener would be, but I took in the information and tucked it away just in case.
My favorite memory by far was one little boy, Ethan. The music teacher seemed to think he was a troublemaker — he was a little mouthy in that class, but I knew he was a sweet boy. At one point when the music teacher was talking about obedience, and how God can change the desires of our heart, Ethan started to mention something about doing the dishes, but the music teacher thought he was getting off-topic and shut him down pretty quickly. I felt my heart hurt a little for Ethan.
At the end of the night, during all the ruckus, I managed to ask Ethan, “What were you saying about doing the dishes, Ethan?” Very sweetly, he related that he had been doing the dishes and sweeping the floor for his mom to help her. I said, “Do you feel like once you were obedient in doing that, you started to WANT to serve her? Like the desires of your heart changed?” and he nodded happily. It was so sweet to see that he just wanted to tell his little story!
From then on, I knew my trainer had been so right about being a good listener!
Congrats on your first VBS! I bet there’ll be many more to come for you!
I love this story! Way to let God use you in this little boy’s life.
I think that’s so sweet that you were there to show him he was important. Good lesson to all of us not to pigeon-hole kids…let’s give them new mercy everyday just like God gives us. I bet that meant a lot to Ethan (and probably his mommy, too.) =)
you probably made all the difference in that boys life – great job!!!
We just finished VBS at First Methodist and I was blessed to be the storyteller
at the GOOD NEWS GALAXY!!!
We even had a special visitor, Elijah, come and tell us the story when Queen Jezebel was after him for telling the Israelites to worship the ONE TRUE GOD! God gave Elijah an assignment and Elijah got busy. He trusted GOD!! YAY!!!
This Sunday, DR GERALD RAY will be leading us in an OLD FASHIONED HYMN SING at First Methodist Houston on BW8 and Westpark. 3 grand pianos!!!
The fun starts at 6 pm. Please come and join us!!!
Ooh! That will be great!
Hi Amanda
Have you ever taken Jackson and Annabeth to the Noah’s Ark Pool at our church? It is PERFECT for little children. The water is only about 1 ft deep in the whole pool and is gated and secured so the little ones can’t escape. There are big colorful mushrooms that have water coming from them, a big ark slide, animals that squirt water, etc. We also have a great big pool for the older children. It’s a landmark on the west side of town. Check it out!
We did VBS a little differently this year and had a Kingdom Road Trip instead. Each night we had a short lesson and then loaded the kiddos onto school buses for a field trip that would visually reinforce said lesson.
It was SO MUCH FUN and ended at the water park where we discussed salvation and baptized four kiddos. Sort of a Vacation Bible School on location, if you will. Lots of fun and lots of craziness in getting that many children from place to place.
It was my first time to ever help with VBS and I will definitely do it again. The highlight of the week was when seven from our class raised their hand indicating that they wanted to talk with someone about accepting Christ. Amazing!
As a kid, I loved Vacation Bible school! I loved my mother and her friends teaching it. I loved the hand puppets we made for Joseph and his coat of many colors. I loved my mother and her friend’s making 100’s of tuna fish sandwiches to teach about the loaves and fishes; and washing it down with Welch’s grape juice. I loved singing the songs about Noah and the floodie, floodie and getting stuck in the muddie, muddie.
Most of all it created in me a passion for Christ. You stirred up great memories for me this afternoon, Thanks Amanda.
I absolutely LOVE VBS. I think I love it more now that I am a ‘Nana’ than when I was a mom of little ones. It is so much fun to take part in it without having to worry about your own children.
We will be doing Saddle Ridge Ranch in 2 weeks and i am helping in crafts and am really looking forward to it.
Glad you had so much fun!
My husband and I were both “ranch hands” at our church’s VBS. My son gave his life to the Lord at VBS (insert happy dance here) so that’s definitely my favorite memory and I think it sealed my commitment to VBS for the rest of my life!
Children’s ministry isn’t a calling God’s placed on my life, but I’m so glad He allows me to moonlight one week a year, if for no other reason than to praise Him for the people He does call to it and to remind me to pray for them… a lot:)
what a great way to describe it!!! I am going to use that in recruiting people – moonlighting for one week a year 🙂 Thank you!!!
My boys, Ethan-7 and Jeremy-3 were involved in VBS at a great church in Sacramento. I was not able to be involved because of work, but each day they called and talked to me about fun things that happened that day. Now my boys are obviously at different spiritual stqges, my 7 year old is well versed in the stories, prayed the prayer and loves Jesus dearly. My 3 year old knows about God, but has only a minor understanding at this point….so the following event was just priceless.
Yesterday, my 3 year old called and told me that he wanted to call God on his sister’s cell phone. I asked him why, and he said, “Because I want to tell God the skeleton joke.” I laughed so hard I could hardly stand it. It was the cutest moment I have had in a while with him, and that is saying something.
So my 3 year olds joke for God is this, “Why did the skeleton NOT cross the road? Because he didn’t have the guts.”
Our church finished its first week-long session of VBS (two more sessions to go), and the energy of a thousand-plus kids is amazing! Our theme was “Raise the Roof,” a program written by our own ministry team. It wears out us old people (57 years) to keep up with all the dancing and singing, let alone crafts and rec time. Whew. I’ll be posting a video clip to my blog.
We’re doing a different program this year and are having a BLAST each Wed evening. The kids get to sign up for a different craft, sport or activity each evening. As a school nurse I have always begged off of doing VBS as I said I needed a break from kids, well this year God really nuged me to try this and i have really been enjoying it. I’m with you tho, it is hard to do those motions!!
Hey Amanda, We also did Saddle Ridge Ranch at our VBS this year. And just wait… those songs will be stuck in your head long after VBS is over. I helped teach the 4th grade and had a wonderful group of kids(mostly boys) It is awesome to think that we get a chance to impact a childs life for Christ. Hope you have a wonderful relaxing weekend!
Congrats on your first VBS! I had a similar experience this year… We did High Seas Adventure (think pirates and ships!), and for the first time I was a crew leader. My kids are 4 and almost 2, so I had never been at a place where I felt comfortable to lead just yet. It was so stretching for me, but so rewarding! I felt like a goof doing all the movements, but I was so in awe watching my own wee ones in their classes and my students praising God with such freedom. I kept wondering when I lost the ability to jut let it all go and praise Him with everything in my body~ such a lesson! I took away some awesome memories and relationships with kids and parents and am so thankful for the whole week! God is so good!
Good for you, Amanda! Cool testimony.
So happy for you that you are able to spend time with your mom & sis!
Hey – can you put “Minister of Squeeze Cheese” on your resume? 😉
That was my favorite too. Just nothin’ like dairy in a can.
I grew up in a denomination where VBS wasn’t the norm at all. The vast majority of my friends now did grow up with VBS. My Bff, Chelsea, has been telling me very seriously lately, “Nina, before you have kids, I HAVE to teach you all the songs!” :0)
Our church chose Egypt: From Prison to Palace as our VBS theme this year and it was phenomenal! I helped teach the kindergarten through second grade class – seven precious children whose soaked up the teaching like sponges, embraced the idea of Egyptian costuming (caftans, eyeliner), sang the very catchy VBS songs with such gusto and ALMOST mastered all the motions, cuddled on my lap during drama/teaching time and learned, maybe for the first time, the meaning of God’s free gift of grace to us. Being the daughter of a beloved schoolteacher (and not a teacher by trade), I was just as intimidated as you must have felt, Amanda, but all my anxieties were in vain. God showed up and did a mighty work in our church this summer. All praise be to Him!
Amanda, this was my first year working in crafts! After the first night I, said, “Wow! I have a whole new respect for craft teachers!” It was wonderful, but tiring. We labored, and surely, our God will not forget it. Blessings to you and your family!
Love, Taylor
Yes, the very same one. Mine was disappointed that they did not go to an actual ranch and ride actual horses. He fancies himself a cowboy;)
I love, love LOVE VBS! It is where I met more of Jesus as a child, especially after my neighbor, Susie, led me to Christ at age 8.
This year, we were unable to participate. We usually have an outdoor camp and my Chris teaches gun safety to the kids. This year, we are the ones praying for you all. And it is an awesome ministry–breaking bread that multiplies to thousands of kids, who come eager, just like I did.
I’m usually involved in VBS, but this past year I moved to be a teacher overseas. My BEST memory of VBS though was last year…
I taught Pre-k (4 year olds) in Houston ISD for 5 years and built some really great relationships with some of the families. I had brought 2 little girls with me a few years before, but knowing this was my last time I really got on it. I ended up bringing 6 different kids (from 3 different families, 5 of which I had taught previously) with me. On the invitation day one of them asked to go down. He was 6 and had just finished kindergarten so I asked him, “Tell me why you want to go?”. “Because I want to pray with them.” The sweetest response I’ve ever heard. Then when they were taking the kids who had come forward out to talk to them, I saw that his sister (8 years old) had also gone forward. Best day ever.
Here’s the blog entry actually:
http://aggiechick03.blogspot.com/2009/06/tis-so-sweet-to-trust-in-jesus.html
So neat! I love the verse you posted at the end.. how utterly fitting. 🙂
My four youngest children ages 9,7,6 1/2, and 6 all attended VBS 2 weeks ago at our church. They all had a great time but the best part is when they get home they relive VBS everyday for several days. Our mealtimes are very animated and they sing all the songs and they even put on the puppet show with their stuffed animals! They are all learning about Jesus which brings joy to our hearts. Thank you Amanda for sharing your experience.
Amanda
This post was so appropriate for me. I have been asked to help with a VBS next week and all the same negative and insecure thoughts have been running thru my head. I always think I don’t relate to children that much or that well. However I do notice that they seek me out and seem to relate to me even when I am not noticing them. I am asking the Lord to make me approachable and teach me how to show His love to the children next week. I remember my own childhood and how much fun we had at VBS. We would go to our church, visit our Grandmother and go their VBS, then come home to go with our friends to their church VBS. Hopefully all that good “learning” will come back to me as I help next week.
Carolyn
Oceanside Ca
Amanda,
I am so glad you had a great week. Children are very precious and they can teach US so much. I taught SS for over 5 years(alone) and had 2 children to get ready and then I picked up anyone else from the area to go with us. It was frustrating sometimes but well worth it.
On another note. This week has seen many light blogs and I have a more heavier question. When is it proper to ask this question? You are a Blessing Amanda,…..Rebecca
We create our own VBS cirriculum, but it is largely based on NorthPointe’s Kid Stuff materials.
While I have always worked in the younger kids music, the choreography is about to kill me every year! I have decided that if my friends and I got together and did all this music every day, we would drop weight faster than the chicks who do the Ab workouts on tv!
I LOVE the kids… they are a blast!
Amanda,
We did Saddle Ridge Ranch at my church, Cartersville First Baptist, in June! I was in the activity room, where we did the bible memory verses and activities around the memory verses. It was so much fun. We do rotations so I got to work with K-5th graders. I love it, especially since I’m back in school to teach middle school.
Steph
We did the same VBS as you, and we had a ball this week. I helped with missions this years and for once took a backseat role (I lead alot of VBSs in my time). We are going back to night for parent night and after we are going to have an ice cream social.
My favorite memory of VBS is the picture of Jesus I made with colored straw as the frame. That picture remains my favorite picture and it sat on my dresser for years.
Amanda,
Your post is so encouraging! Our church is doing VBS for the first time in August. (We’re doing High Seas by Group Publishing.) This will be a case of seeing a vision over 18 months in the making come to be. We are hoping for 100 kids and have 11 signed up, so you can imagine the field day the enemy is trying to have with our minds. But like you, I know God will show up and blow my mind with what He can accomplish with just some willing souls. I know He has got everything covered. He’s supplying workers and even supplied a church willing to lend us their awesome set. The super exciting part to me is that God has already showed us what to do with all the materials when we are done….we’ll be shipping them off to Kiev for an English speaking church there to use….isn’t God amazing.
So glad yours was a success for the kids and a blessing to you.
I worked with 4 year olds one year and that was very, very hard. And I had a 4 year old at the time, lol. Luckily, my paying job is working in our church so I’m there for VBS anyway and I discovered that my VBS calling was actually for our youth workers. My office has become a place they can pop into to chill for a minute, chat with me, grab a Tylenol and bottle of water or lollipop and store all of their electronics. I also found that I am a huge encourager and hugger for the adult leaders…who really, really need both during VBS week.
Our family is new to our church and haven’t really gotten involved yet (other than my teenage son going to youth group!) so when VBS came I didn’t feel comfortable volunteering yet. However, my son who’s been making new friends wanted to help out with the other teens so I did go one day to observe. I was so blessed by the ministry to the children. I loved that it was a community outreach week and of about half of the 250 kids there were not from the church! After just leaving a struggling church that we planted 11 years ago, seeing so much life and vision was refreshing! I’m so blessed to call this new church our home and I’m really looking forward to diving in and serving just as soon as God releases us to do so!
There really is nothing quite like VBS!! During the recreation time, instead of playing duck duck goose, we played sprinkle, sprinkle, splash. Of course, I played and was soaked the rest of the evening (our VBS is 5:30 – 8:30 pm.) Gotta love those kids!!
We just wrapped up “rounding up questions and driving in answers” as well! For years, I would only work in preschool. Six years ago, I was asked to move up to fourth grade. My oldest had just finished that year in school, so he was in my group. This year, it was my youngest child’s turn to have his momma as a teacher. In between her brothers (like she will always be!), I was blessed to spend a week with my daughter as well. The songs touch me each year and speak to me. I’m in the middle of winning a battle against Thyroid cancer…so the song about putting cares on the Lord touched me each time I heard those little voices sing it. I’m glad you jumped into being a part of VBS – you will never regret it!
Oh Yes! Saddle Ridge Ranch
I was in charge of 13 third graders. All precious and precocious! Loved every single minute of it. Loved their little faces when we had 25 minutes till the next event and their little expectant looks at a teacher that was fresh out of ideas! Having raised 4 girls does NOT make you an expert VBS teacher.
We also enjoyed “The Lads” and their song
“I was knitted together like a cable knit sweater…..”
and
I came to party… with my friend Jesus!
Awesome kids worship with a bunch of New Zealand kiwis based in Nashville. I heartily recommend them for any VBS.
http://www.theladsband.com/
My favorite memory was a little boy named Timothy who came up and shyly said “Thank you for doing this for us!!” I wanted to hug the stuffing out of him.
heidi
New Hope Baptist Church, Fayetteville, GA
Oh I have such wonderful VBS memories from my childhood! Our church did Group’s High Seas Adventure VBS this summer. It was a blast!! I led one of the craft rooms, super fun! Probably the best part of VBS was that my 3 year old participated in the preschool program, she learned all the songs and got to do everything like the big kids. She still requests to sing our “ocean songs” in the car. Most precious thing to hear her little voice sing “from the page to your heart, God’s word is where you are, read it now and your life will change” and “ancient words, ever true, changing me and changing you” such meaningful words, just warms my heart!!
Our church is also holding the same VBS program (slightly modified) for elementary children with Autism in August. I’m leading music for that one, should be another great week!
i loved vbs as a child and i love it even more as an adult. i guess there was never a question in my mind that i would volunteer. i had kids…they would be there…i should be there.
last year our church attempted this really cool idea for our older kids who thought they were too cool for VBS.
we started a VBXTREME. 5th-8th grade. AWESOME!
i moved on up to that age group last year and am hooked!
it’s my favorite week of the entire year and i never want it to be over!
also, a lady in our church has started cooking meals for the workers and their families. it ran about $1/meal/person and we ATE! YUM YUM!!! she’s talented at cooking and doing it for a great price.
so proud of you for taking the next step in serving in church. you’ll always get a blessing out of serving children!!
I’ll be out of my comfort zone with VBS at our church next week. I’ll be working with the Youth for the first time, and I have all the insecurities that you said. However, I have faith that God equips the called, as well as remember that He is in control, not me. 🙂
We just finished a colors of faith bible school based on the wordless book. Amazing to see these little ones sing their hearts out and work so hard to grout a tile trivet to take home to mom. I was blessed to be a part of the craft team and enjoyed each minute!!!!
Oh yeah, I’ve got a story: Two years ago my daughters (17 &18 @ the time), ganged up on me and begged me to head up a class. For some reason I believed their promises that if I’d just decorate the room, they’d do EVERYTHING else. I don’t know where I hid my brain that day, but I bought it.
Actually watching them work together and the Lord continue to blossom a love for children’s ministry in their hearts was more than worth it. But this was not without a price.
On Wed of that week I neede to move our class of 26 seven yr olds from one end of our church campus to the other all by meself. Shoulda smelled trouble right then and there. Well, somewhere between four square and koolaid mustaches, I LOST a kid! Lost someone’s little darling! And I don’t mean they just slipped around the last corner, or wandered over to the next group to say “hi” to a buddy. They were no where to be found! Gracious, my heart rate’s elevated just thinking about it. Remember the rule about not running in church? Well, I was sprinting from every drinking fountain, bathroom, closet and baptistry between my classroom and the gym.
Well, little “darling” resurfaced from her AWOL condition as spontaneously as she’d disappeared only shortly before I was going to need to be medicated. And no, they didn’t fire me, though I did try to quit on the spot. The other teachers actually thought it was funny. I certainly wasn’t laughing that day. I think they were just glad it happened to me instead of them.
And you’re right, Amanda. I’ve never prayed so earnestly for my offsprings’ teachers. Lord, from now on may I please only have to teach those that don’t have to be taken to the “potty”?
I work full-time outside the home, but my husband is out for summer b/c he is a teacher/coach. Our church did “Saddle Ridge Ranch” this week as well, and while I was only there in spirit, my husband was a worker and helped with recreation. I am so proud to say that my man was able to get himself and our 4yr old and 9mos old daughters dressed, fed, and out the door and there on time to VBS everyday. He can even do little girl hair all by himself. Is that great, or what?
Love VBS!
Had two boys in fourth grade that became Christians.
After praying and accepting Christ, one
boy said, “Now, I am a Christian?” I said, “Yes”.
He said, “I’m a Christian, I’m a Christian.” He told everyone, including our preacher.
I found out later he was in foster care and visiting with
the other boy’s grandmother. Sometimes, I wish adults were as excited all this little boy was.
God really blessed our VBS this year.
In 2002 when my son was 1.5 I was asked to co-teach the Bible lesson. I had NO idea what VBS even was! By 2005 I couldn’t help but follow the call to direct. I still think that God has a since of humor to place me in this position. I believe my biggest talent is the ability to make a nice notebook (binders, tabs, cover pages, cute spines…).
We just finished a week in the rainforest, learning parables.
I has taken a few years of handing it over to God, then holding on tight w/ my list of wants and wishes. But this year I was able to walk right into VBS w/ none of my insecurities attached. I gave more than ever to Gods hands and not my own. I know it was all His will and not my own! I still felt the attacks, the people that push my buttons, and a fall down my stairs and made my body weary, but I kept my eyes on Him.
More this year than any I can say I am BLESSED to be called into the ministry of Vacation Bible School.
Yes!! Oh my gosh, we love VBS!! My kids ask all year long if it’s time for VBS and say they wish they could go every year. I was a leader on the Underground Railroad as we escaped to freedom and learned about the Freedom only Jesus can give at our home church. Then my kids took a trip back to Egypt at the time of Joseph at a neighborhood church.
Just finished VBS tonight at out church… we did a theme around “The Lord’s Army”. I worked with 9-10 year olds and even though they were full of energy, they were pretty fun, too! It’s great to see a glimpse of them “getting” what God is all about! But I’m like you, I am so thankful for school teachers… and I know for sure that I am not supposed to be one! This year, our leader reminded us the Sunday before it started to look at these kids as Jesus does… and that means that even when they get unruly, He still loves them! Trying to keep that perspective really helped, with one little boy in particular. We never know what small things we do, often in VBS, make a huge difference in kids’ lives later on… but that is the beauty of our Father! God Bless!
First let me begin with a prayer request. A dear friend of mine’s son was killed in Afghanistan yesterday. He has a 2 month old daughter and a 3 year old son. His name was Tony Winters from Sour Lake Texas. Please pray that she will feel God’s love 10 x’s as much as the pain. She knows the Lord and I believe he did too.
Now VBS – This was my 3rd year directing. It is my passion because of an experience I had in the 6th grade. I am from a small rural town in Montana – My Dad was the preacher – A little boy named Clayton came to know Jesus at VBS – He was so excited – we gave him a Bible with date of his salvation. That next year he was killed in gun accident with a friend. His parents didn’t know the Lord. They found that Bible and it brought them to the Lord. I know I will see Clayton again – Don’t ever underestimate the importance of every moment you have sharing Jesus love with children!!!!
My favorite VBS memory is from my own childhood. The theme was Moses. They had pretend boulders scattered on the lawn of the church and a big brown tent. They walked us out and sat us around the entrance of the tent waiting for our Bible story…and out of the tent walked Moses himself! Moses, I tell you! A lot of times you could tell when someone’s dad dressed up like a character because you could recognize their voice. But I was convinced this was the real deal! He spoke with a deep voice and told the story in first person. He even walked the way I knew Moses must walk. We then went inside, made unleavened bread, and baked our own ten commandements. It was a fabulous VBS! One I’ve still not forgotten.
We are finishing a week in spencerville ontario of saddle ridge ranch. We are here on a mission trip. Our home church in in key largo Florida so we are a long way from home. We brought 25 people from the Florida keys (mostly teenagers) it has been amazing to help out this small church in Canada. We loved saddle ridge vbs and yes the music steps were hard. I was the music teacher with 2 other teens. Very aerobic though!! This will be a week none of us will forget.
My children just finished their week of VBS this week…High Seas….all four loved it. My oldest (12) was a leaders assistant and the other three attended.
This was my daughter Olivia’s FIRST VBS. She is 11 and just 4 weeks home from Ethiopia….her English is limited, but she LOVED it. Especially the music.
The CD is a big hit with my kids…two nights ago they played “worship band”…one faked keyboards, another drums, another electic guitar and the last the lead singer….they did the whole cd, and I have to say…when we got to Ancient Words, ever true, changing me and changing you…I had chills…you could feel the Holy Spirit in the room.
This will be my Olivia’s first summer memory of her first year in America. I thank Jesus for VBS and all the helpers!
My church did VBS this week too (“High Seas Expedition”)!! I have worked in VBS for years and years. For the last few years I’ve helped with registration, but was unable to help this year because I had to work. I was off of work today, and snuck over to the church with my camera to see if I could catch some good photos. What joy I felt to see both of my adult daughters serving! My 27 year old’s 8 month old baby boy was playing happily in the nursery while his momma led a group of boys and girls. His auntie was playing her role as “Sailor Jack” in the VBS drama. What joy! What an answer to prayer! To have both of my girls serving God in VBS just brought absolute joy to my heart!! And to see my precious little grandson learning with the other little babies…just total JOY! If you knew where these girls were just a year ago, and how my heart ached for them…I am so thankful!
My daughter (who’s going into first grade) just finished VBS offered by our church today. She’ll do a different VBS later this summer, too, at the church affiliated with her Christian school.
I LOVED VBS as a kid. I loved making crafts and little paper cups of juice, putting on skits and getting prizes for learning memory verses. For some reason my favorite VBS memory is learning the “Be a Missionary” song and singing it at the top of my lungs all summer long. Good times… 🙂
I had helped for several years with VBS in my old church when I was in high school and for a few years after. Last year I discovered that my old youth pastor had a church of his own, began attending and found myself helping with the Pre-K and K class after 10 years of not attending church at all. I too was nervous about it. It turned out great and the Lord used it as a tool to allow me to begin taking my 2 little cousins to church and introducing them to the Bible. I bought them each their own Bibles and the 6 year old loves to read stories from it on her own. I also ended up helping with our weekly kids club and bringing them there also. It is amazing to me how the Lord worked in their lives even though their home life is the absolute opposite of anything having to do with God. And I too struggle with forcing myself to do the motions during music time.