Each year, our church does a mega VBS. Last night we wrapped up the 2008 VBS in style. We had 125 adult workers for 200 + kids. The talent and dedication of these workers was matched only by the excitement of the kiddos! Each evening at 5 PM before VBS starts, a dedicated kitchen staff feeds more than 100 people. This makes it possible for the workers to come right from their jobs, catch a meal and get to work. Many kudos to our kitchen staff and their fearless leader Vicki Knisely! This week of ministry is planned almost one year in advance by a dedicated staff. Among them, special thanks must go to Heather Hufford for her endless dedication. Of course, her husband, Daring Dave also must be thanked for his upfront role throughout the week.
The VBS team takes over the entire Church a few weeks prior to the week. They decorate every square foot of the building! When it comes to decoration, special thanks to Scott Fisher for his AMAZING work of art displayed each year on stage. You outdid yourself again, Scott. I am glad we leave it up for Sunday services the Sunday after VBS (This Sunday! Come see it!). The list of people to thank could go on and on! The skit team did a great job. The penny counters and registration people went above and beyond. (We also raised over 2700.00 for our India kid’s camp partners). Our counselors were dedicated to sharing Christ with the kids. I was blessed to see our three adult children and our new daughter-n-law serving as counselors!
On the last evening, we close with an AMAZING video production with faithful actors Jim Stigelman (AKA Dr. Knowitall), Joel Breneman, Dave Hufford and Katieeeee Fichtner! Thank you guys and girl! And, our video production guy, Pastor Eric, deserves double kudos for his late nights of video editing (as does his wife Amy for giving him up)! Many thanks Hines!
Pray for this staff of dedicated workers to rest and be refreshed because many of them only have one week before gearing up for two weeks of MBC Kids Camp! We have 100 + kids scheduled for a week of camp. This is the first year we will do two weeks due to the numbers. I am blessed to pastor such a dedicated and talented group of Christ-followers! I love you guys! Keep up the good work! Oh, thanks for the staff shirt. For you doubters, I helped with set up to earn it! (For the record, it’s double XL even though I only needed XL).
Pastor Steve
PS. It was a special blessing to see all the former VBS kids in staff shirts as our junior staff this year! Time flies when you’re having fun!
I don’t know if this relates to your church or not but I believe the whole concept of VBS should be rethought for most churches in America. If VBS exists to reach the lost, let it be Gospel centered and not fun centered. There is nothing wrong with playing and games outside of Bible teaching time but too often the fun gets brought into the sacred which sends the wrong message to the children. Sadly, most “American” parents don’t want this type of training in Christian doctrine, they just want a Disney world at church for their children.
I went to a service recently where 6 children were baptized and gave their testimony. At least 3 of them were saved at VBS and during their testimony they described how scary hell is and said “they didn’t want to go to hell…so they chose Jesus.” If you ask a child if he’d rather have an ice cream cone or go to hell, which will they choose? Of course, the ice cream cone.
We need to rethink how we, in America, evangelize children.
Currently, it’s….get them to say a prayer, then get them baptized, and bang they are in. How many of them fall away…and all the while think they are saved? Sadly, it’s the parents that are usually pushing this because they want their own assurance that their children are saved.
I was excited when I read this from a church recently describing their youth ministry:
Biblical Youth Ministry – Our youth ministry is not designed around the presumed unique needs or desires of young people, but is centered around God’s will for young people as revealed in His Word. Our goal is to strengthen parents in their God-called responsibility to “bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). The so-called “generation gap” and the “adolescent years” are a result of sin and should not be encouraged by the church or youth ministries. Our youth ministry is not centered on music, drama, comedy, or other entertainments, but on the faithful preaching of God’s Word. While other activities may be allowed, they must never take the place of or de-emphasize the preaching of the Word.
Here’s an excellent video of exactly what I’m talking about…
http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2008/07/paul-washer-ask-jesus-into-your-heart.html