Blog

Andy, Levi, and Ajay have attended Mountain Christian Church with their parents for their entire lives (9 years, 6 years, and 5 years, respectively) and have been to about as many Vacation Bible School’s as there are candles on their birthday cakes! Here are their candid views about this year’s VBS.

Q: Guys, what was your favorite part of VBS this year?

Ajay (5): “I LOVED the singing.  It was really cool that all the kids and adults were worshiping God together.  And I liked the hand motions and dancing.”

Levi(6): “Face painting and games.” (Levi is a man of few words)

Andy(9): “I liked the market, because we actually got to use the economy.  I liked how everyone working in the market found a way to ask us about the future.  I also liked how you could see Brutus (the Roman centurion guarding Paul) changing, and reflect his change back on yourself.  Some people looked like they were not really interested or didn’t think it was cool, but I think they learned.  They’re still able to see the truth in themselves, that they need Jesus and that He changes them.  They might not say it out loud, but they know it in their hearts. I also liked the decorations. “ (Andy is a man of MANY words)

Q: What was one thing you learned this week at VBS?

Ajay: “God’s love sticks with us.  A lot of people don’t know that, so we have to teach them.”

Levi: “God’s love is a gift worth sharing.  I believe, and some people don’t.  So maybe they’ll believe if I talk to them.”

Andy: “Things were really hard for Christians in Rome when Paul lived. Paul was chained to his guard when he was under house arrest.  Paul was in Rome, but he wrote to the church, to believers, everywhere.  Paul was very talkative about Christ.  It seems like he would talk about Him any opportunity he got.”

Q: Would you recommend VBS to your friends?

Ajay: “Yes.  God is there and it’s really fun and it’s honoring and praising Him.”

Levi: “Yes, because God loves them and doesn’t want them to miss it!”

Andy: “Well…it depends on who I’m talking to.”

….Uh….What do you mean?

Andy: “Well, if they would be reckless, then I would first suggest a private school that would help them understand who God is and how they should act.”

…..Hmmm….er….uh….Well Andy, don’t you think that even a kid who has a hard time behaving well should be able to come and have fun praising and learning about God?  Don’t you think they need Him just as much as we do?  What if, because we are willing to extend grace to them, they become more willing to listen to the gospel that saves them?

Andy: “Well….I see your point (this was a small miracle, and I’m glad it’s recorded).  They should be with a group leader that can handle them and extend grace like you say.  That’s kind of hard.  But they do need to hear about Jesus.  And I think when they do, it starts to sink in, little by little.  I think kids who are having trouble believing in Jesus should come too.  VBS helps you understand more about who God is, make new friends, and maybe your family even learns more about Christ.”

VBS presented a lot of opportunities for us to encounter our sin and our Savior last week!  My kids were ministered to and challenged in so many ways.  It is easy, as a volunteer, to wonder if all we’ve done is exhaust ourselves and entertain the kids.  However, you can see how the truth came to bear on each one of my boys, often in different ways, last week.  While the kids may seem as though they’re just showing up for the fun and tolerating the teaching, the Holy Spirit uses our efforts to highlight our need for Jesus and His sufficiency to save us. 

Last week, the kids saw themselves in the lost centurion. They saw the joy in Paul and marveled at his transformation. They tasted the sweetness of worshiping with believers. They spoke as witnesses of Jesus to the Roman messenger, and were challenged to extend compassion to the senator.  They ran from soldiers as they headed toward the underground church, and found the fellowship and encouragement of fellow believers to be strengthening and life-giving. They were challenged to extend grace to one another. They talked with each other about how God’s love is a gift that changes us, never leaves us, and is worth sharing.

Each volunteer, each activity, every hour of work, was used by God for His eternal purposes in the hearts of precious children. I know of no other investment that returns such exponential gains.

If your kids attended VBS, ask them these questions!  If not, please consider joining us next year!