Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Why I Love Vacation Bible School
Tonight is our last night of VBS at Southern Hills. 200 volunteers. Over 1000 in the auditorium for the musical. Several hundred visiting the various stations around the building. Oh... and that does not count the 20 or so of our young people doing a VBS down in the Dominican Republic.
But ours sure is different than some I have worked. Our musical is fantastic with amazing talent and sets. There wer times I have done them with me singing with 20 kids in a gym. I've done them with as few as 10 or 12 teachers. I've watched cookies come in by the thousands over the years. I've seen one class for all the elementary students and I've seen multiple classes for just one grade. I've seen VBS where I really think Marsha and I did all the teaching, singing, and crafts. This year we worked like crazy just getting out the Tee Shirts.
But here is why I love VBS. And why I think all of these are more alike than different.
Every volunteer is performing an act of love. They love God and they love kids. And the want the kids to love God.
They have all been fun. Lots of laughter, singing, noise, and study. God and fun. That fits. And it works in VBS. Maybe Sunday mornings ought to be a whole more like VBS.
God is glorified. Every VBS tells God stories from his word. The singing is in praise of God.
People arere invited to join us on the Jesus journey. Last night our Children's minister invited people to come to the stage and talk with him about becoming royalty in God's family. One of our main performers in this year's production was converted in large part by what he saw a couple of years ago in VBS. Last year we had our baptistery covered for the musical. So we set a horse trough out in front of the building. One of my great VBS memories is when I watched one of our members baptizing a couple into Christ in it.
The whole church has to pitch in. I've seen teachers, cookie makers, and van drivers. I've seen singers, actors, teachers, carpenters, cooks, registration ladies, photographers, and security volunteers. The entire body of Christ working together.
And here's one more reason I love VBS. Marsha and I both grew up going to VBS. Having our parents teach. We both started doing VBS as high schoolers. Joe Don and Julie grew up going to VBS. They have taught, led singing, and worked in VBS since they were teenagers. And their kids have grown up going to VBS. I have no doubt all five of our grands will be involved in working some version of VBS for most of their lives. And their kids will go. And on and on it goes.
So thanks God for the Vacation Bible Schools going on all over everywhere this summer. Thanks for the people who love you and love children so much that they will give up hours and hours of their time to teach the little ones about You and your son. Thanks for the hours my family has spent setting up, teaching, singing, and helping in VBS. I pray even tonight their will be someone touched by your story enough to let us share the good news of Jesus. And you get the glory.
Go VBS.
But ours sure is different than some I have worked. Our musical is fantastic with amazing talent and sets. There wer times I have done them with me singing with 20 kids in a gym. I've done them with as few as 10 or 12 teachers. I've watched cookies come in by the thousands over the years. I've seen one class for all the elementary students and I've seen multiple classes for just one grade. I've seen VBS where I really think Marsha and I did all the teaching, singing, and crafts. This year we worked like crazy just getting out the Tee Shirts.
But here is why I love VBS. And why I think all of these are more alike than different.
Every volunteer is performing an act of love. They love God and they love kids. And the want the kids to love God.
They have all been fun. Lots of laughter, singing, noise, and study. God and fun. That fits. And it works in VBS. Maybe Sunday mornings ought to be a whole more like VBS.
God is glorified. Every VBS tells God stories from his word. The singing is in praise of God.
People arere invited to join us on the Jesus journey. Last night our Children's minister invited people to come to the stage and talk with him about becoming royalty in God's family. One of our main performers in this year's production was converted in large part by what he saw a couple of years ago in VBS. Last year we had our baptistery covered for the musical. So we set a horse trough out in front of the building. One of my great VBS memories is when I watched one of our members baptizing a couple into Christ in it.
The whole church has to pitch in. I've seen teachers, cookie makers, and van drivers. I've seen singers, actors, teachers, carpenters, cooks, registration ladies, photographers, and security volunteers. The entire body of Christ working together.
And here's one more reason I love VBS. Marsha and I both grew up going to VBS. Having our parents teach. We both started doing VBS as high schoolers. Joe Don and Julie grew up going to VBS. They have taught, led singing, and worked in VBS since they were teenagers. And their kids have grown up going to VBS. I have no doubt all five of our grands will be involved in working some version of VBS for most of their lives. And their kids will go. And on and on it goes.
So thanks God for the Vacation Bible Schools going on all over everywhere this summer. Thanks for the people who love you and love children so much that they will give up hours and hours of their time to teach the little ones about You and your son. Thanks for the hours my family has spent setting up, teaching, singing, and helping in VBS. I pray even tonight their will be someone touched by your story enough to let us share the good news of Jesus. And you get the glory.
Go VBS.
