VBS Changes Lives

I am the Christian Education Director at our Church and I love working with kids babies – 18 years of age.
I was raised in a non-Christian home.  My parents did not go to Church.  I could go as long as I did not preach at them and as long as I wanted to but I would never be forced to go.  We had a wonderful neighbor lady (we lived in the country outside of a small town).  She had 7 children of her own some close to my age older and younger.  She took me to VBS when I was quite young and as my dad would let me she also took me to SS and Church and later she made sure I had a ride with her kids to youth group and youth group activities.  I loved ever bit of it.  As I grew up I married a wonderful Christian man and we raised two fine boys who both have families of their own that attend church also.  What if she’d been to busy with her Church work (very devoted teacher and worker at church) or to busy with her already busy load of 7 of her own children? Thank goodness she wasn’t because this was my exposure to God. I didn’t have the example of a loving Christian mother in my own home.  A fun VBS – very loving example by my neighbor and many fine examples at Church.  My husband carried on this example for me and has always supported and encouraged me to work with kids, Church, VBS, etc. as he’s helped right along side of me.

Janet-

It’s Christmas day and I have to say this is one of the best Christmas’s I have had. The family all came over this morning and we did our usual Christmas morning ritual. We opened presents, watched the kids play with their toys and ate Christmas breakfast. As we were finishing up breakfast a knock came at the door. I went over to open it and a young women was standing there dressed in a winter coat and hat. I did not recognize her, but felt like she was someone I knew. I invited her in and wished her a “Merry Christmas.” She replied back in a shy, sort of way.  I said, “I’m sorry, I think I should know you, but my mind is shot this morning due to all the kids being here.” We laughed and she relaxed. She began to talk and started to tell me of a story of over 20 years ago. She said she and her parents and siblings used to live on our street.  She said they used to ride their bikes in front of my house and used to wave as they played. As she talked I started to remember some kids that used to live a couple of houses down and how nice they seemed to be. I asked her her name and she said Allison. I invited Allison into our living room and asked her if she would like some tea. We talked more. She told me of how her mom and dad moved away when she was around 13 and how she missed this area. The one thing she told me is that one summer our kids were going to our VBS at church and were challenged to invite neighbors and friends. We invited Allison and her siblings and took them to VBS. That year at VBS I was in charge of the crafts. Continue reading ‘A great Christmas gift! Clothspins!’

I have been a VBS director many times over the last 25+ years, but this year I found myself amidst a challenge like never before. This financial woes known to so many also hit our church this past year, and several budget cuts were necessary. All ministry areas felt the crunch, but none as severely as VBS.

Early in January, our Children’s Director contacted me with the news.

“Lynette,” she started, “I don’t know what we are going to do. Our VBS budget not only got cut, it was eliminated. I think maybe we should just not do VBS this year.”

I could hear the disappointment in her voice, and could very well understand the defeat she was feeling.  You see, we did not lose a few hundred dollars.  Our church has long stood behind Vacation Bible School, and has given generous financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual support.  Now we felt as though all of that support was gone.  We lost $6000.  (By the way, we are a rural church of about 500 people.  Six thousand dollars is a LOT of money!)

My response was quick and sincere, “Great!”

Her reaction was just as quick and sincere, “What?!?!”
Continue reading ‘Immeasurably More’

Last week our VBS ended. It is always sad to me to see a wonderful week end, but I know that people are affected by what they learn.  We had 212 kids at VBS on average and most of those kids do not attend our church. Our church is a newer congregation and is surronded by communities of young families. We realized a couple years ago that most of the families did not attend church on a regular basis or have a church home. Summer VBS is one thing that we started to try to get them to come see and attend church. Continue reading ‘What a great week!’