VBS Changes Lives

As he found himself slowing down a bit in his early 80s, it wasn’t that easy to find jobs he could do in his church. His energy, hearing and sight weren’t what they used to be.

He loved serving God, and he loved the freshness and excitement of the kids at VBS. He tearfully told the VBS director he thought he’d need to retire from working at VBS.

But the wise VBS director instead asked him to come every day and supervise one important part of the day: hand washing.

After the recreation time and crafts and before snack time, each child was to wash his or her hands.

Although willing, he was at first hesitant and not sure he’d really be contributing. But then he realized he was the only volunteer who got to speak to every child each day. As he encouraged them to use a little more soap and take a little more time, he got to greet them, learn their names, and provide one more bit of Christ’s love to each student. They call him Grandpa and he touched the lives of every one of those children, as well as some of their parents.

He’s now in his upper 80s but still an integral part of VBS at his church. He provides hugs and stability and whispers of Jesus’ love and the children give back with affirmation of being needed and still making a vital contribution.

It seems VBS changes lives for people of all ages.

Everybody loves it when kids invite their friends to VBS. That’s how it’s supposed to work. Teachers encourage the friends to come back the next day to give us the maximum amount of time we can have with them to pour God’s love into their lives. When you have just five days, you don’t want to miss a minute.

So as a teacher you feel a bit like you’ve failed somehow when a student comes one day and you never see them again. Disappointed, you conclude you must not have made much of an impression on those one-day-only kids.

But don’t be too sure.

Her mom wouldn’t let her go to church. When one of the neighbors invited her to attend VBS one day, her mom grudgingly agreed she could go.

But just for one day. Continue reading ‘VBS Can Change a Life’

Last week his mom told me he’s narrowed down the choices and has in mind the school where he hopes to pursue his doctoral work in theology. Currently in his second year of seminary on a full academic scholarship, he sees God leading him to a ministry of teaching at a Christian college.

He grew up just blocks away from a great community church, but he didn’t know it. His parents had been raised in another tradition, but the family didn’t attend church anywhere.

As he and his sister wound their way through the final grades of elementary school, trouble was brewing at home and his parents were considering divorce. When summer came that year, one of his sister’s friends invited her to VBS. That was OK with the parents, and the church turned out to be that one nearby that they saw every day when they turned the corner by the stoplight.

So he came to VBS too. Continue reading ‘A Powerful Touch’