Say Yes to VBS!

Last week, we had Vacation Bible School (VBS) at the church where I serve as pastor. It was a wonderfully crazy week. We had children everywhere. We had teenagers and adult helpers everywhere. It was fantastic.

Vacation Bible School is a marvelous tool for our churches and an incredible investment in our community. Having the chance to pour God’s truth into the lives of children is priceless. The energy expended is well worth it.

At Mansfield Baptist Church, VBS is a community-wide event. We have children from lots of different churches and children who do not go to church anywhere participate. We are willing to pay the price that VBS requires because of the Kingdom work that is accomplished.

In the Southern Baptist Convention, around one-fourth of the baptisms during the year occur because of Vacation Bible School. So, VBS has an effective evangelistic impact. And, children are being taught God’s word through song, example, and Bible study. The seeds planted during VBS will produce a harvest of new Christians and a crop of more mature Christians in the years to come. God’s word does not return void.

This year, the children at VBS were Galactic Starveyors. They explored the universe to see everything that God has made. And, they were also taught the truth that God created each one of them. The key word for the week was “relationship.” God created us so that He could have a relationship with us.

But, we broke that relationship because we chose to walk away from God through what the Bible describes as sin. God loves us so much that He went to great lengths to restore the relationship that we broke. He sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to be born as a baby, live a sinless life, and become the perfect sacrifice for our sin on the cross of Calvary. But, Jesus did not stay dead. Three days later He came walking out of the tomb because He was alive again.

Because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, our relationship with God can be restored and made new. And, we can walk in an on-going relationship with Him every day.

Children are not the only ones who need to hear about how God wants to restore the relationship between us and Him. Teenagers and adults need to hear and experience that truth as well. The good news of Jesus can change your life just like it changed the lives of several of the children at VBS last week.

If your church has VBS, support it. Support it by making sure your children participate and invite other friends and neighbors to participate, too. Support it by working at VBS. We had people leading music and Bible study and others cleaning rest-rooms and picking up trash.

There is a job for you at VBS. Support it by giving to VBS. And, support it by praying for VBS. Help make VBS happen at your church.

SAY YES TO VBS!