VBS is just around the corner. Our children’s ministries are going to be working hard to
decorate and get ready for one of the biggest outreach events of the year when it
comes to young families. This is a great article discussing how important it is and how
beneficial it can be to serve and be a part of VBS. See you next week! Love you guys!
-Pastor Tommy
“Why Vacation Bible School is as Important Now as Ever”
Sam Rainer, July 1, 2018
He’s older now. Retired, but not done. He doesn’t move quickly, and his hearing is
not great. For thirty years he shepherded our church. Now he leads a Life Group. We
call him “Brother Bob.” All of Bradenton calls him that. He’s a passionate evangelist
for evangelism. Give him a minute of your time, and you’ll hear him share the gospel.
Boldly. Without apology.
He was at Vacation Bible School every day last week. He brought three children. Two
of them accepted Christ. In fact, seventeen total children accepted Christ, along with
two parents. Countless gospel seeds were planted.
What other program or event bears this kind of fruit in a one-week timeframe? VBS is
a local mission trip that just about any church can do.
Multiple generations came together. For one intense week, a multi-generational
army united around the good news of Jesus. It’s one of the most beautiful scenes in
ministry.
People from the neighborhood showed up. They claimed it was the packed parking
lot that piqued their curiosity. In reality, the Holy Spirit guided them from their front
yards to our front door. VBS was an opportunity for us to be good neighbors.
The gospel is the central focus. The reason we do VBS is to share the gospel. No
doubt, the games and activities and skits are a lot of fun. But the focal point is telling
children about Jesus. Everything else is periphery to the grand purpose of sharing
with a child, “Here is how Jesus saves you.”
Men get to be kids. Our VBS happens at night, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. There
are several reasons for this timeslot, but one of the biggest is that a later time gives
many men in our church the opportunity to serve. The women at West B always step
up in incredible ways, but there’s something special about seeing a middle-aged man
in an orange wig doing kid song motions on spirit night.
We carry with us the legacy of Brother Bob and his generation. Some in our church
are in their fifth decade of VBS. When I’m older, retired—when my hearing is gone
and I don’t move as quickly, I hope to bring children to VBS just like Brother Bob. VBS
is as important now as ever. I believe it will be just as vital in the future. We’re all VBS tired, as deacon Don can attest, but it’s worth it. Every bit of it.
Keep The Faith,
Pastor Tommy
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