Vacation Bible School for the Whole Church

This week we have a great group of children, teenagers and adults joining together in our VBS, SonRock Kids Camp. Personally, it's a great way to return from vacation--to jump into all that takes place with VBS. The children are learning from Peter about Jesus and learning to trust Jesus for themselves. The Rangers (older children and teenagers) are gaining some leadership training as they work with the younger kids. The adults are setting the example of sharing their own faith and reaching out to others. I am particularly excited to see the men picking up the pace. As such VBS is ministry opportunity for the whole parish family--did I mention there is a whole team of intercessors praying all week for VBS? They are not present, but they are praying for us to know God's presence.

This year we want to raise the bar of expectations for our children and their families. There'll be a Communion Class and an "instructed Eucharist" this fall. We will be expanding our Accolytes ministry--both in terms of numbers and in terms of the scope of their ministry. Rumor has it that a drama is planned for the Christmas season (our first in many years). Next week, after VBS is concluded, we will set up the old bookstore room as the new Youth Center....and there's more being considered and prayed about.

Our vision however is not to add on more programs by themselves. Our vision is to be a Church family that welcomes and honors our children and teenagers, and encourages and supports their families. If a child has a crummy rotten Thursday at school, we want them to know on Thursday that God cares and will be with them when they go back to school on Friday. In short, if our ministry is limited to Sundays, it's too little and it's too late Thursday's heart ache. We want our children not only to know that God cares about them, but also that God will go with them to school on Friday so that they can be His ambassadors at school among their friends and schoolmates. Just as Jesus calls adults to be salt and light, so also He calls our chidren and teenagers to be salt and light in the world. Let's raise the bar and trust God to do far more than we can imagine possible.