Every summer across the United States most churches hold a kid’s camp called Vacation Bible School (VBS). The purpose of VBS is to minister children of the home church and create an opportunity of outreach to neighboring communities with the message of the Gospel. For five days, children are learning God’s truth through songs, lessons, crafts, sports and even drama skits. In most churches it is the largest evangelical event of the year that requires involvement of the whole church.
From June 10-14th Grace Family Church of Sacramento CA held its own VBS. The preparation for this June event started in November of 2023. First and foremost, we start with the prayer over the event, over the people who will volunteer and the children who will attend. We started recruiting people who would head specific departments such as decor, music, media, sports, drama etc. We met monthly to plan out VBS week in detail. To make sure that our hearts are prepared to serve the Lord and the children, we had mandatory Gospel seminars that were prepared and taught by one of our pastors. We also held an all-day training event for all the volunteers to better equip them in serving and explaining what will be happening during the week of the camp.
From ages 13 and up we had a total of 172 volunteers ready to serve the Lord and the children. By the time camp began, we had 206 children. 52 of those were the outreach children. Those who never heard about Jesus or who went to church only once a year on a Resurrection Sunday. The theme for VBS this year was Keepers of the Kingdom. Children were taught how they can be part of God’s kingdom through salvation in his Son and be equipped with the armor of God based on Ephesians 6:10-18a. Every day they learned about the armor of God: helmet of salvation, belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness and shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith and sword of the Spirit.
VBS is an amazing opportunity for the whole church to participate in local evangelism. It is also a ministry where the Lord humbles and sanctifies the hearts of the believers. We learn to resolve conflicts that may arise with love and kindness that is only possible in Christ. “Salvation comes from the Lord” Jonah 2:9, but we must be faithful instruments in our Redeemer's hands by discipling all nations just like Christ has commanded us, as believers, to do. This is the only reason why our church holds camp VBS. Our prayer and hope that the Lord will grow the seeds that were sown during those five days of the camp and more people will be added to the kingdom of God.
Irina Avetisov
