VBS helps kids find courage in Christ
- Elijah completes a craft with his special needs buddy, Haley. Fourteen special needs children attended VBS.
Stonebriar’s 2006 vacation Bible school (VBS) helped more than 850 children find courage in Christ. For five days last month, adult and youth leaders focused kids on Jesus through drama, music, crafts, Scripture memorization, Bible stories, games, prayer, and one-on-one conversations. At least 69 children received the courage to place their faith in Christ for the first time.
Susan Howard and three others led a group of 14 second graders. On the fourth day of VBS, four of those children trusted in Christ.
“One little boy was so serious that he asked to go to the Prayer Room to pray about his decision,” Howard said.
- High 5 youth and Tami Boltz lead the song Its a Good Day during a daily VBS worship assembly.
For other children, the challenge was gaining courage from the Savior they already knew. Kerith Leffler recalled the tears of one first grader in her group.
“She was convinced she could not memorize the Bible verse,” Leffler said. “We encouraged her to trust God, wrote the verse on a card, and sent it home with her. The next day, she had it memorized.”
Amber Anderson, Stonebriar’s preschool coordinator, said this year’s VBS attracted a record number of preschoolers (ages birth to five years).
“We had 320 preschoolers,” Anderson said. “Last year, we had their worship time in The HUB, but we had so many this year that we had to meet in the Worship Center.”
- Debra Cave teaches the moves to a VBS song that reminds kids that only the Lord is God.
VBS also taught children about giving courageously. As a group, they gave approximately $8,000 to purchase beds and storage trunks for children in Mission: India orphanages. One group of children opened a lemonade stand in their neighborhood and donated the proceeds.
The staff of Stonebriar’s Children’s Ministries spent untold hours directing VBS, and approximately 350 adults and youth gave their time and talents to make the week a blessing to so many.
Click here to learn more about Stonebriar Children's Ministries.