Greetings Family!
Vacation Bible School (VBS) isn’t new. There is a rich heritage of leaders who trace their beginnings as followers of Jesus Christ to their life changing experience at VBS. On our church website’s staff page there is at least one person who fell in love with Jesus at VBS!
Life in Christ for every Alaskan and the World Beyond is what came up in prayer about Vacation Bible School last summer. We didn’t know that God was going to rock our socks as he challenged us to walk in faith as we stepped out of the “traditional” VBS box and into the unknown. God placed it on my heart, to go out. Go out and share His truth , His love and His life with kids who wouldn’t be able to come to ChangePoint for church on Sunday, nonetheless for VBS. So we made the decision to take VBS to the kids in Mountainview and in the Chinook Elementary areas.
I like routine and I like schedules. God however, He constantly challenges me to step out of my comfort zone, and VBS is a perfect example of it:
It was in a park: Weather unknown.
It had no budget: Funding unknown.
It was the first VBS of its kind: volunteers unknown. Support unknown. Kids attending…….UNKNOWN!!!
Yet God knew, and He provided. With the $2 offering, funding and support was made known as you provided over $10,000 for VBS. You stepped in to serve, because you were in agreement with the direction of VBS, and when we went into the parks last July, the kids came. We guesstimated 200 children(Well, that’s what we prepared for). Guess how many we had in attendance? 200 Children!
Each one of those kids had a story. There was the little boy who reminded me of my son, Alani. They actually became friends at VBS. But Alani went home to a bed, a couch and a bike. This little guy went home to an empty house because his family didn’t have furniture. He would come to the park early in the morning when mom went to work and played there until the free lunch truck came. He’d eat lunch and then play some more until Mom got off work. Then there was the brother, who won a $5 gift card for bringing all his siblings to VBS. Afterwards, they held hands as they walked to McDonalds to get a special treat….. a 50 cent ice cream cone.
God is glorified as we are satisfied in Him. Over the course of that week, my cup overflowed. He reminded me that each one of those children was a soul. An eternal soul. During that week, those eternal souls heard the eternal word of God. Because we listened and obeyed and stepped out in faith, knowing that God is God. The Author and Finisher, who knows each one of those 200 kids, and loves each one of them so much that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him, shall never perish but have eternal life.
Please join me in prayer as we prepare to embark on year two of VBS outreach at Chinook elementary and as we get ready for the $2 offering. May God’s Will be done as we step in as the hands and feet of Jesus.
In His Hands,
Vanessa Makihele
Vacation Bible School (VBS) isn’t new. There is a rich heritage of leaders who trace their beginnings as followers of Jesus Christ to their life changing experience at VBS. On our church website’s staff page there is at least one person who fell in love with Jesus at VBS!
Life in Christ for every Alaskan and the World Beyond is what came up in prayer about Vacation Bible School last summer. We didn’t know that God was going to rock our socks as he challenged us to walk in faith as we stepped out of the “traditional” VBS box and into the unknown. God placed it on my heart, to go out. Go out and share His truth , His love and His life with kids who wouldn’t be able to come to ChangePoint for church on Sunday, nonetheless for VBS. So we made the decision to take VBS to the kids in Mountainview and in the Chinook Elementary areas.
I like routine and I like schedules. God however, He constantly challenges me to step out of my comfort zone, and VBS is a perfect example of it:
It was in a park: Weather unknown.
It had no budget: Funding unknown.
It was the first VBS of its kind: volunteers unknown. Support unknown. Kids attending…….UNKNOWN!!!
Yet God knew, and He provided. With the $2 offering, funding and support was made known as you provided over $10,000 for VBS. You stepped in to serve, because you were in agreement with the direction of VBS, and when we went into the parks last July, the kids came. We guesstimated 200 children(Well, that’s what we prepared for). Guess how many we had in attendance? 200 Children!
Each one of those kids had a story. There was the little boy who reminded me of my son, Alani. They actually became friends at VBS. But Alani went home to a bed, a couch and a bike. This little guy went home to an empty house because his family didn’t have furniture. He would come to the park early in the morning when mom went to work and played there until the free lunch truck came. He’d eat lunch and then play some more until Mom got off work. Then there was the brother, who won a $5 gift card for bringing all his siblings to VBS. Afterwards, they held hands as they walked to McDonalds to get a special treat….. a 50 cent ice cream cone.
God is glorified as we are satisfied in Him. Over the course of that week, my cup overflowed. He reminded me that each one of those children was a soul. An eternal soul. During that week, those eternal souls heard the eternal word of God. Because we listened and obeyed and stepped out in faith, knowing that God is God. The Author and Finisher, who knows each one of those 200 kids, and loves each one of them so much that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him, shall never perish but have eternal life.
Please join me in prayer as we prepare to embark on year two of VBS outreach at Chinook elementary and as we get ready for the $2 offering. May God’s Will be done as we step in as the hands and feet of Jesus.
In His Hands,
Vanessa Makihele
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