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Why do we dedicate time and energy to a vacation bible school program every June? I would say that the primary purpose of inviting kids in our community to our church every summer is to share the gospel with them and in most cases disciple them in our faith. We are simply being obedient to Christ’s call to go and tell the world about Him. By doing this we demonstrate that we love our neighbors. And plus, it is such a fun week for everyone involved. It is like a week-long party for kids and volunteers. 

Which brings me to one of the great benefits of being a volunteer at VBS- Christian fellowship. Our Heavenly Father weaves so many good things together when He calls us to a common purpose for the sake of His kingdom. There is certainly a lot of volunteer man hours that are required to run VBS- many of you are well aware of it. The thing is though, that most hours are spent working alongside others and it is a beautiful thing to experience. It is in the praying, the planning, the painting, directing and various other “ings”, that are accomplished alongside your brother and sister in Christ, young and old, that the unifying work of God’s Spirit finds a joyful expression.  It is not an exaggeration to say acquaintances grow to respect one another, coworkers become partners and strangers become friends. It is a beautiful thing that the Lord does in the hearts of all of us who volunteer. But don’t take it from me only, here is a sampling of testimonials from some who participated this year…

“Being a first-time volunteer for VBS, I was not certain what to expect or what I was getting myself into. It was even scary thinking that God would want me to be part of such a special event in the lives of the kids attending. What a responsibility!

The work and building part I was comfortable with, having prior construction experience. But leading them and teaching? And God’s word! Wow. Stepping into unknown territory for me.

But He planned for my participation in this a long time ago. Trusting Him through guidance from the Holy Spirit was the only way I could accomplish this.

I intended for all of the blessings during this week to be for the kiddos. But boy was I surprised. I saw so many workers and parents feeling God's love.

Throughout the week, especially day 1, I came out of my shell and let these beautiful children and young men and women transform my heart.

Their joy to lead them and commitment to bring them the word of God was incredible. And the dedication of the entire team made it all so very special.

I am beyond words in how thankful I am for the Lord to bring me into this wonderful work. I am blessed to have been a part, and look forward to the years ahead.”

Roger Comstock

“My name is Mary Robertson and this year for VBS I was helping Mr. Pete Feldner and Isabela Talamantes with the fifth and sixth graders. I learned a lot and built a stronger relationship with Bela. We had a lot of fun together working with the fifth and sixth graders and being on the drama team. I was really happy because I actually made another friend!

I think I benefited from this year’s VBS in many ways. The main way was there were some points that were made about Christ when he was a child that I really hadn’t thought about before. I was grateful when Mr. Talamantes put Bela and I on the same team this year.”

Mary Robertson

“I volunteered for VBS with the dream of bringing kids to Christ. The whole week of VBS really impacted how I look at kids and the body of Christ. Throughout the week I got teary-eyed quite a few times, seeing kids (especially the kids in my class who were 4-6 years old) praising God with all their little hearts.

I saw a change in their attitudes about Christ. The first day they were very quiet and shy, many of them didn’t sing or dance. The excitement progressed through the week and one of my little girls had one of the songs stuck in her head and was singing it with all her heart. Seeing the pictures of VBS at the end of the week, I saw such joy and excitement in their faces.

The Lord has been bringing me to ministry and after VBS I felt him calling me toward sharing his light with kids in particular. The Lord commands us to be a light in the darkness of the world and through VBS I could see all the volunteers being that light. Seeing the joy and excitement in my kids’ faces praising the Lord, brought me so much joy and happiness. Serving the Lord and sharing Christ to these kids and families is a huge honor and privilege that I would love to continue to do.”

Luke 18:16: But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Olivia Parks

Both my husband and I grew up in Christian homes going to church every Sunday. Especially after COVID lockdowns, and then with the birth of our first and second kids, we struggled to get ourselves going to church. It was so easy to stay at home, but we didn't realize how much we missed and needed a church community. 

Then when our daughter was about three, we felt a strong calling to find her a bible class, like my husband and I grew up in.

Within a week, Mountain Christian Church advertised their Vacation Bible School program, and we couldn't ignore the obvious and literal sign. 

So that summer our daughter attended VBS at MCC, and it turned out to be a life-changing experience for our entire family. She came home each day filled with excitement, sharing the songs, Bible stories, and crafts she had learned. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and we were deeply moved by the joy and spiritual growth she experienced during that week.

Inspired by the positive impact VBS had on our daughter, we decided to attend a Sunday service. From the moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted with open arms and sincere hospitality. The sense of belonging and the strong emphasis on family values resonated with us deeply. As a result, we have become regular attendees and participants in the church community.

VBS not only provided our daughter with a memorable and enriching experience, but also led our family to discover a supportive and loving Christian community. 

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Lauren's story is a beautiful testimony of what the Lord does through VBS. Would you consider joining in His work for the Kingdom, right here in Cedar Crest? Talk to Cruz Talamantes today about how you can be involved. 

You will be blessed, and will also be a blessing. God may even use you to change a family's life forever. 

Thank you for supporting “The Great Jungle Journey” VBS!

We had 93 children attend at least once during the week. Half of the kids were not from MCC, and 8% didn't list a home church. The Gideons handed out 106 Testaments, and at least one girl had never read the Bible before. They were loved on by 115 volunteers. And raised over $1,562 for hearing aids for 11-year-old Dayana in Bolivia!

The pictures from the week are precious. The sweet faces of the children and of the volunteers brought tears to my eyes. I am SO PROUD of our volunteers.

We started each day with corny jokes and learned new songs and dances. We watched live drama productions and ate fun and colorful snacks that supported the daily lesson. We got our wiggles out in games before using our hands to reinforce the lesson in crafts. We even saw volcanos explode! We learned that sharing the Good News can be done far away as well as in our own community, and we heard our daily lessons from a new guest teacher each day. We had 15 tour guides, plus a multitude of helpers leading the kids and building relationships with them.

At our closing ceremony Friday evening, many families joined us to sing and dance, enjoy the drama team one more time, watch the slideshow from the week, and hear the gospel from “Jungle Jim”.  Then we had cookies and talked. So many people just enjoyed visiting with one another. It was beautiful to see the community created by a week of VBS.

The Sunday after VBS my heart was filled as I looked around the sanctuary and saw the familiar faces of the volunteers that worked together all week. Memories were made, friendships were formed, and relationships grew stronger.

The week of Vacation Bible School is so much more than construction paper and chaos. I have heard many stories about people who attended church for the first time because of VBS. And many accepted Christ because of VBS. 

Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

I am proud of the VBS program that we have built up over the years, but not because it’s our program. The VBS program at MCC is God’s VBS and it is meant to teach kids about Him.  

I will be stepping down from the co-coordinator role next year because Micah and I plan to enjoy his retirement next summer. The VBS team will need administrative assistance. If you enjoy spreadsheets or completing To Do lists or thinking ahead logistically, then let Cruz know that you might like to join the VBS Team. (Actually working with the kids is optional; so don’t let that scare you off.) You will have an eternal impact. 

We wanted to hear about VBS from those who participate - our kids! As you can see, VBS is not only tons of fun, but it also opens their eyes to what the Lord is doing in their own hearts and around the world.

Grayson: 

My name is Grayson and I am in 6th grade. I like to hunt, fish, shoot and play football. My parents are Chandler and Becca and I have a sister Bryce, along with two wonderful dogs and eight chickens.

I have been going to MCC for 11 years and it is a great church. I have been going to VBS for five years now and it is really fun. I also have helped set up the rooms to get ready for VBS.

I have never had a favorite theme but they were all great. I really like having games in the morning and a lesson.

I learned that God never leaves us and always forgives us. I have also invited friends to VBS. VBS is a great way to come closer to God and get new friendships.

Ava:

I’m Ava and I'm in third grade. My parents are Nathan and Shannon and my siblings are Cache and Hannah. We’ve been going to MCC since I was about two years old. I like hanging out with my cat for fun.