There are so many things that I could say about our Vacation Bible School week. I could praise God for the incredible weather we had. I could express my sincere gratitude for our over 100 volunteers who served in various ways throughout the week. I could share how utterly amazed I was by our outstanding Children’s Ministries team. Or I could say how pleased I was that so many people were wearing purple. Go cats!

VIEW THE VIDEO RECAP

But what I wanted to focus in on was how VBS was this beautiful microcosm of the body of Christ displayed in the metaphor of the family. Throughout the week I watched so many volunteers playing, teaching, leading, loving, and serving each and every kid as if they were their own. As I was watching all of this take place I was struck by the power of the local church. I mean really, where else is this kind of unique familial environment possible where dozens of children instantly have multiple aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas? Where else are so many children loved and treated like family regardless of who they are related to? Where else can strangers come together and be family?

Yes, VBS was so well run and was, for all intents and purposes, a huge success. Yes, VBS was a great place for our children and leaders to grow in the beautiful mystery of Christ, the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). But for me, the big takeaway was seeing our church embody and emulate the picture that the apostle Paul paints for us in Ephesians 2:19 where he says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

Maybe I am just getting sappy as I get (slightly) older. Maybe I am just feeling the significance that, Lord willing, I get to be these kids’ pastor for years to come. Or maybe I just really love VBS. But I think more than all of that, I just love the local church. I love that through the grace of God our Father who sent Jesus the Son to dwell within us through the Holy Spirit, He has made us a family (Eph 3:14-17). I love that the church is a place where anyone can become family and be loved like family. Where the fatherless have fathers. Where the childless have children. Where the lost can be found. Where the dead can be brought to life.

So my prayer is that VBS would bear fruit in the life of our church for years to come and even in the lives of those that we have not yet met. But I also pray that we as a church would continue to faithfully and fruitfully live out our mission of being a caring family of multiplying disciples, influencing our community and world for Jesus Christ.

Thanks for letting me share my heart.

Your adoring pastor,

Reid