Our last night of VBS was last night. VBS at Bethel is unlike anything I have ever seen. At the risk of sounding totally biased, let me say Bethel does the best VBS I have ever seen. It starts with the decorations. they are incredible. The church is transformed for the theme. Hours and hours of preparation go into decorating. We have some of the most talented, creative people on the planet that start decorating a couple of weeks in advance and they go all out. The first time I saw our church do VBS when I arrived as pastor, I saw them in the decorating phase and simply could not believe the number of hours they spent and the extent to which they went. To be honest at first I thought it was a little over the top. I have a different opinion now. I see how valuable creating the right environment is. When the kids and the adult leaders show up for VBS and see the whole church transformed with all the decorations, there is an excitement in the air that is hard to explain. They feed on that excitement and the energy it creates all week long.
The other piece to the whole Bethel VBS phenomenon has to do with our adult leaders. They really get into it. They don't complain about being tired, they don't belly ache about how hard their day was, or talk about how much they don't want to be there.....for them it is all about the kids. They love the kids and it is so apparent. That is the intangible piece that makes it so incredible.
Apparently Jesus loved children too.
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:13-14
The disciples thought the kids were an interruption to the work of God. Jesus made it clear that they are the work of God.
When you love children, you are being like Jesus. Thanks Bethel for being like Jesus, and loving the children.
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