I may have gotten myself in a pickle. About a month ago, I met with a great Church in my area because they wanted me to help with their Vacation Bible School (VBS). I live for this! And this is a Church I’ve never worked with before and I’d love to establish a relationship with them and the OAC NH Branch.
I attended the VBS meeting and learned that they wanted me to preach a paint-board message all 5 nights of their VBS, and their VBS started one week from the day that I found out.
Oh just wait, it gets worse! During the one week running up to the start of VBS, I was going to be the Youth Pastor at a Camp in Maine all week. I would get back on the upcoming Saturday night (really late) and the VBS would start the very next night.
Another small problem. I told them I couldn’t do VBS on the Wednesday night because it conflicted with Beach Evangelism, and they were fine with that.
But it gets even worse! You see, they wanted me to do paint-board messages on Bible passages that I’d never taught before. So I’d have one week to study the four passages, come up with an outline for each one, draw up a brand-new from-scratch painting for each one, and paint it up for each one. And I had to do it all during my free time while I was at Camp because they needed to be ready for the day after I got home.
All of that to say, I said “sure, I’ll do that.”
Did I take on more than I can handle? Maybe. Probably. It was NUTS!
A number of people prayed for my discipline, creativity, wisdom, understanding, and time-management as I developed 4 brand new paint messages in a week, without it distracting from my Pastoral work at Camp, and being available to my wife and kids. And God answered the prayers!
It was a SUPERB VBS, and I think they’re gonna invite me back next year. Let’s hope I get some more warning if I have to design new messages from scratch! 🙂
Here are some exciting photos, including the “before” and “after” pictures from the four new messages!
Night #1 of VBS. This was a new Church for me, and I was so happy to have been invited to help with their outreach!
Thad (the big guy in the wig) is a good friend of mine, and I LOVED watching him teaching the really little kids. And that outfit!!!
VBS Night #1, 'Jesus Rescues,' from Luke, chapter 15. The Pharisees looked down on people they deemed to be too sinful. Jesus taught 3 parables to shame them and teach them that God enjoys rescuing people. The parable of the lost sheep teaches us that God cares about everyone. The parable of the lost coin teaches that there is an urgency in God's rescuing, and the parable of the Prodigal Son teaches that no matter how sinful you are, God enjoys showing grace, compassion, and love. The kids were great and paid attention so well!
VBS Day #2, Mary and Martha from Luke 10. When a guest comes to your house, it is good and polite to clean, cook, scrub, etc., unless your guest is Jesus, then it's better to sit at His feet and learn. Martha has a lot of worries. She worried about the cooking, cleaning, etc., and she was bitter with her sister, Mary, for not doing the work. Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to get to work, but Jesus said that Mary chose what was better, and it would not be taken from her. Today we 'meet with Jesus' through prayer and Bible Study. Are there any things, even good things, distracting us from our time with the Lord? Are we being like Martha? Schoolwork, video games, chores, sports, can all be good, but they can also get in the way of us being with Jesus. Let's be like Mary, and not Martha, when it comes to Jesus, because JESUS IS GREATER! Greater than what? Greater than everything!
VBS night #3. Jesus is betrayed and arrested. Jesus asked His Father to allow another way other than the cross, but Jesus submitted, saying 'not My will but Yours be done.' While Jesus prayed so fervently that He was sweating drops of blood, His disciples fell asleep. Jesus was betrayed by His friend, Judas. Judas lead Temple Guards and Roman Soldiers to Jesus. But Jesus, putting everyone above Himself, told the Roman Soldiers, 'I am He.' And Jesus also demanded that they let His disciples go. Peter cut off the ear of a servant of one of the Temple Guards, but Jesus rebuked him and healed the man's ear. As Jesus was arrested and taken Jerusalem, His disciples ran away.
Final night of VBS. At this point, Jesus had been crucified, risen from the dead, and ascended to Heaven. So, is Jesus still powerful to do miracles when He's not physically on the Earth anymore? Peter and John went to worship at the Temple, and there was a beggar at the gate who couldn't walk since his birth. Peter told him, silver and gold I don't have, but in the name of Jesus, walk! Not because Peter is powerful, and not because John is powerful, but because JESUS IS POWERFUL, the crippled man's legs and feet got strong for the first time! He praised God, leaping for joy! The crippled man walked nine gates to Solomon's Portico, where he was recognized by all as the crippled beggar. Everyone was amazed at the miracle that happened! And they listened to Peter. They heard him. Peter preached that this man was healed in Jesus' name and by Jesus' power. The One the crowd crucified is the One that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob raised from the dead. And they must turn from their evil sinful ways and trust in Jesus the Holy One. We must turn from our sinful wicked ways today, and trust in Jesus the Holy One. He died on the cross to pay for our sin, and rose from the dead to prove He's the Son of God. He's alive today and is coming back. I exhorted the kids to Turn and Trust. It's our only way to have our sins forgiven and be reconciled to God.
We love you and thank Jesus for you!
Thank you so much for your prayers, financial support, and notes of encouragement, without which we would not be able to reach the Lost for Jesus Christ!
Please contact us anytime and let us know how we can pray for you!
And please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be blessed by it!
For Christ and His gospel,
Mark, Shelby, Vivienne, Juliana, Caleb, and Gabriella
These are amazing! Let’s get you to teach a painting class! You could do a whole YouTube series on how to paint these are incredible!!!
John, you’re very kind and encouraging. Praise God!