God really began stirring up this uneasiness in my soul as summer approached last year along with the 2 Vacation Bible Schools that I was in charge of at my church. I work at a mid-upper class suburban church and we were providing a Vacation Bible school for elementary aged children and a separate Vacation bible School for preschoolers. But down the road 20 miles is a government subsidized housing community called The Heights, and as I planned and prepared for the VBS at my own church, I began to think more and more about the children (350 plus of them) at the Heights who would not have a VBS. Many would have no lunches for the summer since their parents were working. So, I gritted my teeth and decided that we would give these children a VBS.
I shared my vision with the pastor at the Heights, and she shared my passion. But it was just a huge task to plan and get supplies and workers for a 200 child Vacation Bible School. I shared my calling with the district pastors and churches that would listen. I invited other district youth groups. It should have been no surprise that those who answered the call were: an elderly couple, the man who has Parkinsons’; another elderly couple with an adult daughter with severe mental challenges; a mother of 7 young children; a mother and her Down Syndrome daughter (who brought her dollie); a few saints from a small United Methodist church who brought lunch for 250; a handful of other older women from my church who refused to let me ‘go alone’; 6-7 youth from my church, and even a 3rd grade boy from my church came to help lead.
We were a rag-tag team of servants who came to bless this community with the love of Jesus….but instead we were blessed. It was absolutely amazing to see the children flood in the doors of the small mission. To feel their joy rock the walls. To see them devour their meal of hot dogs because they were hungry. To tie dye t-shirts with them and laugh at all the chaos that ensued. It was just a precious time in which we all left so tired we could hardly think straight, but one thing we knew for sure: we had enjoyed VBS with Jesus. And another thing we knew for sure: we couldn’t stay away the next year, so plans are in high gear for this year’s Ghetto VBS at the Heights. I got a call just yesterday from an agency that wants to provide all of our meals and snacks for the week up to 300 children. What an amazing and humbling journey it is to be his hands and feet. To walk where Jesus would walk…and I truly feel in my heart that he would make a beeline to this ghetto and these precious children. Amen.
©2009 Fuller Youth Institute
Trackback URL: http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/2009/07/the-ghetto-vbs/trackback/
One Response to “The Ghetto VBS”
Leave a Reply
- Post Tags
- RelatedContent
- Latest Blog Entry
- September 2, 2010 Moms – Cycle of Poverty
One of the things that is heartbreaking to me, and I’m guessing you too, is how poverty is such a vicious cycle – so hard to escape. An article in the Washington Post a few days ago…
- Latest Audio
- Children of Divorce August 2, 2010
- Fund Development for Your Ministry July 6, 2010
- John Losey Interview June 1, 2010
July 5th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Tiffany
This was awesome