Every time I'm involved with a production at FBC, I hear this question coming from miles away. That's because our production team really, REALLY goes big when it comes to worship and events. VBS is no different.
Firstly, I feel that I should let everyone know how intense our Vacation Bible School at Fredericksburg Baptist Church is, from the standpoint of the environment we strive to create:
Sanctuary preliminary set design (with a handmade 30'x18' paper-plastic cyc curtain)
Panoramic image of the "Pandamania Forest"
12'x3' banner donated for promotion
My truck hauling 10 ft. bamboo shucks down Cool Springs Road
Ok, so that last one was more for humor.
The point is, we are legit with Vacation Bible School. I think a big part of why we are able to accomplish such amazing experiences in this one summer week is because we take it seriously. We have people preparing months in advance for one week. Next week, I'll be talking with my tech teams about what can be done bigger and better next year, and the year after that. Office workers have been contacting potential volunteers and processing applications for months. We all stay at church until the task at hand is completed, at times even into the next day.
We take this seriously.
We get high compliments.
We get to hear amazing stories of life transformation from parents and families.
And we get mocked for being intense.
And we get talked down to for going crazy with decorations and set designs.
And we get asked questions like the one above.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul says, "31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."
We take this so seriously because we know that Monday morning, there will be:
200+ children walking though our doors.
200+ future residents of heaven spending a week with us.
200+ potential first impressions of a church.
200+ families that may be treading deep waters and can't find hope.
200+ situations that we might never know.
200+ potential future church leaders and ministers
200+ little voices coming together praising our Creator.
And we have 200+ opportunities to offer the plan salvation and make heaven that much more crowded.
We CAN'T afford to NOT take this seriously.
Today, there will be scads of volunteers taping paper signs to walls, prepping classrooms, building sets, wiring lights, designing graphics for projectors, rehearsing musical numbers, and praying for the people they'll meet this coming week. Satan loves to distract us by telling us that maybe we don't need to give our All or that we're working a little too hard.
A sign that you're making a difference to the Kingdom -- Satan feels threatened enough to step in.
So, whether you're on my tech team, helping with setup, or leading classes, I want you to know that I've been praying for you, and I'll be praying for you this week. Praying that Satan stays out of the great work that God is going to accomplish though our Vacation Bible School (and all other VBS' happening this summer). Praying that your life will be changed as you change lives. And, praying for strength for you and all of our VBS workers.
Impacting the lives of children seems like a pretty big deal.
Better to be accused of taking it too seriously than to be accused of taking it in vain.
Have you ever been accused of taking your passion too seriously?
Thanks for that Joshua! Hopefully they will understand why you and I are so intense. Yes, it's 3:08 in the morn. Yes, I'm covered in paint and yes, I need to go scrub so I can stand in front of everyone this morn without showing signs of the many colors of paint and look perky and alert! Smiles. I know you are as 'intense' as I, so go to bed! See you in a few hours!
ReplyDeleteJosh this is wonderful! I think that you are completely right! we are called to do our job as christians to the best of our ability. if we don't do everything with pride and full heartedness the work shows it, and we don't show how important it is. every detail of VBS was important because it was not only important to the theme but it was also a physicality of the work every one put into it! No matter what any one says or has said; it was absolutely awesome, and if it were'nt for your passion and seriousness it would never have been half of what it was.
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