Today is the last day of Vacation Bible School at my church. While I am exhausted I am very thankful for the endless possibilities that are available during this unique ministry of the global church. We are not only sharing the Gospel with little ones in the community, but we are also sharing the story with each other. The amazing part about this whole ministry is that we all receive and are made aware of the all-encompassing love of Christ.
For the past two years, we have had the joy of being led by the youth group at St. Paul’s UMC in Las Cruces. The group has come to us and stayed with us and loved our children well. For that there is no amount of gratitude that can ever be worth their ministry. They are a wonderful bunch of young men and women. Their commitment to Christian service is second to none.
Watching the youth take such an important part in the success of Vacation Bible School takes me back to the days that I was in a youth group in Houston. I always looked forward to Vacation Bible School, because I learned the basic components of my faith as a worship leader. I learned that everyone, no matter what age, brings some unique aspect about God to the table. This concept should be nurtured and encouraged to grow.
I also learned how to be a leader among Christ’s people. Leading others to the Good News is one of the greatest blessings in life. I learned how to share hope and purpose. I learned how to be adaptable as lessons did not always wind up as the book said they would. Just like Vacation Bible School, our lives are constantly evolving and changing. When this occurs keep focused on God.
It is my hope that the “Youth” from St. Paul’s will look back on their teen years and fondly remember sharing their faith with the children in Truth or Consequences. I hope that they may grow up and smile as they understand the lessons that they learned will serving in ministry. May they stay close to a church which is in desperate need of leaders who will remain faithful and committed to the workings of Jesus Christ.
From a Pastor's Point of View 