Thank You for a Wonderful VBS

I know you've heard quite a bit about our VBS the last several weeks, and for good reason. It was a truly wonderful and spirit-filled time when our church shared the love of Jesus with the children in our community. It was done very well, and is something every person who is part of our church can be proud of.

Every person who helped in some deserves our gratitude and recognition, and I am truly grateful for you. Mary's passion for crafts and art, Tana's and Forrest's love for hand-on learning with science, Mike and Teresa Pottorff's joy at leading the games, Mike Parker's desire to share the gospel story in engaging ways, Jason's and Pat's love of music and joy in worship all give me reason to be grateful for the people I get to minister alongside. Charles and Cynthia Wende were there helping in every area, both with set up and as group leaders leading the kids between stations. Donna Nelson got kids checked in and kept us organized with groups and name badges. Carol Cooper worked to get pictures of as much as possible. That, by the way, is by no means everyone who poured themselves into this ministry. There were many more.

I want to lift up three people in particular — the ones who led the planning and organization so that VBS could happen at all: Leslie Bullock, Shiloh Lear, and Pam Caffey.

You may not know what a monumental task they take on when they agree to lead this endeavor, but it is hard to overstate. Leslie spent hours creating scripts, slideshows, videos, figuring out registration, organizing volunteers, and taking care of countless details as they arose. She researched, planned, and problem-solved tirelessly.

Shiloh had created an entire notebook full of decoration plans and she and her family spent entire days at the church putting their passionate creativity on full display: designing and building many of the decorations by hand, making shirts for the volunteers, and a dozen other things I can't even recall or didn't see.

Pam showed off (though she'll probably hate that I'm saying it that way) her skill in the kitchen — along with an amazing team of food volunteers — not only by preparing food for nearly 70 kids and all the adults each night, but doing so with so much creativity and inspiration that even the meals looked like our "underwater" theme. It was something to see.

So for all of you, I can't say it enough: thank you. And for all of you reading this — when you see these folks, offer them a sincere word of thanks as well. Let them know you see their work, you see their heart, and you're grateful that we're all in this together.

See you Sunday!
Rhea