Joy Ministries

Joy Ministries' Vacation Bible School

 

What does the word vacation mean to you?  Some people vacation in the mountains and others by the beach.  In either case, vacation often means the highlight of one’s summer.   But what would you think about your vacation if it was spent in the middle of the woods or a church sanctuary, with several hundred children under the age of 15, talking about Jesus? Many children in our adopted neighborhoods can describe their vacation in this way, because every year Joy Ministries partners with other ministries and organizations to take between 20-30 children to participate in a local Vacation Bible School.

            Vacation Bible school encourages the youth to take their faith in Jesus to a deeper level. They not only “hear” about the word, but they get to see it come to life as they memorize scripture, have Bible studies, and complete games and activities associated with the daily Bible lesson.

            It is amazing to watch the children progress in their boldness for Christ as the week progresses. During the first day at Vacation Bible School, many of the youth we bring are hesitant to pray out loud; but, by the end of the week, our bus is full of prayer warriors, eager to lead the camp in prayer. Just like a vacation often refreshes our spirits and allows us to think clearly, Vacation Bible School paves the way for children to have a powerful and deeply rooted encounter with God, as they hear Biblical teaching apart from the “noise” and pressures of the world and their peers.  The smiles on the children’s faces tell a story that reaches beyond the words on any page.

            The joy of the Lord that spills out of the children as they return to their neighborhoods after Vacation Bible School is contagious. For many of the children, Vacation Bible School is the highlight of their summer. They get to go somewhere new, and they get to encounter God in a way that changes the way they see themselves. Please partner with us so that we can take our neighborhood children on more “vacations.” You may never know how far reaching your gift can be; but the truths instilled in Vacation Bible School, may forever change the life of a child.