Vacation Bible School

Vibrant Witness – Sardis Presbyterian Church, Linden, NC - 2016

As still a fairly “new” pastor I am finding there is still much I continue to learn, and one of those things I’m learning more about is risk-taking.  In the last year or so the folks as Sardis Church in Linden have taken some risks, and God has proven faithful in SO many ways!

What I see as risk-taking is doing or taking on those projects or events or ministries that are bigger than what we may believe we have the resources to handle.  So it takes first some discernment on the part of the church to decide if this is something God is directing us to do.  Second, trusting that if God is leading then God will also provide what is needed – whether that be money, people, materials, venue, participants, whatever – a church (or individual) then has to go ahead and go for it.

We’ve seen some of these risks as “experiments” that we’re trying out.  Sometimes looking at it that way can help us put things in their proper context – if things don’t go exactly as planned, what needs to be tweaked or adjusted…  It’s not a pass/fail kind of thing!

So Sardis has tried some things.  We hosted a vacation bible school the last two years on our own for the very first time.  (We have a total of seven children in our church and just over sixty members.)  Last year we had twenty-five kids attend and this year sixteen, and almost half of the church was involved in the preparations and hosting.  We went into this event with lots of prayer trusting that God would bring the children who needed to learn about Jesus and experience His love through His people.  We also took note that this time wasn’t just about the kids.  We saw that really, one of the best reasons to host VBS is that it brings a lot of the church together, every day for a week!  What other event does that?  Brings us together for that amount of time, working towards a common goal, helping each other and doing whatever needs to be done?  The gravy is the kids learning more about Jesus!  Both years, doing VBS has created an energy and buzz in our church that has carried through the fall, and it encourages us to continue “experimenting” with other things as well!

We’ve also experimented doing some simple things like hosting a night of Christmas caroling at a parishioner’s barn.  We brought yummy desserts and had hot drinks and sang Christmas carols together.  It was a fun, low-key event to invite friends and neighbors to who may not have a church family. 

Whether they were “big” risks or small ones, the folks at Sardis have found that the more we trust in God’s leading and provision, the more God leads and provides.  Go figure!  We’re also learning that things don’t have to be perfect, and that even if they don’t go as planned, it doesn’t mean it’s a failure.  We’re constantly learning and adjusting as we go, and aim to abide with Jesus more and more, looking for Him to lead and guide us to the next thing He might have us do, the next people He might have us help, the next steps He might have us take in faith.  It sure makes living the faithful life much more vibrant!  Maybe your church can be encouraged to do some experimenting as well and then see what God will do with your mustard seeds of faith.

Rev. Sally Henry