VBS {finale}

I know, I know... My last post about VBS was supposedly my "wrap-up" post, but truly a good VBS report would not be complete without the awards ceremony!

We had our awards ceremony on the Sunday following VBS, specifically to encourage the children to bring their parents to church to see them receive their awards.  This is where VBS becomes the most profitable... when you can get the kids and their parents to visit a church service!  Sometimes all it takes is an opportunity such as this to get families to come and see what you are all about.

My hubby preached the services this day, and he used the 5 verses and 5 daily lessons from the week as his message.  The children sat behind him as he spoke and they "performed" for the church, reciting memorized verses and singing new songs learned throughout the week.  

Then, awards were given!  Each child received a certificate of participation and a candy bar.  Rewards were also given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places for points received throughout the week for attendance, visitors brought, and verses memorized.  

{Below} Yes, it was a long, tiring week for those who attended each day!

For me, the best part of all was seeing these two ladies {pictured below} in church for the very first time.  They live on the same street that our church is located, just a few doors down from us.  They came to watch their children receive awards, and the daughter of one of them received 2nd place for the week!

When the services were over, every single person in church received a free ice cream!  What a great way to end a special "kid's" service!

Another aspect I thought was helpful about having the awards ceremony on a Sunday, was the vision it gave to our church people for the children's program.  The less active members were able to see what goes on at our church throughout the week, and everyone was given a greater burden for reaching our neighborhood and the children at the orphanage for Christ.

{Below}  These are what the streets looked like right outside our church windows, but no one seemed to mind being cooled off by the rain and the ice cream!

My hubby left on an 8-hour trip yesterday to run a VBS in another city with 3 of our Ukrainian teachers.  They will be gone a total of 8 days.  The church they are helping is a "baby" church, started just a couple of years ago by a Ukrainian missionary that our church here supports.  Please be praying for this very important outreach this week!

* A special thank you to Mrs. Judy VanSant for taking most of the pictures shown in this post