Celebrating God's goodness

Kids having the time of their lives during the recent VBS at JCF. Photo by Mon

The 2015 Vacation Bible School (VBS) season is in full swing, with Joy Christian Fellowship (JCF) concluding its VBS ministry for the Intramuros community last April 25. Currently, JCF is holding VBS for kids coming from the church families through the JoyKids Sunday School department, so that they, too, can experience this special summer event.

More than 100 children from the Intramuros community were exposed to the message of this year's VBS, the aptly-themed Celebrate!, which incorporates elements of Filipino culture with instances of celebration in the Bible. At the center of each lesson is a story of Jesus and a festive event, such as the wedding at Cana or the Feast of Pentecost. The challenge to the teachers and the volunteers was to draw the connection between these instances of feasting to the overall theme of celebrating God's love and goodness.

VBS will soon be "exported" outside JCF's walls as the 2015 Go Forth team is currently in the thick of preparations for missions in La Union. This ministry has been very helpful in creating the preliminary bridges between the local church and the community that are essential for long-term work. With this year's VBS theme, the Go Forth team is excited to bring the festivities to the barrios of La Union so that they, too, may be part of the celebration of God's enduring greatness.

The VBS graduation is always a time to celebrate a student's participation in the year's Vacation Bible School, as well as an opportunity to connect with their quietly-proud parents. Photo by Mon