This is the Truth Network.
Now, friends, I want you to know while you're out and about doing your stuff, working, maybe taking a little vacation, much needed, probably. There have been some really cool folks. Working in a thing called VBS, Vacation Bible School. One of those is my daughter, Hope. She's almost lost her voice a couple of times this week.
Hopie, how's VBS been going? Tell everyone listening what kind of ministry that is for those that don't know about what vacation Bible School even is. I am. Oh man, my voice. Oh my goodness.
My voice sounds so rough, but. I've been Pronouncing and enunciating and talking very loudly the past few days, but VBS vacation. Bible school is Something a lot of churches across the United States and the world offer for kids, for families. Send your kids to us for a few hours. We'll teach them songs.
We'll tell them about the Bible. We'll take them on a little bit of a journey for a few days. Give them some snacks. We'll play games. Just have fun.
Um with the understanding that some of these kids do go to church. And a lot of these kids This is the first time they're going to really hear not just about God and Jesus, but. Really be able to understand the story to contextualize. Who is Jesus? Was he just a teacher?
Was he an ordinary man who did good things?
Well what exactly is the Bible? What is that book? What does it say? They've heard all these things about Jesus and God in the Bible, but at VBS, you can send Your kids or kids you know who might not have heard The gospel, and you know for sure at VBS, they will hear the gospel, they will be able to identify key terms like who is Jesus. What did he do?
Who is God? What is the Bible? and they will be able to really learn. very big pillars of the Christian faith. And the gospel.
And that is what is so important. People now, people my age and older, can a lot of times point to VBS as being the first time they really. Understood. And learned about Jesus. Maybe they didn't choose to become a Christian at that point.
A lot of kids do. Maybe they didn't, though. It just planted the seed. And that's what's so incredible about it. It's always free, you never have to pay.
You just walk up, sign up, and take your kids. It's amazing, and there are so many people there ready. To just open you and your families with open arms, I love it. It's like a full circle thing seeing you. And your children going and setting up your classroom and pouring into all these other kids.
You know, we were taking you youngsters to VBS not too long ago, Hope, and now you're doing it for your kids. And you, of course, folks may remember you as you hosted Truth for the Youth. For several years as one of our wonderful Truth Warrior interns. But now, this VBS is all over the country. And I really want this little segment real quick.
I had to grab my daughter real quick while her voice is still going today. Just to give a shout out to folks, Pray. Pray that hearts would be tender. Pray these kids would eyes open because most people come to the Lord at a younger age because their hearts are still malleable and tender, and there's that childlike faith that Jesus really praised in Matthew 18.
So, Hopi, how can we pray for you? I know there's opportunities you're giving kids to receive the Lord, you're sharing the gospel with them, you're giving them all kinds of wonderful tools, and a lot. There's a lot of fun, a lot of food, a lot of arts and crafts, but at the end of the day, The prayer is for our church, Calvary Baptist and Winston-Salem and all the churches all over the country doing VBS that kids would come to know Christ.
So, how can we pray for you as you even finish up your VBS and for VBS workers all over the country? I think right now, I think we've had such a good response in the kids. I think They have been so. Auntie every day. during I'm teaching a Bible study, so the kids go to different Different rooms and places.
We have 1,100 kids at RVBS.
So they're all going all throughout the church for different activities, and they come to my room for the Bible story.
So really where we hit them and teach them with the good news and the gospel and all of that. Every day I could tell they've been antsy or moving around a lot. I'm trying to captivate them and teach them these stories. Today, they were so captivated. I've just been praying.
And today, of course, was Jesus dying on the cross and the resurrection. That Jesus is the proven Son of God, and that He's kept His promises and He saved us, and the kids. We're so attended And so many of them are not. wanted to speak with pastors. All up and down the halls to speak with pastors, to learn more, maybe to finally make that decision to accept.
Christ into their hearts. And I think really as we leave the VBS, the high of VBS, I'm praying for these kids. One kid today came up after and was asking me a question about. the angel that rolled the the stone away and I said Well, do you have a Bible at home? Do your parents have a Bible?
And he said, no. Yeah. And I was like, well, please, you know, we have so many Bibles at this church. We'd love to give you a Bible, your parents a Bible. And we'd love for you to learn more.
And I think really. We're getting to the hearts of these kids, hopefully, and planting seeds in them. And it's not just going to plant a seed in them, it's going to plant seeds in their families. And They're going to say, Mom, Dad, I want to go to Sunday school. I want to go to church.
That's where my friends are. We play these games, and everyone's so happy. And We're not just about serving ourselves. It's about Serving each other and loving others. And I'm just praying mostly that the seeds planted in these kids.
well reach the children and reach their families and we'll be able to bring the whole community In our area, in every community around, that that is a way we can reach hurting people. Is to bring them back into the community of God. And I think the kids. The kids are going to be the key to that. Amen.
Well, when you're driving down the road, whether you're in Utah or somewhere in Ohio or somewhere in Mississippi, and you see VBS on the sign, or when you see Vacation Bible School this week. Be sure to stop and pray or pray as you're driving. for the workers and the students and the children. And the pastors of that church, and then make sure you send your kids because this could be a great time for your grandkids.
Now, I got two grandkids that have been involved, and they're loving every minute of it. Hope they've helped you set up, and you're doing rehearsing with them, and you're not just doing VBS, your work really is before and even after. It goes into the night because you're trying to raise a three-year-old youngster and a six-year-old youngster, and navigating all that. Goodness gracious, we're grateful for all you're doing. And shout out now.
What are the names of those little fellers? Walker, he is six and Watson, he is two. And they are loving it. They're having a great time.
Okay.
Well, they got a good mama and they got a proud grandpa. But thank you for what you're doing. And thank you. I was in Chick-fil-A, and three really sweet ladies walked in with their big Jesus has the light of the world shirts on. And I said, wait.
VBS, they said, yes, I said, and they said at Calvary. I said, wait, what are the chances of that? And I said, well, come on, let's get you some lunch. They said, really? I said, are you kidding me?
VBS folks walk in this Chick-fil-A when I'm about to go order for son-in-law and everyone.
So we got to treat them to lunch. And they were really touched. And then they came over to thank me afterward. I was in a meeting in a booth with your husband, my son-in-law Harrison, and then another gentleman who helps us with our Truth Network stuff, our website, and everything. And they came over and said, Thank you so much.
I said, well Let's pray. Let's pray for you right now. Because I think at the time of this recording, there was still a day left in VBS. And so we had a prayer for them that the Lord would work. In them and through them, and touch the kids.
And I want to encourage everyone to pray right now for Hope and for all the VBS folks. And there's still Christian camps where young people are attending. There's still VBS going on. And I hear the ruffle and the pitter-patter of little feet. I'm going to let you go.
But, Hope, thanks for what you're doing and for jumping in and giving us that report. God bless you. God bless VBS. Thank you. Love you, Dad.
Bye-bye. True top line. Yeah.
