GOD'S WORD IS FOR EVERYONE!
This past week in V.B.S., I had the distinct privilege to help out with games. Thanks to Wilkes Univer-
sity, Good Shepherd had permission to use the green space right in front of the University Towers at the
corner of South and South Main Streets. Now, there is not always positive activities happening on the street
corners of our city, but it was obviously inspiring for those passing by in their cars and on foot as they
tooted their horns, waved, smiled, and stopped and watched the V.B.S. children running, playing, laughing
and with excitement and energy shouting out their love for God with a continual, "Let's Go!,'
Indeed, God's Word is for everyone and the love that God's Word brings is contagious. Just as the early
Christian church grew by leaps and bounds because of the all caring love they demonstrated to all their
members in the way they shared their resources and prayed together, so too God's Word as revealed through
His Son Jesus is like a magnet opening the eyes of all who are embraced in His light
to see the power of God's love in all people, in all situations.
Vacation Bible School is always a power packed week of ministry here at Good Shepherd and I'm never
sure if its the children, the youth helpers or the adult coordinators who are having the most fun. During the
week of June 27-25, between 50 and 60 children from both Good Shepherd and the surrounding community
set sail on a High Seas Expedition to discover the life changing power of God's Word. A special thanks
goes out to Cheryl Ritter, the 2010 V.B.S. Director, who did a marvelous job organizing, coordinating and
inspiring a vast array of volunteers for this year's program. This year we had 17 adult volunteers and 25
youth volunteers.
As they made their daily voyage the children learned that God's Word is true, comforting, surprising, life
changing and for everyone through New Testaments stories that all came from the book of Acts like the an-
gel of God helping Peter escape from King Herod's prison; St. Paul facing a life threatening storm at sea;
God saving St. Paul from a poisonous snake; Peter and John healing a crippled beggar at the Beautiful Gate
in Jerusalem; and the magnetic community of the early Christians who grew in numbers by leaps and
bounds as the ate, shared all their resources and prayed together each day.
The tactile power of V.B.S. is witnessing the lives of children being transformed through singing
and dancing to lively music, experiencing God's Word through drama, crafts, snacks and games all under
the gentle guidance of caring adult and youth leaders. It's no wonder that members of Good Shepherd actu-
ally take vacation time to be part of this dynamic program.
The Word of God, though an ancient text is active, alive and is constantly on the move, transforming all
by continually pressing us out of our narrow understanding of life, so that like the V.B.S. children we too
can find ourselves exclaiming innumerable times each day, "Let's Go!." and make God's love known in our
church, in our community and around the world!
Peace,
Pastor Janell Wigen
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