Day 3 - Wednesday
Here are the pictures from the third day of Midnight Museum 2009 in our photo gallery. Also, check out the preschool program photos here.
Do you ever wake up with a song in your heart? Today, I woke up to the tune of Tim Timmons’ “A Thousand Amensâ€. It’s a song that he penned specifically for VBS and the kind of music that makes you want to dance a little jig and lift your hands in worship. Leave it to Tim to make the “Doxology†(and oldie but goodie) TOTALLY ROCK!
“Unfailing Love comes with the morning. It’s your faithfulness we sing at night. It’s your kindness Lord that leads to our healing. All glory to our Maker and a thousand amens!”
The lyrics of “A Thousand Amens†saturated my heart with unexpected emotion during today’s closing program. The significant truths of this song overwhelmed me with gratefulness as I recalled the day’s events.
Today, Day Three of VBS is no ordinary day… in fact, it’s very special. It’s traditionally known as “Salvation Dayâ€. It’s a day set aside for each respective group guide to share how the good news of Jesus Christ and the “ABCs of Salvation†has transformed his or her life.
The ABCs of Salvation? Yep. Having eternal life with God is as easy as ABC. First we have to Admit that we are a sinner… no matter how hard we try, we simply miss the mark. Next, we Believe that Jesus Christ is God’s son who willingly came to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins so that we might have everlasting life. That really is good news! And lastly, we Choose to invite Jesus to be our Savior… our Forever Friend and follow Him. It’s really that easy!
Not only is the gospel shared but an opportunity is given to each child to make Jesus their Forever Friend. Today, 279 kids made Jesus their Forever Friend! Did you catch that? The eternities of two hundred seventy-nine children have been changed! Their names have been written in the Book of Life! All glory to our Maker and a thousand amens!
The beauty of VBS is that the lives of volunteers can be touched and transformed too. This is true of one particular sophomore guide. Her particular group was one with kids that had already made decisions for Christ earlier in their lives. But this tender-hearted 4th grade guide began to tell her story of her life B.C. (before Christ). “My life before Christ was rough†she started. “We were really poor and we lived at the Costa Mesa Motor Inn. My father was really abusive but I don’t think I should give the details.†The 4th graders huddled closer and one piped up and said, “Don’t worry, we’re old enough… we can handle it.†As the guide took a deep breath she weepily stated how her father tried to kill her mother and sister. “We tried to hide but he’d always find us… we ended up in a motel. Then one day, someone from Mariners came to our motel room and invited us to churchâ€. Unfailing Love comes with the morning. “This person told us that our lives could be different with Jesus and invited me to VBS. I made Jesus my Forever Friend in first grade at VBS here at Mariners Church and my life has never been the same.†It’s your kindness Lord that leads to our healing. “I use to feel dirty but now I feel clean.†This was a very restorative moment for this young woman. For the first time in her life, she was able to look back at a painful time in her life and rejoice at what God had done. It’s your faithfulness we sing at night.
But that’s not all. Another student volunteer was able to utilize being bilingual to God’s glory. This volunteer was reassigned from one group to another yesterday to serve as a translator. She was disappointed. I mean, who wants to be reassigned, right? At first she was a bit embarrassed by the whole thing. She didn’t really want to speak Korean, but like a trooper, she leaned into what God what asking of her. Today, she realized that God planned this in advance and used her in a MIGHTY way. Her ability to be fluent in another language gifted her with the opportunity to translate the salvation message in the boys’ native language.
Today, Day Three was indeed Miraculous. There are SO many more stories to tell….but I think that the words of the “Doxology†sum up today best:
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And a thousand amens! la la la la la la… la la la la la la”
June 24, 2009 8:00 pm