Daily Devotion

I have a saying in our high-school youth group, "Once a Flock member, always a Flock member" and during our Vacation Bible School week, both current and former FLOCK members showed up BIG to support our VBS ministry. 

Our young adults served at every level of VBS. Some of them filled the role of shepherd, guiding a group of VBS students through their daily rotation schedule. These young people greeted our VBS students with a smile every morning, found lost water bottles throughout the day, and danced alongside them at dismissal time. Other young people served quietly behind the scenes, preparing snacks in the kitchen or organizing our donations for our VBS mission project in support of Interfaith Hospitality Network. Yet others led boldly at our various VBS rotation stations, teaching our VBS students the rules of Gaga Ball or explaining how a science experiment illustrates our Daily Bible Point.

As I prepared for an In-Person COVID-modified VBS, I experienced feelings of apprehension and of being overwhelmed at the responsibility of creating both a fun, yet safe environment for both students and volunteers. There were moments when I doubted new policies and procedures that I had developed in response to COVID and if volunteers would even want to serve given all the changes made to our VBS program. 

Of course, God surprised me! While Flock members (both current and former) served at every level of VBS, there was also a delightful number of brand-new adult volunteers who also jumped right in and served at every level of VBS too. A mother of one of our Good Shepherd Nursery School kids led our Science Rotation, a GSLC member served as a shepherd all 4-days, a mom who attends St. Gertrude’s in Madeira led our evening Bible Story Rotation. And that’s just the first three new volunteers who come to mind! Each and every volunteer helped to create a fun, welcoming and faith-filled VBS week. Our VBS volunteer team wouldn’t have been complete without each of these volunteers. God was truly present at the very center of our VBS community and walked alongside each of these volunteers as we shared His love with our VBS students each day. 

On a very personal level, I felt so much support from each and every one of our volunteers as I watched them so competently serve in their respective volunteer roles, no matter if they had served in VBS ministry for 15 years or were brand-new. My words can never express my appreciation for their time and energy and most of them probably don't know how much their very presence during such an intense week fed my soul. They are a reminder to “not be afraid because I know that God is always here with us” (taken from the Crocodile Dock theme song, “I Will Not be Afraid”). 

Reflection Questions:
Where has God called you to serve others? Is He calling you to something to new?
When have you encouraged someone else to serve?
How do you feel God’s presence alongside you when you try a new thing?