The Volunteer Heart

 

What VBS Volunteers Look Like

Marti and boys going to wash some sticky fingers

How can I possibly express the gratitude I feel each night of VBS? Tonight, as I made the rounds to the various Vacation Bible School activity stations, the feelings of gratitude and appreciation already firmly planted in my heart for my volunteer staff continued to grow. They always do. I am not sure my volunteer staff sees what I see when they look around every night. My guess is they do not. These are just some the glimpses I get as make my rounds each evening.

1. People who love God.
2. People who love children
3. People who have already put in a full day then come to VBS and put in more
4. People with God given quantities of patience
5. People with generous hearts, using their gifts and talents for Him
6. People who are willing to learn the moves to songs, even if they  look silly doing them!


Volunteers Katy and Shelby

    (I'm included in this. I usually learn them first.)
7. People who give approximately 12-15 hours of extra time to the
    work of God's kingdom in just this one week alone
8. People who are willing to step up and step in wherever they are   
    needed
    (Just ask Batman and his helpers - see below)
9. People who aren't afraid of a week of hard work
10. People who are some of the best hands a feet God has!
11. People I am honored and privileged to work with!
12. People being the church


Max, Carlos and Joshua

Do you know that one of the top frustrations of the average children's pastor is the lack of good volunteer help? I can't tell you the number of articles I have read on this one frustration alone. In all honesty I cannot say that I have truly experienced that at North Park. As a children's pastor I daily count my blessings for the many faithful, dedicated volunteers that God has sent to this ministry to do His work. I have to laugh when the volunteers point to me and say I make it happen, because I am pointing right back at them saying they make it happen.....but ultimately it's GOD that makes it happen through the people who have obediently answered His call to minister to the children of our community.

 

Tonight as I lay myself down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep, I will be once again thanking God for His provision of these wonderful people to our children's ministry, our church and our community. We are all blessed beyond measure by what God is doing through them. My prayer is that they will blessed in return double the measure they have given this week!

We had a surprise visitor tonight during VBS. These are my "Bat-Men and Bat-Women" who removed our uninvited guest following tonight's program. Thankfully none of the kids noticed our visitor until we were finished and most everyone had gone home. I can't even imagine a room full of 50 plus children freaking out over a bat! Thank you Matt, Marti, Billy and Rosetta!