VBS 2025

Two amazing weeks took place at Grace Family Church—weeks that will surely remain in the memories of children, church members, and guests for many years to come!

From June 7-16, the annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) camp took place, bringing the entire church together serving children!

Everyone who entered the church building during those days stepped into the world of the Wild West—with cowboy hats and boots, old-fashioned streets and wooden stalls, lantern-lit caves, and even a railroad…

At the entrance, a cheerful train greeted everyone, joyfully tooting and unable to contain its stream in excitement at the sight of the arriving children!

Brothers and sisters voluntarily dedicated several months to preparation, so that every corner of the church would inspire silent awe spark curiosity in the children’s eyes, immersing them in the atmosphere of the very “Wonder Junction,” which they would later learn about at camp.

This year, in order to share Christ with even more children, the decision was made to run two tracks of the camp—one in English and one in Russian! This was a completely new experience for the ministry team.

The entire program—skits, songs, Bible lessons—was carefully translated from English into Russian over several months in order to reach Russian-speaking families not only in our city but also in other countries—Spain and France—where our brothers and sisters will go on mission trips this summer.

VBS is, first and foremost, a project focused on evangelism, but how joyful it was to see the church united in sacrificial labor like one family—so that every detail of the decorations, program, and lessons would surround the hearts of children with God’s love!

A total of 218 brothers and sisters volunteered in this work for God!

Now, let’s open the door and take a look – what is happening at this “Wonder Junction”?!

Each day’s program ran from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. All the children gathered in the main hall, where they were greeted with energetic, themed songs with motions, skits, animal illustrations, exciting questions from the host, and announcements.

After the main assembly, the children split into age-based groups to go to their Bible lessons.

In each class, the teacher took the kids on a journey through the Bible using engaging examples, skits, and games. This year’s program was special—it told the story of Christ’s life, from His birth to His Second Coming…!

After the lessons, the groups rotated through stations—some went to create crafts, others to the music class to learn new songs with motions, others headed to sports (a favorite among the kids, with outdoor bounce houses and water games chasing the leaders!). There was also a science station where kids could conduct experiments—even erupt volcanoes!

Between stations, the little cowboys were served a full lunch to refuel their boundless energy!

There was also special group time where leaders (with groups usually no larger than 10 children) could personally talk with the kids, ask questions about Christ and the lesson topic, and try to see what the child’s heart was going through.

It was wonderful to see at every station how each activity and creative moment repeatedly pointed children to the Creator, His wise plan of salvation, and the reason He came into this world—and will return again!

The Lord accomplished much more through the participants of VBS, but to describe it all in detail, even this entire article wouldn’t be enough to contain the words!

Just one more note—more that 300 children attended the camp this year. And 90 of them were from families who don’t go to church!

If the Shepherd would leave the ninety-nine to find just one lost sheep, then certainly, for the sake of so many unsaved souls, it is worth spending not just months of preparation and days of camp labor—but one’s whole life!

And may all the glory be to the One who, by the power at work within us, is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.