It starts with asking yourself this question: “Are you ready to let God use you in someone’s life?”
Let me tell you a true story. “Kyle” grew up with parents who loved him, but never went to church. Not even at Christmas.
No bedtime prayers. No, “Thank you, Lord, for this food,” not even at Thanksgiving. 
The only time Kyle ever heard the words, “God,” or “Jesus Christ,” was when somebody opened a bill or banged their fingers in a door.
He walked by a church on his way to school, but he didn’t know what people did there.
Then a family with a boy his age rented the house next door
Kyle and “Jimmy” played together every chance they got. After school let out for the summer, Jimmy asked Kyle, “Hey, want to come along to VBS? It’s fun!”
Kyle’s mom said, “I suppose it’s okay, but I don’t know why you’d want to.”
Dad objected but Mom threw in the clincher. “Oh, what harm can it do? Besides, it would give me a break.”
So the next Monday, off they went. When Kyle found out that “VBS” meant Vacation Bible School he wondered what he got himself into. School? In summer? In no time at all, he loved it. Besides, these smiling grownups seemed to love kids and there were lots of homemade cookies. Soon Kyle didn’t want VBS to end.
A couple of weeks later Jimmy’s dad took another job and the family moved away.
When Kyle turned 16 he got his driver’s license
One Saturday he asked if he could use the family car next day, so he could go to church. His dad said, “Church? Why on earth would you do that?”
“Well, I remember that VBS with Jimmy. The people are nice over there and I like Pastor Matthew. I still remember the stories they told us and I want to find out more.”
Dad said, “Well, I guess if you want to give up a Sunday morning, go ahead. I’ll bet you once will be enough.”
But it wasn’t. Some of the “cookie ladies” recognized Kyle right away and hugged him. Pastor Matthew remembered Kyle from VBS and invited him to come around any time. Before long Kyle considered Pastor Matthew his friend because he listened.
Every question Kyle came up with, he answered, then said, “Got any more? Bring ’em on.”
The more Kyle knew about Jesus, the more he wanted to know
After awhile he asked to be baptized and later he was confirmed. Awhile later Kyle told his parents, “I know what I want to do with my life. I want to study to become a pastor.”
“But Son, why? You could be anything!”
Kyle persisted and wouldn’t hear of any other options. Finally his parents told him, “Okay, Son, if you’re determined about this foolishness, go ahead. But don’t expect any help from us. You’re on your own.”
He said, “Then I guess it’s up to God and me. We’ll do it together. Somehow. Some way.”
Kyle related that conversation to Pastor Matthew and a few others who asked, “Got any college plans?”
Soon a member started a church scholarship fund and Kyle was the first recipient.
Studying hard and loving it
Hebrew and Greek taxed Kyle to the limit. Five nights a week he stocked shelves in a warehouse and learned to get by on four or five hours of sleep. He had never worked harder in his life, but he also had never been happier or more at peace.
At last he was ready to graduate. Marvel of marvels, his still-skeptical parents accepted his invitation to attend the worship service where Kyle would be ordained as pastor of a church.
That was their first–and only–time inside a church.
Some years later Pastor Kyle came to serve as pastor of our congregation
One Sunday he shared his story, how as a child he knew nothing about Jesus except for that one week of hearing the Good News of Jesus, the One who loved children. Then he smiled at us, his faith family, and said, “I also remembered all those nice, smiling grownups at Vacation Bible School who genuinely seemed to like kids. Even kids like me.
“It’s no stretch at all to say I wouldn’t be here if not for that one week of Vacation Bible School. All these years later I joyfully can tell you that my parents now are baptized believers in Jesus.”
That year when the first call went out for VBS volunteers, the list filled up instantly.
Why not? Every one of us could manage to be nice and to smile at the children, couldn’t we?
That’s the main requirement, really. Whether child or adult, every human being needs to feel loved before they can hear the Gospel. (That’s also what Kyle felt from the smiling “cookie ladies.”)
There are no age limits. In our church we have VBS volunteers from eighth grade up to age 80-plus, all working together.
Yes, it’s true that some children will be there because their parents view this time as free baby-sitting. That’s okay with us. We know that for some kids this one week may be the only time they will hear that Jesus loves each one of them.
We volunteers all remind each other often that even if that’s all our VBS kids remember, it’s enough. Besides, anything beyond that is God’s work, not ours.
Here’s a loving reminder. It’s the time of year when most churches offer VBS or something similar for youngsters. Wouldn’t you like to be part of it and play some part, however small, in helping kids know that Jesus loves them?
It takes no special talent, just love and willingness. What better way to leave your mark on the world?
God bless you, dear reader!
Lenore
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