Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Hebrews 12:1

This Summer, First Presbyterian Church “threw off” denominational and racial differences in order to reach out to approximately 240 children of Baton Rouge with the love of Christ. First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church and Abounding Love Ministries all came together to teach the gospel of Christ in a Marketplace Style VBS.

What a joy it was to see the people of God coming together for the sake of His word and His children. We studied the life and journeys of Paul from the book of Acts. As we trust Christ more and deepen our relationship with Him, there is no more transparent figure in the Bible with which to relate. From Paul’s early days as a “righteous” persecutor of Christians to his imprisonment where he declared, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me,”  (Acts 20:24) he is a real life example of how we can trust and relate to our merciful God.

Special thanks go out to Meagan Greene and Jill Noel for their tireless labors and amazing organizational skills. We are all the body, but these two ladies were the brains, and then some, behind the success of this venture! Thanks also to all the “hands” who served as tribe leaders, tent masters, teachers, organizers,musicians, and storytellers.  Their patience and love were evident as they shared Jesus with His children. Thanks to Molly Adler-Klein for her work with the preschool children of our VBS workers. They were loved and cared for while also being taught God’s word with their own curriculum.

At every opportunity, be sure to say thanks to First Baptist for opening their church and their hearts to us. The First Baptist leaders were almost all “grandparents” and above. Seeing the generations work and worship together was a blessing to my heart.

As another year of VBS passes, I can’t help but look to the future. Please pray with me that God will continue to bless our efforts and reach out to the hearts of our children.

Chery Lott
Director of Children's Ministries