Some encouragement to get you through this season.

I am a visual person, so since you're reading this, let me give you one.

If you're feeling like you're riding the Hot Mess Express straight into VBS week, you're not alone.

Right now, for me and for many of you, it's the week before VBS. The church is covered in cardboard, stacks of paper, leader binders, backpacks, decorations, and half-finished projects. My to-do list somehow keeps getting longer instead of shorter, and if I'm being honest, I feel like a scene straight out of Rocky III.

Rocky has lost his confidence. The doubts are creeping in, he's questioning himself, and he's forgotten the hunger that got him there in the first place. Yet the biggest fight is still in front of him.

That's exactly how VBS week can feel. The crazy thing is that the event hasn't even started yet. The kids aren't here. The music hasn't played. The volunteers haven't arrived. Yet somehow, we're already weary before the biggest week of ministry has even begun.

Thankfully, Rocky had Apollo.

Apollo got in his ear and reminded him who he was. He challenged him to find his "Eye of the Tiger" again, to go back to the beginning and remember why he started fighting in the first place.

As I sit here surrounded by VBS chaos, I need that reminder too. I need to remember my why.

Almost every year, the weeks leading up to VBS seem to bring a flood of spiritual attacks. Doubt creeps in. Worry settles in. Control issues surface. Ministry challenges appear. Family stress increases. A volunteer steps down. A key decoration breaks. Registration numbers aren't what you hoped for. Suddenly, you're questioning every decision you've made.

"Did I do enough?"

"Did I plan enough?"

"Will anyone show up?"

"Is this even going to matter?"

That's no accident.

The enemy will do whatever he can to distract, discourage, and derail the work God is preparing to do. And honestly, why wouldn't he?

VBS is not for the faint of heart. God has called you and your team to create an environment where kids can hear about Jesus, many for the very first time. Families who may never walk into a church on a Sunday morning might walk through your doors during VBS. Seeds of faith can be planted. Lives can be changed. Eternity can be impacted.

The enemy doesn't want that.

So, there I sit, surrounded by mountains of supplies, wondering if I've done enough. Then I'm reminded that VBS isn't ultimately about what I've done. It's about what God is going to do.

My Apollo keeps whispering in my ear through God's Word, through prayer, and through the encouragement of other leaders. He reminds me that my "itch", my reason for doing all of this, is simple: I want kids to know Jesus.

That's the beginning. That's the mission. That's the reason behind every set piece, every volunteer meeting, every binder, every decoration, every late night, and every cup of coffee.

Now, don't misunderstand me. You've worked hard on those sets, those schedules, those leader guides, and those stage designs. Those things matter.

But let's not forget what we're really training for. Our championship moment isn't the perfect stage reveal. It isn't a flawless registration. It isn't having every decoration exactly where we envisioned it. It's that one child hearing about Jesus for the first time. It's that family making a connection with your church. It's seeing God move in ways we never could on our own.

So KidMin leaders, put on those boxing gloves (or rainforest hats, safari vests, kilts, hard hats, miner helmets, or illumination lights). Grab another cup of coffee. Take a deep breath.

The bell is about to ring.

Let's get ready for the big fight.

Let's claim this week for Him.

Because the same God who called you to this ministry will give you the strength to finish it.

"And let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Jodie Slongo is the Kids Director at Stony Creek Church in Michigan, where she has spent more than a decade helping children and families grow in their faith. She is passionate about discipleship, volunteer leadership, and creating environments where kids can discover Jesus in meaningful ways. Jodie is also a wife, mom, and Christmas enthusiast who loves baking cookies for neighbors, spending time at the lake with her family, and making memories that matter. Her greatest joy is helping people connect with Jesus.