There are moments in the life of a church that feel bigger than the event itself—moments that quietly mark a shift into something new. For us, this summer’s VBS is one of those moments. For some of you, VBS is over, the thought is gone, or nonexistent. My hope for this story is that it inspires you to think of events as reaching The One, your one.

As a church over 30 years old, we are hosting our very first VBS!!

I’ve been asked several times if we’re doing this because we feel like we’ve been missing something all these years, and the answer is no. The why behind it goes pretty deep. This is a great event to start now because of what it represents.

This year has already been full of meaningful change. We are preparing to honor and retire a pastor who has faithfully led our church for over three decades. His leadership helped shape who we are today, and the foundation he built is something we are deeply grateful for.

At the same time, we are stepping into a new season with the upcoming transition to a new lead pastor. There is excitement, anticipation, and if I’m being honest, a little bit of the unknown. As much as I personally resist big change, I know that’s often where growth begins. And growth is exactly what we’ve been experiencing.

Our town was once so small it didn’t even have stoplights. Not only is the town growing so quickly, so is our community! New families are moving in. More kids are showing up. There is a fresh energy that’s hard to ignore.

Over the past year, we’ve also taken a big step in creating space for that growth by building an indoor playground—something designed not just for our church, but for the entire community. It’s become a place where families can gather, kids can play, and connections can begin. In many ways, it’s a front door. A simple, welcoming invitation that says, “You belong here,” long before anyone steps into a Sunday service.

I want to create that “front door” experience in the church. VBS feels like a natural extension of just that. This isn’t just about putting on a program or filling a week in the summer. It’s about creating a space where kids can laugh, learn, build friendships, and hear about Jesus in a way that sticks with them. It’s about supporting families and giving their kids something meaningful to be part of.

It’s also about our people, our community within the walls of our church. Pulling off something like this for the first time doesn’t happen without an incredible group of volunteers. From high school students stepping into leadership roles to adults giving their time and energy in the middle of busy summer schedules, this has already become a full church effort.

It’s been encouraging to watch people say “yes” to something new, even when it’s outside of their comfort zone. There’s something special about that kind of unity. Maybe that’s part of why this moment matters so much to me, to us. VBS isn’t just for the kids who will attend—it’s shaping us, too. It’s stretching us, growing us, and reminding us what it looks like to serve together.

As we look ahead, we don’t see this as a one-time event. We see it as a beginning. A beginning of new rhythms, new opportunities, and new ways to reach the families in our community. A beginning that builds on the legacy of the past while stepping boldly into the future God is leading us toward.

If this summer is any indication of the future of our church, the best chapters of our story may still be ahead. We’re really glad we get to start this one with a bunch of kids, a lot of energy, and more than a few snacks.

JoEllen Rivera serves as a Children’s Director with a passion for helping kids know who Jesus is. She cares deeply about the “why” behind everything her ministry does and loves equipping volunteers and partnering with parents. JoEllen’s focus is to create safe, intentional spaces where kids feel known, valued, and confident in who God created them to be. For JoEllen, children’s ministry is more than a vocation — it’s a calling to invest in the next generation with purpose and heart.