For Whom Did He Die?

Vacation Bible School is often a program that shifts the entire focus of your church on children for one week during the year. It actually takes months of planning and preparation and we have some wonderful volunteers at our church who help with this ministry. While the week is packed with exciting songs, fun games and activities, mission stories, and more, the primary purpose for VBS is to share the message of salvation with the children.

Many churches around the world pour lots of time and money into their children's and youth ministries because they know that the older a person becomes the less likely they are to accept Jesus as Lord. 43% of Christians accepted Christ before they were 13 years old (Barna Research). 21% accepted Christ between the ages of 13 and 18 and another 13% between the ages of 18-21. In total that means that 77% of Christians were saved by the age of 21.

Our church actually has VBS twice during the summer: once for the children and a separate week for our youth. Both are largely successful in reaching many people outside of our church. Some of these are children and youth that attend other churches. It is not our goal to try and take people away from their church, but some of the smaller churches cannot afford to offer VBS programs either because they do not have the funds or the volunteers. One of the largest churches in our area has decided not to have VBS because of the cost and actually told some of their members that they should just take their children to our church's program.

It was great to hear about the many decisions and life-changing experiences that the children and youth have had during VBS this year. Whether these kids continue to attend our church or get plugged into another local church, this is a summer that they will likely never forget. The summer that they met Jesus for the very first time.

In the midst of this major emphasis on children, our adults have also been reached. I personally had the privilege of leading two senior adults to the Lord this past week. One grew up in a Christian church and quit going many years ago. His wife and I have been praying for him for many years and he finally came back to church where I had the opportunity to witness to him. The other was a woman who grew up in a Catholic church and did not understand how she could actually accept Christ. She prayed all the time, but continued to struggle with this issue of salvation.

I hope we never get so hung up on statistics that we fail to realize that all people need Jesus. It would be easy to get so engrossed in the task at hand of teaching and sharing with the little children that we forget that there are adults and senior adults who are heading for hell without the message of Jesus Christ.

Jesus willingly gave His life for ALL men. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world." Not just parts of the world. Not just certain ages or races or nationalities. God loved every tribe, every tongue, every nation. "For God so loved the world in this way that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone." Not some. Not just a few select people. Everyone. You, me, your friends, your enemies, Americans, Russians, Israelis, and Arabs. "For God so loved the world in this way that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." (HCSB)

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