ROAR!

What mental image pops into your head when you see that word? Maybe it’s the sound of a baseball crowd as they cheer, whistle, and clap because they just witnessed a towering home run by the home team. Or it could be the sound of millions of gallons of water rushing over a tall cliff as it crashes into the river below to form a magnificent waterfall. Perhaps you think of the sound of wild animals as they prowl through the jungle in search of food.

If you are roaming the hallways of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in the mornings of the week of June 17-21, you may hear a bit of a roar spilling out of the classrooms, the gym, and even the sanctuary. Don’t worry. You won’t be caught up in a baseball crowd, splashed by a waterfall, or encounter a wild animal. The sound will be coming from several hundred children, adults and volunteers as they have a roaring good time at Immanuel’s Vacation Bible School.

Vacation Bible School is for children aged 3 through Grade 5. It runs June 17-21, 9-11:30 AM. A staffed nursery is available for the younger children of teachers and volunteers.

This year’s VBS theme is ROAR! Life is Wild, God is Good. This is an epic African adventure that engages the “whole herd”. Kids explore God’s goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life.

The Bible stories deal with the adult life of Moses as he leads the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt to the promised land of Canaan. These stories show the goodness of God as He rescues the Israelites from numerous dangers and catastrophes. Children also will learn that God sent His Son Jesus to rescue us too.

Mary Wert, Director of Children’s Ministries, anticipates that several hundred children will attend the week-long Vacation Bible School. In order to have an inviting joyful learning environment for the children, more than 100 volunteers are needed to keep things running smoothly. Volunteers can be junior high students, teenagers and adults from 20 to 100. Men volunteers are always a plus.

These volunteers help guide the children to various activities set up around the Immanuel campus. These activities include age appropriate games, theme-related crafts and nutritious snacks. Volunteers also help with technology tasks, act in short dramas, and assist with the music.

When asked what she wanted the children (and volunteers) to take away from Vacation Bible School Mary Wert stated, “The most important thing to take away from VBS is to leave knowing that we have a Savior who loves us so much that He died for us. Jesus wants us to live with Him in heaven forever. We want everyone to be so excited to share the message with others.”