WOW, GOD! A Reflection on VBS

After finally catching my breath from VBS, I sat down with today's Gospel and couldn't help but think about our week at Rainforest Falls.

Jesus says, "I give praise to you, Father... for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike."

If there was ever proof of that Gospel, it was VBS.

For one incredible week, nearly 300 young people reminded all of us what faith looks like. They sang without embarrassment, prayed with confidence, laughed often, and believed with their whole hearts that God was with them. Meanwhile, the adults were trying to keep up with the dance moves, pretending they knew all the words to the songs, and secretly hoping snack time would come sooner rather than later.

Somewhere between building a rainforest inside a school, surviving water games, and watching our decorations come down far quicker than they went up, I realized something: Jesus wasn't asking us to create a perfect VBS. He was simply asking us to bring children to Him.

Throughout the week, we discovered that God is our Creator, God knows everything, God is our safe place, God always loves us, and God is everywhere. Those are profound truths, yet children receive them with remarkable simplicity. Adults tend to complicate faith. We carry burdens, schedules, and endless to-do lists. Children simply hear, "Jesus loves me," and believe it.

Jesus offers an invitation: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." After months of planning VBS, I needed to hear those words.

Perhaps my favorite memory wasn't the opening session skits, though they were absolutely hysterical, but our simple call-and-response: "WOW, GOD!"

What a simple way to live our faith.

Imagine if we approached each day with that same sense of wonder, recognizing God's presence in our families, our parish, and in the ordinary moments that so often are extraordinary.

Before you turn the page, be sure to scan the QR code to watch this year's VBS montage, beautifully created by our Creative Director, Matt Wasinski. It captures the laughter, prayer, friendships, and faith that made our VBS such an unforgettable week and beautifully reflects the heart of our summer ministry.

My hope is that as you watch, you'll find yourself saying exactly what nearly 300 children joyfully proclaimed all week long: WOW, GOD!

Desi Gould

Director of Evangelization