Good News for Our Communities

The ministry of Jesus is marked by a number of noteworthy things. People with all manner of infirmities were made whole by Jesus whether by His touch or words. Our Lord also had compassion on those considered the least and the lowest by societal standards. He also demonstrated power of creation, such as stilling the storm or feeding the masses. However, the most important part of Jesus’ ministry was the message that He came to bring. When the imprisoned John the Baptist sends his disciples to inquire if Jesus is the Messiah, our Lord responds by saying “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”

While our Lord ascended to the Father’s right hand long ago, His Kingdom still comes among us also as the Good News of His salvation is preached. The Gospel literally means Good News. It is also where we draw the word evangelism, which is nothing more than telling the Good News of Jesus to others. In a culture of conflict, where fears and anxiety over the future run rampant, Christ’s Church has the countless opportunities to speak Good News of hope in Christ.

While the theme for this issue of The VOICE is preparing for summer Vacation Bible Schools, it is part of our District emphasis on engaging our communities. For our congregations and schools, community engagement is never just about helping people in need or caring for children. Our purpose in engaging our communities is always to confess Christ, telling the Good News to children and adults alike.

Our reason for having this theme featured this time of year is that congregations can make plans for reaching their community through Vacation Bible School programs. We hope that congregation leaders can see that VBS events come in different shapes and sizes and are often done collaboratively with other congregations and even in multiple locations. Perhaps this issue will help your congregation to consider a new way of serving children through Vacation Bible School programs.

As a college student, I was a summer intern at a church in Atlanta and had the task of organizing Vacation Bible Schools in neighborhoods and at an apartment complex. Some of the events were multiple days, others were one morning or afternoon and none of them took place at the church. The whole focus was the Good News being preached throughout the community. May God bless your community through your congregations proclamation of this Good News to all.