In Plain Open Sight

Today our friend and VBS writer, Joey Scruggs, Pastor of Preschool Ministries, shares a Colossal story from his church’s VBS at The First Family (First Baptist Church), Columbia, Tennessee. Joey will do just about anything to reach kids for Christ (as evidenced on Tacky Tourist Day!)
Sometimes the best place to hide a special gift is in plain open sight. There are many times in our ministries we spend so much time recruiting and planning events that we overlook the obvious opportunities.
Such was the case in planning for Colossal Coaster World at our church this summer. Supplies were purchased, decorations were created, registrations were rolling in, our staff was recruited, and even special theme days were planned. This coaster was off the ground! It was at that point that I received a call from the pastor of our Hispanic ministry saying, “Do you think it would be possible to have a Hispanic class during VBS this year?” 
We have had a growing Hispanic ministry at our church for many years. For the most part, this ministry has worked parallel with all of our other ministries. As I pondered this minister’s question, I began to think, “Our church has supported their ministry, their children participate in our programs, they place their children in our nursery.” It was then that these seemingly simple thoughts brought me to complete halt. Their ministry is our ministry. We are not two church families, but one.
Once I reached this revelation, plans began to fall into place. We acquired Spanish curriculum and our Hispanic pastor recruited bilingual teachers and assistants who were available just in case there were any language issues.  We established a Hispanic class for Bible teaching, but incorporated the Hispanic children into our rotations because we wanted them to have interaction with all of the other children.

We had great success! This overlooked, obvious opportunity became a very special gift and has now created a bridge between our ministries.