Last week saw a whirlwind of activity at Immanuel Bible. Ahh, the traditional and essential Vacation Bible School. Approximately 100 kids scampered through our doors for five days of games, crafts, Bible teaching, missionary talks, and skits.

I have a very vague memory of being sent to VBS one or two summers when I was quite young. I don’t remember many details, except that I heard about Jesus.

Oh, and I remember sitting “Indian style” in a row of other girls and boys and that the girl next to me insisted that her puppy be included in the photo.

As a child, we didn’t talk about faith or Jesus at home except when one of us kids asked a question. My parents were able to answer our simple questions even though they weren’t people of faith.

During VBS last week, we talked a lot about the P.R.O.O.F. of God’s love: God’s Planned Grace, His Resurrecting Grace—that’s what the skeleton is about—God’s Overwhelming Grace, Outrageous Grace, and Forever Grace. We taught the children that one of the best things about God is that He offers us grace, that is, getting something wonderful (God’s forgiveness) that we don’t deserve.

Some of the kids who came to this VBS last week already have an excellent foundation in the basics about faith and about Jesus and already understand some Bible stories.

But I wondered about some of the other kids. Are they growing up like I did? A couple of kids, in particular, touched my heart because they seemed kind of lost and anxious. Lost in (VBS) Space.

I was one of those kids, fifty-plus years ago. Kind of confused, sensitive, lonely and terribly shy, wanting to know about God but afraid to ask.

But I know someone was praying for me because, somehow, God pressed a seed into the hungry soil of my heart. One of my VBS teachers said something, or did something that made a deep impression even if I wasn’t consciously aware of it at the time. And a decade later, I placed my faith in Christ.

And so, last week I prayed for all the children. But I gave special time for the “lost” ones.

Seeds were sown in the hearts of these dear children last week.

Were those seeds sown through the stories of how Jesus loves children in other parts of the world?

Through the songs?

Through connections with teachers and other kids?

I’ll probably never know.

One thing I do know is this: “…so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)