Weekly Newsletter 06/22/2023

Peace to you!

What an eventful week at Grace Family Church! The church was lively with volunteers and children, all immersed in learning absolute truths about our one and only true God at Keepers of the Kingdom VBS. Only a few events outside of Sunday worship gatherings bring the entire church together like we saw last week. The work of the Holy Spirit is truly amazing as He unites, sanctifies, and empowers the saints to be witnesses of Christ. VBS last week exemplified the Spirit’s work and put into practice the principles of 1 Corinthians 12. A wide array of gifts were utilized to make VBS possible, all empowered by the same God (1 Cor 12:6). With over 160 volunteers serving one another and sharing the gospel with children, it was a glorious display of how the Spirit prompts each member to care for and uplift one another.

The security team ensured ample parking space and the safety of our children, while the hardworking kitchen staff prepared delicious meals to feed over 400 people. The decorations team beautifully transformed our facility into a medieval castle, illustrating the significance of the armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6. Dedicated teachers put in great effort to ensure that the children grasped transformative Biblical truths, inspiring them to live for God’s glory. The music, crafts, sports, and science teams played their part in solidifying these lessons through engaging activities. The skilled media team amplified sound and provided visual aids to enhance our corporate worship led by our hosts. The highlight was the drama team, who transported us back to medieval times through a story emphasizing the importance of the armor of God. The administration team diligently managed group assignments and ensured each child was safely reunited with their parents at the end of the day. The love of Christ was also apparent in our medical team who carefully tended to every scraped knee and bruise. The program coordinator took care of directing peoples’ attention to further consider the absolute truth of God and the hope that can only be found in His Son Jesus. Group leaders and their helpers spent every minute with their children and gave up all their energy to ensure that each child felt welcome and loved. And let’s not forget the most adorable attendees of VBS, who were well taken care of by our nursery caregivers.

The theme of this year’s VBS was “Keepers of the Kingdom,” based on Ephesians 6:10-18. In today’s world, children need to be prepared to navigate the challenges they face. We are engaged in a battle for their hearts and minds, as they encounter lies about their identity, their Creator, and the source of their salvation. The armor of God equips us to overcome the forces of deception, darkness, and evil. During VBS, children had the opportunity to learn how they can be part of God’s kingdom through salvation in His Son. They were also taught that every believer is equipped with the armor of God to become keepers of the kingdom, standing strong in the battle for truth. We humbly ask for your prayers for all 202 children who attended VBS, that God’s Word would continue its transformative work in their lives. Specifically, please pray for the 35 children from unchurched homes, that the message they received and brought home would be a beacon of hope for their families.

Speaking of VBS, we have two more VBS events planned for this summer. As you may already know, we have a team that will be going to Poland in three weeks. We will be hosting the Mystery Island VBS in Torun and Warsaw, serving refugee children from Ukraine. The registration for children’s participation in the VBS program has already opened in Torun, and within less than a week, we have received over 100 sign-ups. We give thanks to God for the hunger He has stirred in the hearts of these children. However, we kindly request your commitment to pray for us as we have much preparation ahead for these events. Specifically, please pray that our hearts would be prepared to serve those whom God sends our way, and that God would prepare the hearts of the children to receive the message of the gospel. In addition to your prayers, we also invite you to consider supporting us financially. Our budget for these two events exceeds $50k. If you feel led by God to support this missionary trip, please donate and make a note that it is for “Poland VBS.”

On behalf of the elders of GFC,
Andrey Kobzar

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine. Go to our Give page or click the Donate button below. Select "Mission to Ukraine" fund when donating.

²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 

²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 

²⁹ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake

Philippians 1:27-29