What does VBS look like on the other side of the world?  In May, Cooperative Outreach of India (COI) hosted a Vacation Bible School in Delhi, India where approximately 650 kids got to hear about the saving love of Jesus.   Vacation Bible School in India is similar in some aspects to what you would see in America.  The kids spend some time playing games, doing arts and crafts, and having fun with one another.  However, unlike America most of the children that came to this VBS had never heard the name of Jesus Christ.  The vast majority of children come from a non-Christian background.  Some of the kids were interviewed and this is what they took away from their week at VBS:

1. Some children enjoyed reciting John 3:16 and other verses explaining how Jesus loves them!
2. Some kids sang new action songs that they learned.
3. Some said Christ was “so good and cool that he keeps blessing everyone”.
4. Some children just poured out stories of Jonah, Christ’s birth, martyred missionaries, and teachings of Jesus.
5. Many talked about how idol worship is bad, and that you cannot bow down in front of any other gods and godesses.  They also recited the 10 commandments.

Isn’t it amazing to hear these stories from children who grew up in homes that don’t know or are hostile to Christ?  For many of these kids, this week truly changed their lives!  However, important work continues for those who work with COI as they attempt to follow up with those who made decisions during the week.  Please be faithful in praying for these kids who made life altering decisions and those who will be following up with them.

Speaking of India…

There will be a team of 6 people from 121 going to Delhi, India in early October.  Chris and Jessica Howard, Dustin and Lynn Sanders, Jennifer Montgomery, and Donna Gleason will be working with our partners in India and sharing the love of Christ by serving the beautiful people of India.  The team will be spending time on the college campuses around Delhi prayer walking and visiting with students.  We will also be spending time with our friends at COI seeing how the Lord is moving in their many ministries!  Please pray that the Lord will open opportunities to share the hope and joy that is found in Christ, and that the Indian people would “see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.”  If you would like more information about specific ways to pray or how to give financially to the trip, please e mail india@121cc.com.  

::Dustin Sanders