Kids Stand Strong for God at VBS

“Stand strong for God.” That’s the motto of this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Azure Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church located on Barton Road in Grand Terrace. A total of 363 children were registered to take part in the festivities. Participants ranged in age from 3 to 12, and teenage volunteers worked as crew leaders, Children and Family Pastor Patty Marruffo shared. The church’s VBS took place each night from 6 to 8:30 p.m. through last week, beginning Monday, July 22 and ending Friday evening, July 26, culminating in a large finale celebration during Saturday’s July 27 Sabbath service, where the kids and crew leaders sported their red VBS T-shirts, listened to a short sermon and sang for the congregation, said Marruffo. Using curriculum called “Kingdom Rock,” children each night discussed “different Bible characters who learned to stand strong for God,” said Marruffo. In keeping with the theme, the main sanctuary was transformed into a medieval castle, and each night children reviewed a different Bible point with a Bible buddy. “We had Bible points like ‘Prayer helps us stand strong for God’ and ‘Friends and family help us stand strong for God’ to help the kids remember that God loves them,” said Marruffo. Children came in from throughout the City as well as neighboring congregations, and participated in various stations where they played games, made crafts and munched on yummy snacks like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into the shape of a heart to remind them of God’s love. Last Wednesday, Grand Terrace Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz even dropped by to say hello to the children. “The kids were really excited about having the mayor show up,” said Marruffo. Each night the VBS wound down with a fanfare finale known as “The Royal Review,” where the evening’s lesson was reviewed once more. “My main objective and purpose is that the children walk away from here knowing that they have a loving, graceful and compassionate God, and that they know they have a safe place and a safe person to go to, to find comfort,” said Marruffo. That message was passed down to the children through song so that it sticks with them long after the Vacation Bible School ends, she added. “By the end of the night, we have kids shouting that message,” Marruffo said. In the effort to extend their services to their community and surrounding areas, the VBS event also includes a mission project. This year Azure Hills teamed up with the Alice Birney Elementary School in Colton and the Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD) to donate backpacks full of school supplies to Alice Birney students in the upcoming school year. Marruffo said, “Between all of us together, I’m hoping that we have collected 800 backpacks. It’s just really great to see the kids doing something that helps others.”