Down on VBS
About the Author
Ben spends most of his time working with underprivileged kids in Tijuana, Mexico, encouraging them to continue their education. He's an unofficial member of Iglesia Bautista Monte Horeb, which runs the elementary school, Centro Pedagógico Didaque.
Except for exceptions, I’m strongly opposed to cross-cultural Vacation Bible School.
Last Saturday a well meaning church group dropped into Tijuana for their annual Christmas Party including a gift giveaway and Gospel presentation. This is my third or fourth time, passively participating in their event. The leaders are nice, straight-forward, and well organized. Their youth group is all smiles, upbeat, and well behaved. They unload off two old school buses, bring the shoebox-sized, wrapped gifts into the church, introduce themselves to the several hundred kids that have arrived, sing some songs, tell them about the reason for the season, hand out gifts, eat lunch as a group while they debrief—discussing how blessed they are as Americans, etc., make a round of trash cleanup outside (picking up all of the garbage left by the gift receivers), load up the buses, and head back north.
As the Mexican kids and their moms left the party I stood at the church’s exit. Clumps of them trickled out over the course of a half hour. Most left quietly, gift in hand; some littered; and some said “See you later,” with which I desired to respond, “See you in a year.” You see, at least by face, I know the majority of those living nearby. However, among those present at the party, only 25 percent were familiar to me. People came out of the woodwork.
I’m sure the underlying idea of the gift-giving group, was that they would plant the seed, hoping that at least some of those present would then return to our church seeking to learn more about God’s love for them. Nice theory I suppose. I made a bet with my wife (with which she did not counter), that if only one of the several hundred new faces attended our church service on Sunday, I would put an extra twenty in the offering plate. No cigar. Kept my Jackson.
Wealthy countries should not go into poor countries and put on open invitation, gift-giving events. It’s dangerous and detrimental. The poor kids then go home with a new idea of the Trinity—gringos, gifts, and God—all one in the same. It’s confusing (at best) and it cheapens the Gospel.
In the summer time when VBS is rampant, the same 50 kids get saved each week. Groups go home with successful statistics in hand to present before their congregations and the Missions Board is happy.
“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12
Don’t let your fellow human misunderstand God’s free gift.
December 11th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Awesome Ben!
I really liked this article about VBS - honest and truthful and something that more groups need to hear. I miss ya man! UPS STORE? GOLF RANGE?
Well, I’ll call you soon dude!
Matt
December 11th, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Oh Man Ben, You sound discouraged. I will pray for you to have a fresh outlook . You are right in many ways, The churches coming to do VBS and gift givaways should not stop there. It is important that they leave you the resorses to followup with the children. It would be great if they could send you an advanced team that would work with you preparing the community, and then leave you the gifts to distribute. It is no good for the locals to recieve from them and build conection with them they must build that conection with you and the church. I believe that it is not the Possition of short turm missions teams to evangelize, but insteat to encourage and support the missionaries on the ground, and to raise there standing in the comunity. If this was done, I am sure you would see many new families in your church. Keep strong and God Bless. Remember where your strength comes from.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:13 am
actofkindness,
Thanks for your comment. No worries, however; I’m not discouraged. Yet I remain firm that open invitation, cross-cultural VBS w/ gifts is a very bad idea.
Ben
December 14th, 2006 at 7:40 am
Man, that is funny and sad at the same time. Gringos, gifts, and God!!! I’m going to have to remember that one. I think sometimes it is so hard for people in the US to come to grips with how they live and what they see over the southern border. I know it was/has been that way for me. Sometimes people just fumble around and try to do stuff that they think might be good and that might help alleviate some vague feelings of guilt. How does a person cope with suddenly learning they are rich when they never thought they were? It’s good to hear a little bit about what is not helpful. How about a constructive proposal to complement it, i.e. top 5-10 things groups from the States can do on a short term mission trip to Mexico?
December 14th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
I am still pondering your coments about the missions board and church beeing happy. I think that Un fortunatly you are right. The majority of our missions work and budget goes into paying the saleries of our front line workers ($600/Year each ) & major renovations to facilities ie washrooms / heat & water. unfortunatly this does not “SELL” missions in the community, the money shot is the cute little kid recieving the gift. Its this shot that softens the hearts and brings in the finances that enable the real work to be done. I think that short term missions trips have three objectives
First and most important, to encourage the local workers / church
Second , to open the eyes and soften the hearts of the team members, and charge them up to be embasitors for the full time missionaries in there church.
Third To become a whitnessing tool in our home communities.
In a perefect world, It would not be about advertising, but in a perfect world, we would not need missions.
Blessings
December 15th, 2006 at 7:05 am
toddh,
I agree, it’s about time for something constructive. Maybe Aaron will have to come w/ a solid list. He regularly works w/ groups, giving him veteran ideas that I don’t have.
December 15th, 2006 at 7:08 am
actofkindness,
Your front line workers make $600/yr.? Wow, the cost of living is that low?
Ben
December 17th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
We pay them twice the national average, and still they keep spending that money on the people they are helping rather than themselves! We have tried giving them more, and the more we give them , they just hire more workers with the money insted, In the last two years, we have gone from Two to 16 full time workers. It’s there drive and determination to make a difference in ther own countries that makes it impossable for us to sit back and do nothing. They are the most incredible people I have ever met. They live under such persicution in there CLOSED Nations. I wish I could tell you more about them. I feel that no matter what I do it will not be enough, Without the Lord It is a truly desporate situation. We took them out to dinner and bowling last month. (our first time allowed back in the country in over a year) several of them had never been to a resteraunt before, and only our senior worker had ever bowled before….the last time we were there. One Day, we will raise these wonderful saints out of this poverty, but for now, I will work on raising an extra $800 a month to meat budget.
January 11th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
TRINITY FELLOWSHIP BELIVERS
MINISTRY
KARACHI PAKISTAN
Dear Sir
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hi, How are you doing, first of let me introduce my self to u .My name is Dominic Alfonso,I m 30 years old I am a believer and by profession a teacher m also doing my theological classes and I am living in Karachi Pakistan the Year 2002 March while I was praying God gave me a vision for a ministry to do the will of the Lord here in Pakistan .From that time on words I kept on praying for his guidance for me .in the past year God gave me a office for this ministry which had its opening on the 3 rd of December 2006 ,God also provide me the resources for this office all the things God provided in the past years which I collected for this office and by the help of God this office is functioning now ,God has bless me in the financial way to get this office going and now we will be having our third meeting this coming Sunday in this office .
This letter which I wrote to u is not for some financial support but this is for your prayers and guidance in this, and your valuable advise and secondly to write to u is that that if u and your team members can visit here in Karachi Pakistan for PROCLAIMING THE WORD TO THE UNREACHED /CRUSADES/SEMANARS/AND CHURCH PLANTING we will really be happy for your visit here .we will also be happy to work as your part here in Pakistan.
As being in the Christ I will not keep u in the Dark I am informing you that rite now as being new ministry we will not be able to support u in the tickets system but we can issue u the invitation letter from here and we will provide you with the living and the food
We are looking for long-term partner ship with your ministry and work with u in proclaiming the gospel here in Pakistan to the unreached who thirsty for the word.
Dear Sir we will be waiting for your reply in this matter
May God bless u and your team there?
ADMINISTRATOR
DOMINIC ALFONSO
______________________________________________________________________________________ Email: trinityfellowshipbelivers@yahoo.com , Karachi Pakistan,+92-300-3639243
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Hello to all of you most precious and real Christian brothers and sisters,
I’m not in the missions field out of country, but learning the mission field at home,now, one day at a time, right now. As I read here, it reminded me of what Jesus showed me some while back, and what he is showing me, and it goes along with this letter posted about visiting in and out, dropping by, but not getting to know the people.
I heard the Lord speak some while back, when at a wedding reception and alot of Christian ministers there, and others.
Everyone was going to a Christian meeting afterward, and I heard the Lord speak to those going, “I just came to be with them.” Referring to the people there. Regular people. Regular needs, some poor, some cranky, some this way or that.
It is the commandment, to love God with all we have, and our neighbor as ourself.
I see from what the Lord was showing at that reception and in daily life, in growing up as a Christian, and probably He is doing this in His body. Growing up the body.
He came to be with the people. That is what it is to love in His Love. He is so real. He sticks around and loves. He is a River and a fountain, and the poor and needy have cried for His waters, and He is desiring to be with people that they might “know” Him. Through us, and that takes which you all know more than I do right now, to lay down my life.
Like Christianity before it grows up, in child form, we run in and out and hardly notice anybody, just a seed life.
Serving ourselves. Somewhere along the way, by His mercy, He begins to teach and work a death in that seed. Nothing we have any credit for, it is His life that gives us the longing and desire to move forward in Who we see. To serve His life.
But through Christ our Lord, as we are laid down, and He has more preiminence, that old life cracks, and His life comes out, and He is so real, so there in love for people, so willing to go longer, the miles, that we can’t even imagine (I speak of me, as you all can imagine well, I am thinking)
He is the One who everyone needs, the people we want to touch, they need Him, and He is real, and breathing, and He loves, and He labors among people so that they will “know” Him and love Him and be saved, because He so loves them. Amen! Lord, help me, direct me, teach me to sit, and allow the love of Jesus to be the life given to those in need.
Love to you all. God bless you so. Kathy Angell
January 24th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Dominic, thanks for your comment. If you receive this reply, please let us know your website or tell us specifically what you’re looking for. Thanks.
Kathleen Angell, thanks for your kind comments. I tried to click on your site to no avail. What is it? Thanks.
April 27th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Dear Ben,
I’m terrible about not getting the address right. It is- christiannews.highpowersites.com
Really in beginning stages. Be welcome. Love in our dear and precious Lord.
Kathleen Angell