What Kids Learned at VBS
It’s starting to hit the high 90s in North Carolina—a spike that signals summer is in full swing. And for many families here at Crossroads, one of the most looked-forward-to weeks of the season is Vacation Bible School. Kingdom Quest VBS officially wrapped up last week at both campuses following four evenings of fun, connection, and discipleship for over 100 kids.
The path to discovering Jesus looked a little different between campuses. At Wake Forest, the adventure spanned multiple magical lands, as rising 1st through rising 6th graders journeyed with two medieval companions through a video game. Each level they cleared meant a new truth learned about Jesus—until, on the final day, they discovered their goal wasn’t just beating the game but learning how to carry His light into everyday life.
Meanwhile, at Millbrook, kids embarked on an expedition through a single realm: the jungle. Led by their three explorer pals, rising 1st through rising 5th graders set out in search of the fabled New Life Treasure. Each day, they found a new piece of the broken Compass Stone—which, when put together, would point the way to their prize.
But each discovery surprised the explorers, as etched into every fragment was a spiritual truth that helped point kids to Jesus. By the final night of VBS, they discovered that what they’d been looking for all along—the New Life Treasure—was Jesus Himself.
For Millbrook’s Kids Director Kathryn Putnam, Vacation Bible School was about more than lessons. She wanted to make sure they left knowing “that church, churchgoers, and Jesus—none of it is scary. It’s fun, and this is a safe place. I want church to be a place where kids want to come back—and not just for VBS, but on Sunday, because that’s where discipleship happens, where they can continue learning more and building their faith.”
Last Thursday, we asked several explorers at Millbrook to reflect on VBS—and their answers reflected exactly what Kathryn had hoped for. Here’s what kids had to say, in their own words, about the adventures they experienced and the faith they explored throughout the week.
The path to discovering Jesus looked a little different between campuses. At Wake Forest, the adventure spanned multiple magical lands, as rising 1st through rising 6th graders journeyed with two medieval companions through a video game. Each level they cleared meant a new truth learned about Jesus—until, on the final day, they discovered their goal wasn’t just beating the game but learning how to carry His light into everyday life.
Meanwhile, at Millbrook, kids embarked on an expedition through a single realm: the jungle. Led by their three explorer pals, rising 1st through rising 5th graders set out in search of the fabled New Life Treasure. Each day, they found a new piece of the broken Compass Stone—which, when put together, would point the way to their prize.
But each discovery surprised the explorers, as etched into every fragment was a spiritual truth that helped point kids to Jesus. By the final night of VBS, they discovered that what they’d been looking for all along—the New Life Treasure—was Jesus Himself.
For Millbrook’s Kids Director Kathryn Putnam, Vacation Bible School was about more than lessons. She wanted to make sure they left knowing “that church, churchgoers, and Jesus—none of it is scary. It’s fun, and this is a safe place. I want church to be a place where kids want to come back—and not just for VBS, but on Sunday, because that’s where discipleship happens, where they can continue learning more and building their faith.”
Last Thursday, we asked several explorers at Millbrook to reflect on VBS—and their answers reflected exactly what Kathryn had hoped for. Here’s what kids had to say, in their own words, about the adventures they experienced and the faith they explored throughout the week.
What was your favorite day of VBS this week? Why?
Corey B., rising 2nd: Today, because it’s a party. (Corey also won the Zip Code Heroes Challenge earlier that night. He got supplies to write a letter to his mailman that will share the love of Jesus with him.)
Daniel O., rising 2nd: Wednesday, because of snack. (Daniel was the other winner of the Zip Code Heroes Challenge. He got supplies to give to his local Chick-fil-A workers, to support them as they work in the sun and share Jesus with them.)
Nannette M., rising 2nd: Today, because of right now! (She was eating a popsicle.)
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: Monday was my favorite day, because that was the day that I started, and I got to know everybody.
Raegan S., rising 3rd: The first day, because I loved meeting new friends.
Levi C., rising 5th: Probably the last one, because we got to throw water balloons at each other!
Daniel O., rising 2nd: Wednesday, because of snack. (Daniel was the other winner of the Zip Code Heroes Challenge. He got supplies to give to his local Chick-fil-A workers, to support them as they work in the sun and share Jesus with them.)
Nannette M., rising 2nd: Today, because of right now! (She was eating a popsicle.)
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: Monday was my favorite day, because that was the day that I started, and I got to know everybody.
Raegan S., rising 3rd: The first day, because I loved meeting new friends.
Levi C., rising 5th: Probably the last one, because we got to throw water balloons at each other!
What did you learn about God and Jesus and about your personal relationship with Him?
Corey B., rising 2nd: That Jesus is the way, which means you follow Him.
Daniel O., rising 2nd: I learned about when Jesus was dead and He was in the tomb and raised back to life.
Nannette M., rising 2nd: That Jesus is the way.
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: That He’s really nice, and He’s with you in life.
Raegan S., rising 3rd: I learned this week that Jesus is always with me—and like in the story [where Jesus walked on water], that means you can face your fear because, if something bad happens, God is here to protect you.
Levi C., rising 5th: I already knew most of the things, but it’s just good to be reminded of those things that are true. It’s good to know that [because Jesus is the way] you don’t have to physically do something—you can just know and believe something that is true.
Daniel O., rising 2nd: I learned about when Jesus was dead and He was in the tomb and raised back to life.
Nannette M., rising 2nd: That Jesus is the way.
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: That He’s really nice, and He’s with you in life.
Raegan S., rising 3rd: I learned this week that Jesus is always with me—and like in the story [where Jesus walked on water], that means you can face your fear because, if something bad happens, God is here to protect you.
Levi C., rising 5th: I already knew most of the things, but it’s just good to be reminded of those things that are true. It’s good to know that [because Jesus is the way] you don’t have to physically do something—you can just know and believe something that is true.
What was the most fun experience you had this week?
Corey B., rising 2nd: Eating snacks. (He liked the monkey cupcake the best.)
Daniel O., rising 2nd: Playing games. We did outside games and inside games.
Nannette M., rising 2nd: Worship!
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: Probably the activities; my favorite was making the shields. Each person got a shield, and we did designs on it and stuff.
Raegan S., rising 3rd: Learning about Jesus.
Levi C., rising 5th: Probably the Amazing Race. It was like a three-person, three-legged race, and we had to go all the way from the Special Needs room to that, like, three-way intersection where the Cafe is, and where it goes down to the Chapel. (This was a special activity for 4th graders at Millbrook!)
Daniel O., rising 2nd: Playing games. We did outside games and inside games.
Nannette M., rising 2nd: Worship!
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: Probably the activities; my favorite was making the shields. Each person got a shield, and we did designs on it and stuff.
Raegan S., rising 3rd: Learning about Jesus.
Levi C., rising 5th: Probably the Amazing Race. It was like a three-person, three-legged race, and we had to go all the way from the Special Needs room to that, like, three-way intersection where the Cafe is, and where it goes down to the Chapel. (This was a special activity for 4th graders at Millbrook!)
What’s your favorite memory with your group, a friend, or a leader from this week?
Corey B., rising 2nd: Being with my friend Daniel.
Daniel O., rising 2nd: Being with my friend Corey, and when my mom taught me in Crafts.
Nannette M., rising 2nd: I liked seeing my brother. He’s a volunteer. I remember the moment when I met him in Crafts, and he brought me a fig bar!
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: Playing with my best friend Raegan; we made a snack together.
Raegan S., rising 3rd: I liked when we went to snacks and made one that looked like the Bible story together—the one where Peter went out in the water because Jesus was there, and then he sank but Jesus grabbed his hand.
Levi C., rising 5th: I liked making our shirt and our flag during the Amazing Race.
Daniel O., rising 2nd: Being with my friend Corey, and when my mom taught me in Crafts.
Nannette M., rising 2nd: I liked seeing my brother. He’s a volunteer. I remember the moment when I met him in Crafts, and he brought me a fig bar!
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: Playing with my best friend Raegan; we made a snack together.
Raegan S., rising 3rd: I liked when we went to snacks and made one that looked like the Bible story together—the one where Peter went out in the water because Jesus was there, and then he sank but Jesus grabbed his hand.
Levi C., rising 5th: I liked making our shirt and our flag during the Amazing Race.
Do you want to learn more about Jesus next year at VBS?
Corey B., rising 2nd: Yes.
Daniel O., rising 2nd: Yeah.
Nannette M., rising 2nd: Uh-huh!
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: Yeah!
Raegan S., rising 3rd: Yes!
Levi C., rising 5th: (Though he’ll be aged out of VBS next year, he still said he’d attend if he could!)
Daniel O., rising 2nd: Yeah.
Nannette M., rising 2nd: Uh-huh!
MacKenzie C., rising 3rd: Yeah!
Raegan S., rising 3rd: Yes!
Levi C., rising 5th: (Though he’ll be aged out of VBS next year, he still said he’d attend if he could!)
Written by
Abigail Francis, Editorial & Creative Coordinator
Learn More about Crossroads Kids
Though each campus is uniquely structured in its grade ranges and programming, both Millbrook and Wake Forest teach children about Jesus in creative and relevant ways that help lay the foundation for their own, personal faith. Learn more about this vital Next Gen ministry that cares for our youngest members and helps families navigate raising their children to know and love Jesus.
Posted in Within Our Walls
Posted in Millbrook Campus, Crossroads Kids, VBS, Church Life, Discipleship
Posted in Millbrook Campus, Crossroads Kids, VBS, Church Life, Discipleship
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