Otis Orchards VBS Leads to Young Adult Baptisms

By Makena Horton

Communications Coordinator

When members of the board of Otis Orchards Seventh-day Adventist Church felt God urging them to hold a Vacation Bible School program in the summer of 2021, they weren’t sure if they would find the volunteers to pull it off. Nevertheless, they continued to feel God calling for them to do it and stepped out in faith that He would provide the help they needed to hold a successful VBS program.

“If you look at the return on investment, meaning how many people become a part of the church or take an active role to get more people into the church, VBS has a much better return on your investment of time and money than do regular evangelistic series,” said Matthew Burton, Bible worker at Otis Orchards.

“Generally with a standard evangelistic series you can expect maybe a few individuals to become interested in your church, whereas with VBS you can sometimes get a whole family and even a few friends,” he explained. “The plus of teaching kids about Jesus, the reason why the return is better with VBS, is that kids are so excited to learn more about Jesus.”

The church board applied for help from His Travelers, a volunteer group of young adults led by the Upper Columbia Conference children’s ministries department. Luckily, His Travelers were able to assist with the program, putting on a Bible skit and volunteering as rotational group leaders.

His Travelers were a clear blessing to VBS, and suggested they add a final program to be held during church at the end of the week. That Sabbath, the church was packed full of members, children and guests. Michelle, a mother who had been bringing her young son to VBS every day, attended the church program, and continued to attend church every Sabbath following that program. Michelle became a regular attendee of the young adult sabbath school at Otis Orchards and started becoming more involved in the church.

In addition to sending His Travelers, Michelle and her young son, and others, God also sent a couple from a neighboring church to assist with the program. Following the completion of VBS, the couple felt impressed by God to provide more leadership and assistance at Otis Orchards, transferred their membership and began attending church there, bringing their son, Christopher, with them each Sabbath.

Christopher also became a regular attendee of the young adult sabbath school and became more involved with the church. After several weeks, Michelle and Christopher each expressed interest in baptism, and were both baptized in February 2022.

“I think that VBS played a significant role in the baptism of Michelle and played an indirect role in the baptism of Christopher,” shared Burton. “These two individuals are taking an active role in our church,” he added. “Right now, what Otis Orchards Church needs is leadership, so that is by far the most valuable thing that has come out of our outreach.”

Otis Orchards is planning another VBS for the upcoming summer with the help of His Travelers, and they are excited to form more connections with the community.