VacationBibleSchool …. “Happy times are here again”!

Nueva Vida, a Hispanic fellowship congregation affiliated with Spring ValleyUnitedMethodistChurch in North Dallas, recently hosted its first-ever VacationBibleSchool – that’s La Escuela Biblica de Verano in Spanish – on July 10-13. It was a very successful event even before it started! Two weeks prior to the opening, Pastor Carlos Nascimento and a group of Nueva Vida youth began knocking on doors to register neighborhood Hispanic children for the event. Going door-to-door turned out to be a great way to introduce the families in the surrounding area to a church that cares and is an integral part of the North Dallas community.

Twenty volunteers from Spring Valley and 15 volunteers from the Nueva Vida congregation worked together to make the VacationBibleSchool a success. The event was originally planned for two nights, Thursday and Friday, 6:30 to 8:30 PM, and Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. However, because of the enthusiastic response, one more session on Sunday was offered. The participating kids and their parents joined Sunday School Classes at 4:00 PM and stayed for the graduation ceremony during the Nueva Vida service at 5 PM. Sixty-eight children received certificates of attendance and a “Fiesta en la Playa” t-shirt. Afterwards, the members of the congregation enjoyed hosting the visitors over a rich lasagna dinner.

We will continue to minister to all those families involved in our VacationBibleSchool. Another very exciting fruit of the VBS is the creation of the “Community Children’s Choir” and plans for that venture are well under way.

Pastor Nascimento sends a word of gratitude to all who were part of this ministry, those who prayed, offered financial contributions, and volunteered time and talents as teachers, greeters, cooks and cleaning. We can not forget to present a special “thank you” to our VBS director, Susan Hanchey, who devoted so much time in preparing and executing this very special event. We can rest assure that these 68 youngsters will never forget what they learned and experienced at Spring Valley. Our community is better today. To God be the glory!