It took a real leap of faith for the little VBS team of six from Sonoma, California. They went to a church in a small town of Codlea, Romania. The team was excited about the new mission experience. They challenged the host church to provide 24 volunteers to fill out the team. The pastor, with the uncanny ability to make things happen, helped it all come together.

Within three years, that little team from Sonoma conducted VBS at three different locations. And each year the host church followed up by conducting their own VBS. A VBS team at another church in Codlea decided to conduct a VBS at another location in addition to their church. They could see in the VBS effect on the children. They wanted to expand the benefits of VBS to other churches in the area.

The question arose, “How do we spread the word?” They decided to develop a brochure to explain VBS is all about.

Several young people from the original team got together and developed a short paragraph on each of the following topics:

• Apostle Paul’s Challenge

“Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. But how shall they ask Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them unless someone sends him? ” Romans 10:13-15a)

The VBS Disciples are answering that challenge.

• Benefits volunteers get from the VBS experience

• Benefits children get from the VBS experience

• What We Believe

• Our Vision

• Our Mission

• VBS Disciples Creed

Lord, let me be an instrument of Your plan.

Where I am blind, let me see.

Where I am confused, give me understanding.

Where I am lazy, give me vigor.

Where I have weakness, give me strength.

Where I am selfish, make me selfless.

Where I feel inadequate, give me confidence

Where I procrastinate, give me a sense of urgency.

Where I see need, let me lead.

Where I am speechless, make me eloquent.

Where I see negative, show me the positive.

Where I am a “taker”, make me a “giver.”

Where I sense failure, give me the courage to succeed.

One great value coming from developing the creed was the interaction among team members. There was a lot of give and take,but they finally came up with these 12 items for the creed. The team decided to recite this at the beginning of each VBS meeting. To give the creed a purpose, the first line was added, “Lord, help me to be an instrument of Your plan.

This VBS Disciples brochure has been translated into English and distributed in several congregations in The United States as well as in churches, youth camps and religious gatherings in Romania.