Request The King's Quest

I witnessed the effectiveness of the program in the enthusiasm of the children and the volunteers who staffed it — isn't that our main purpose in producing these labor-intensive ministries?

The basis of the entire, well-integrated program was the reassuring concept of "Not Perfect, but Chosen." Throughout each phase — Bible story, crafts, and recreation — this concept was amplified. Each of the five nights featured a Bible character who exemplified one of the virtues of the Quest: Answering the Call of the King, Following the Truth of the King, Experiencing the Power of the King, Extending the Compassion of the King, and Going Out to Fulfill the Mission of the King.

At the end of each night, a short drama reinforcing the virtue of the day provided deep engagement for the children. It portrayed the real-life struggle that comes from answering the call of the King. With both humor and instruction, the audience — of all ages — has an opportunity to understand the heart of the Gospel.

Each department is provided with clear instruction and scripting to support their duties. For those who thrive on clear direction, their needs are met; for those who work from a more conceptual, personalized orientation, they have flexibility. Even the welcome and dismissal is well scripted, instructing what to expect from the evening and reviewing what was learned that day.

The music program is highly engaging, with easy-to-learn tunes, meaningful lyrics, and gross-motor movement that rounds out a whole-child learning experience (and gets the wiggles out).

The program also encourages parents by providing a way to review each night on a website with secure access for parents and staff only, plus a secure, software-supported check-in and check-out process for parent confidence. Because of this parent-involvement element, we had a record number of parents and children attend our worship experience after the program concluded on Friday.

Addison (youth attendee): "I liked the talks with Mr. Steve, our youth group leader — it gave me a better idea of how I can be more of myself and not let others control me by making me feel emotions like anger or sadness. It was when we went really deep into conversation that I learned a lot of new things about my faith."

Lisa (Addison's mom): "I thought it was really great when Addison would come home every night and share the life tips she received from Steve. She really enjoyed going and didn't want to miss one session, and she loved meeting the other children — she thought the presentation of King's Quest was awesome and a lot of fun.

As a parent, I was so glad I reached out for Addison to participate even though she is not a member of your church. You welcomed her with open arms as a child of God, and that means everything to us. It made me feel really good every day that she was so excited to go back the next day. And when I sat in and watched King's Quest, it was a lot of fun — the enthusiasm was fantastic and the message really came across in an easy, understandable way. I'm so glad she was a part of it, and she will definitely be coming back next year."

The recurring motto "Not Perfect, but Chosen" embodies the essential fact that we are called to come as we are. Focusing on a different apostle, or "knight," each day, we built on the idea that the quest of a Christian is to follow the call, despite your current position in life. It was taught through engaging activities, from the creativity in crafts to the thrill of playing outdoors. Even if the little ones haven't been through "enough life" to grasp the true gravity of this grace, it is a message that will stick with them as they grow older and are exposed to the world's devices. Having this revelation from a young age would have helped me through many of my past battles with doubt and self-worth, so it's an awesome thing to implant into their basis of belief.

With the volunteer hub, us leaders were able to properly prepare for the week — an easy-to-use platform that teaches us the message before we display it to the attendees. It provides authentic encouragement for when the nights are exhausting, reminding us that we, too, are learners, no "higher" than the attendees despite our age. With the family hub, parents were able to access photos of the night, allowing them to be involved with their child's quest.

The music did a great job of setting us into the medieval world, with folk-like instrumentals that are catchy. The words are easy to remember and the dances aren't too complicated, allowing the underlying messages to sink in a fun way. Some of my children were too shy to dance or sing at first, but as the week progressed I noticed them open up and become more involved, knowing they weren't being judged — it's amazing to see God change their hearts!

Finally, the drama (my favorite part). It is engaging and silly yet very informative, providing an interactive recap of the night. I love how, despite the contrast between the characters, they ended up with the same call of grace in the end. It highlights the archetype of those who don't feel ready for their journey with Christ, and also those who are legalistic and feel as if everything has to be done with perfection. It speaks to multitudes no matter where they are in life, in an entertaining way.

All in all, I am blessed to have volunteered in The King's Quest VBS program, and I am confident that as it shines Christ's light into the rest of the world, it will be an everlasting blessing for others too!