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Vacation Bible School


Dear Friend,

Because you are such a faithful partner with us and share our vision to reach the lost of Asia, I would like to tell you about an incredible opportunity to help fulfill it-through ministry to children.

Did you know that 40 percent of India's 1 billion people are under 18 years old? In Bhutan it's 49 percent; Nepal, 47 percent; Bangladesh, 45 percent; Myanmar, 39 percent; and in Sri Lanka, 33 percent.

These statistics clearly tell us that we must make children's ministry a top priority if we are to reach these nations for Jesus. And that's exactly what our native missionaries and churches are doing through our annual Vacation Bible Schools (VBS).

Please come with me to a little village in Nepal and meet Prem. He is one of 75,000 children from four Asian nations who attended one of our VBS programs last summer.

On the first day, Prem and his older sister arrived at the church after walking for hours. The pastor and VBS team enthusiastically welcomed them and 100 other children.

Initially, Prem was very shy, quietly observing everything. Coming from a non-Christian background, the 8-year-old had never heard Bible stories, seen a puppet show or joined in action songs before. But before the day was over, Prem had become the most excited participant of all.

That evening, Prem and the other children enjoyed a nice dinner prepared by the students of the nearby Gospel for Asia Bible college. Afterward they happily went to sleep on mats spread out in the sanctuary. You see, VBS in Nepal often involves meals and "sleepovers," because travel is difficult and most children live too far away to return home at night.

During the next few days, Prem and the other children had such fun learning about the Lord Jesus Christ and His love for them. You should have seen their enthusiasm while playing games, coloring pictures, singing songs and memorizing Bible verses!

Though most of these children grew up in non-Christian families, their hearts were sensitive and responsive to their Creator. And before the VBS was over, Prem, along with 30 others, invited Jesus into his heart. I am often amazed how easily children can discern the truth of the Gospel while adults struggle so hard to find it!

For little Prem and all the other children, VBS is just the beginning of their encounter with the love of Christ. Our native missionaries and Bible college students follow up with each child, doing their best to connect them with an existing Sunday school-or start one if needed.

In addition, they make every effort to share the Gospel with the children's families. It starts with sending each child home with a VBS package that includes a New Testament, a picture with a Bible verse to display on the wall, a booklet containing several Bible stories in comic style the child can easily share with others, and a cassette tape with a short message and songs from the VBS program or our children's broadcast.

And the good news is that the cost of each package is only $1!

This summer, our missionaries and churches expect at least 100,000 children to be enrolled in our VBS programs. That means these precious children will have the opportunity to open their hearts to Jesus and become eager witnesses for His love in their families and villages. It also means we need to have 100,000 VBS packages ready for them to take home.

I want to ask you to please pray daily for this huge VBS summer outreach. And if the Lord leads you, please help us love these children by sending a special gift to provide perhaps 100 or more VBS packages for only $1 each.

But whether you provide 50 or 200 packets, you will be glad to know that your investment will yield tremendous eternal fruit. Last summer alone, 30,000 children gave their lives to Christ, which resulted in tremendous open doors for sharing the Gospel and church-planting work among their families and entire villages.

Little children like Prem are so dear to the heart of God-and He desires that they be just as dear to ours as well. May God bless you for your faithfulness.

Yours on behalf of Asia's children,

K.P. Yohannan
President

P.S. Why not ask your church, Bible study group or youth ministry to help with this exciting outreach? Your combined gifts would be a significant blessing to children like Prem.

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