VBS 1: Each year we host a KidzFest, our version of a DVBS. The program staff are mostly youth who are doing a great job while developing leadership skills. This year we set a target of 100, and exceeded that. We’re glad to provide some respite relief for parents, if that’s their motivation. Numerous people attend other churches, which we rejoice in, it’s just that these dates fit their schedules. Regardless, many meaningful contacts have been made, some without any Christian background. This year three families have followed up with our other programming and attended worship.

— Rev. Martin Kreplin, St. Andrew’s Moncton

VBS 2: My life story and experience is evidence of the power of VBS. I was reclaimed back to church after a period of taking time off after a brutal congregational conflict. It was through a VBS my daughter attended that reclaimed me. And something even more weird happened. I ended up in Tyndale Seminary and into Presbyterian College. I have seen families reconnected through VBS.

— Rev. James H. Knott, Knox Ospringe

MINISTRY TO MUSLIMS: I was blessed to attend the three-day CNMM/LMT conference Nov. 1-3 with about 200 Christians (including two Presbyterian elders), held at the Richmond Hill Chinese Church. It cost me $900, but was money well-spent. In addition to the numerous plenary discussions, led by Christian missionaries, there was a large mini-tradeshow of twenty book dealers who had displays of their best-sellers on the topic of Christian Ministry to Muslims. For me, the highlight was a booth by salaamministries.com, who are based in Edmonton. I have used their material in five training sessions that I have conducted in a variety of Christian churches over these last six years. My goal has been to help the members and leaders to better understand Islam and how to witness in love. This needs to be a new mission for Christian churches, as in Canada, the Muslim population has grown to 1.7 million, which is a bit under five per cent of our total population. I recommend the book “Which God” by Dr. Mark Durie, paired with a set of three DVDs and a student book called: “Liberty to the Captives.” The book has been translated into French, Korean, Mandarin, Arabic, Amharic, Oromo, Portuguese, Urdu, Farsi and Indonesian.

— RF director Don MacMillan