Vacation Bible schools are popular in the United States. Not only in the United States, but in WELS world mission fields as well. In Russia, the congregation in Akademgorodok had as many as 24 children during the week. Although the church in Novosibirsk only had nine children the first day, as many as 27 came later in the week. At the closing service, about 45 people attended. In Iskitim, the first couple of days averaged between 24 to 35 children.

But those are only numbers. Here are some thoughts from Missionary Michael Ewart on the people reached by the VBS program in Iskitim.

A public school teacher brought several children by train from 12 kilometers away. She sat in on our adult class and was interested in learning about the Bible. One day I got a little off-track to explain clearly the problem of sin, and God's solution in Christ. Later in the week she asked us to baptize her two sons at the closing service on Sunday.

We sent invitations home with all the children and asked them to sing in the closing service. That Sunday, the weather was terrible. The rain was pouring. I was sure we wouldn't have many people. I was wrong. Thirty-three children came. A total of 65 people were there.

The two boys were baptized, and several other children now want to be baptized.

In Bible class that day we studied Romans 3. I reviewed what Paul said: We are all sinful. We are not able to be right with God by doing what the law says. Instead, the law shows us all the more that we are sinners. This is a big problem. But we are justified in a completely different way. God redeemed us through the blood of his Son Jesus Christ. Through Jesus our sins are forgiven and heaven is ours as a free gift of God.

After this review, a visitor raised her hand and said, "It's so simple." I wasn't sure I understood, so I asked her to repeat. "The way to heaven . . . it's so simple." She understood! Yes, it is so simple. What a great God!

That week was one of those weeks where it was really fun to be a world missionary. Oh, there were some problems. But the blessings overshadowed them. Many adults and children heard the gospel clearly for the first time in their lives. The children sang praises to God. Two children were washed of their sins in baptism. It was a good week.