More Than a Jungle Adventure: Rainforest Falls VBS Points Children to God’s Promises

Lethbridge, AB—It’s not every day that you find a waterfall in the middle of a Lutheran sanctuary.

For one week this July, Immanuel Lutheran Church was transformed into a rainforest adventure for more than 115 children. But beneath the decorations, games, crafts, and activities was something far more lasting: an opportunity to hear the Word of God and learn about His promises.

At Rainforest Falls Vacation Bible School, each day explored a foundational truth of the Christian faith by answering the question: Who is God?

The children learned that God is our Creator, that He knows each of us personally, that He is our refuge and strength, and ultimately that His love is revealed in Jesus Christ, who gave His life on the cross to save us.

Mornings were filled with Bible lessons, music, crafts, games, snacks, and Lego-building stations. Yet every activity was designed to point children back to Scripture and to Christ.

“Our prayer was that every child would leave knowing not simply more Bible stories, but the God who has claimed them through His promises, ” shared Kris Heidebrecht.

The Whole Church Serves

One of the week’s greatest blessings was seeing the congregation come together in service.

Teenagers led games alongside grandparents preparing snacks. Youth and young adults, parents, and retirees contributed their time and talents to welcome families, teach lessons, lead music, build relationships, and create an environment where children could hear God’s Word.

In this way, Vacation Bible School became more than a children’s program. It became an expression of the whole congregation’s ministry.

The intergenerational nature of the week also offered a powerful reminder of the Church as the Body of Christ. Different generations served together, each contributing what God had given them for the benefit of others.

Building with Lego—and God’s Word

One of the most memorable aspects of the week took place in Builder’s Basecamp, the church’s Lego ministry space.

Throughout the school year, children gather there to build creations after school. During VBS, the familiar room became a place where children built crosses, safe places, and reminders of God’s promises while hearing Scripture.

For those who lead the Lego ministry year-round, seeing that familiar space become another setting for proclaiming Christ was especially meaningful.

The ministry also provided an opportunity for volunteers from beyond the congregation to serve. Hayden Rochon travelled nearly seven hours from Barrhead, Alberta, to spend the week volunteering. Each morning, Rochon led the Lego station, welcomed children into the room, and read Scripture with them.

His willingness to travel such a distance to serve offered a tangible example of how God moves His people to give generously of their time and gifts.

From VBS to the Family Table

The week concluded with a community barbecue and closing celebration, giving families an opportunity to see what their children had been learning.

In a fitting reversal, the children became the teachers. They taught their parents the memory verses and actions they had practiced throughout the week.

The moment served as a reminder that God’s Word is not meant to remain within the walls of the church. It is shared around family tables, in conversations on the drive home, and in the ordinary moments of daily life.

For some families, VBS may have been their first experience walking through the doors of a Lutheran church. Before hearing a sermon, they encountered the welcome of the congregation through simple acts of service, conversation, and hospitality.

The Ministry Continues

When the rainforest decorations came down, the ministry did not end.

Many of the children will continue connecting with the congregation through Sunday School, Lego Club, youth activities, and worship. Others may simply carry a Bible verse in their memory and a new understanding of who Jesus is.

Either way, the congregation trusts that God will continue to work through His Word.

Vacation Bible School may last only a few days, but the Word of God endures. The congregation’s prayer is that the seeds planted during the week will continue to grow as children and families are drawn into an ongoing relationship with Christ and His Church.

As Scripture reminds us:

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
— Romans 10:17

Rainforest Falls may have brought a waterfall into the sanctuary, but the greater gift was the living water of God’s Word, proclaimed to more than 115 children and shared through the faithful service of His people.

Thanks to Kris Heidebrecht for sharing this story using LCC’s Story Submission Form, so all of synod can enjoy! Share your story with us.

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