Jumping Into the Story: How a Grant Brought God’s Word to Life
Christ the King Lutheran Church & Preschool — an ELEA member school — shares how an ELCA Ministry with Children grant transformed their community VBS.
What does it look like when a congregation, a grant, and a community all come together around a single, powerful idea? For Christ the King Lutheran Church & Preschool in Snohomish, Washington, the answer was a week-long Vacation Bible School called Jump Into the Story — and the results were extraordinary.
Christ the King Lutheran Church & Preschool is a proud member of the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA). The ELCA’s Ministry with Children program works closely alongside ELEA in supporting ministries that nurture children in faith — and it was a grant from Ministry with Children of the ELCA that made this VBS possible. The grant funded a week of programming that reached well beyond the walls of the church.
One of the most tangible expressions of the grant’s impact was simple: food. Each day of VBS, organizers were able to provide 100 free sack lunches and snacks to participants — a vital offering for families in the community experiencing food insecurity. In a week centered on God’s story of abundance and care, making sure no child went hungry was a powerful act of witness.
But the nourishment didn’t stop there. Hands-on craft projects gave children a chance to extend compassion beyond themselves, with projects benefiting Lutheran World Relief and Snohomish Community Kitchen. Throughout the week, children also brought items and monetary donations to support Bridge Receiving Center, serving local foster children in transition.
Five Days, Five Stories
The VBS curriculum wove together beloved Bible narratives, each paired with a memorable character to help children connect with the theme. Every day invited children to see themselves as part of God’s ongoing, living story. Check out the Photo Slideshow.
- Day 1: A Story of New Beginnings
Bible Story: Abram’s Call – Genesis 12:1–9
Theme: God is with us in new beginnings
Character: Scribble the Squirrel – Watch Scribble’s video here. - Day 2: A Story of Courage
Bible Story: Queen Esther – Esther 4:13–17
Theme: God gives us courage to do the right thing
Character: Paige the Owl – Watch Paige the Owl’s video here. - Day 3: A Story of Love and Friendship
Bible Story: Ruth and Naomi – Ruth 1:1–18
Theme: God gives us people to love and walk with
Character: Pen the Penguin – Watch Pen the Penguin’s video here. - Day 4: A Story of Transformation
Bible Story: Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1–10
Theme: God helps us grow and change
Character: Flutter the Butterfly – Watch Flutter’s video here. - Day 5: Your Story Matters
Bible Story: Road to Emmaus – Luke 24:13–35
Theme: Every story matters to God
Character: Bertie the Bookworm – Watch Bertie’s video here.
A Partnership That Multiplied
What made this VBS truly remarkable was its depth of partnership. A team of 30 adult leaders representing four different churches mentored 15 youth into Jr. Crew Leadership roles — an investment in the next generation of servant leaders. The ecumenical reach of the program was a beautiful testament to what congregations can accomplish when they work together.
Perhaps most encouraging: 36% of the 117 participating children are not currently connected to a local church. VBS became a doorway — a place where children who might not otherwise encounter the Gospel were welcomed, fed, and told that their story matters to God.
In the words of Melissa Marzolf, Director of Community Engagement: “Your support made space for nourishment — both physical and spiritual — for children and families in our community. It helped create a week where kids could experience belonging, creativity, leadership, and the deep truth that they are part of God’s story.”
The momentum doesn’t stop here. Christ the King is already building toward their 2026 VBS theme: Faith Under Construction — inviting children to see their faith as something God is actively shaping and strengthening, laying foundations of trust, building community, and reminding them that God is always at work in their lives.
Programs like Jump Into the Story show what becomes possible when ministry vision meets funding support. If your school or congregation is dreaming of something similar, consider applying for an ELEA Endowment Grant.