Rescue Mountain - Vacation Bible School 2026

Everyone needs to be rescued. From the youngest to the oldest, we are all lost in sin without Jesus’ saving power. From June 2-5, 2026, nearly 900 participants in VBS heard how “the Son of Man came to SEEK and to SAVE the lost” (Luke 19:10). What a life-saving and life-changing week it was! During VBS, 551 children, 130 youth volunteers, and 200 adult volunteers continually proclaimed the Rescue Mountain theme that “Jesus SEEKS. Jesus SAVES!”

VBS is a week like no other in the summer, where the hallways are full of joyful energy as children worship Jesus in song, make crafts, play games, laugh at skits, and talk about Jesus in their small groups. Adult volunteers knew the importance of VBS week and anticipated the Lord to be at work in the hearts of many. VBS Administrator Heather Squibb noted, “Before registration even opens, we begin praying for the hearts of the children and the families the Lord plans to send to our VBS. VBS really is a special outreach opportunity!”

During craft workday prior to VBS, volunteers shared what VBS meant to their family, both this year and in years past of prior generations. “VBS is a big part of growing up, making friends, and being in community, all centered on the gospel,” said Laura Newman, PCPC Member. “As a kid, our family looked forward to VBS every summer. We didn’t always get to take a trip or vacation, but VBS was something we always did and always looked forward to. It was a week that stood apart and had great meaning to us.”

Jill Chesnut, also a PCPC Member and VBS volunteer, shared: “I enjoyed teaching my children VBS – back in the day, when it was five days in a row. Now, I love teaching and seeing my grandchildren. Being a part of the curriculum and learning the songs with the live band gives me talking points year-round.”

Craft room volunteer Audrey Russo recalled coming to faith as a child at VBS. Now as a mother of two children recently baptized at PCPC, Audrey shared, “I became a Christian at age 6 at a VBS. I remember it had something to do with an illustration of the gospel using tennis balls….While the details are fuzzy, I knew the Holy Spirit was at work.”

Perla Lopez volunteered at VBS and spoke of the car rides home: “When I brought my kids home in the car after VBS, they told me all about Jesus the whole ride home. Last year, my 2-year-old even told me that Jesus lives in his heart now because of what he learned during VBS at PCPC. I love the music, and we sing it in the car.”

Rescue Mountain VBS included songs such as “Amazing Grace,” “God’s Great Family,” “His Mercy is More,” “How Firm a Foundation,” and “What a Friend We have in Jesus.” Song leader Sanders Markam shared that it was sweet to “hear our kids singing such hymns that have been around forever...they sang the truth of Scripture in their sweet little voices!”

This year, VBS featured skits that told the story of a search and rescue mission with youth actors and PCPC Members, Jack Turner and Savannah Richards. Jack and Savannah are “lifetime VBS kids” who took the stage to serve and share the message of salvation with younger kids. In the skits, there was one person who had been rescued, followed Jesus, and was a member of the Extreme Rescue Team, and another person who thought she could get through life (and Rescue Mountain) on her own, apart from God. Building on that theme all week, the actors faced a blizzard, sheltered in a cave, and read God’s Word to discover the truth that Jesus SEEKS and Jesus SAVES. By the end, the lost skier saw the light and was rescued, joining the Extreme Rescue Team to go tell others how to be rescued.

During VBS, PCPC also collected coloring books and sets of colored pencils to send to Holy Trinity Church in L’viv, Ukraine. Holy Trinity will hold a VBS from July 27-31 this summer to reach 50 kids with the gospel. “We are sending our Rescue Mountain to their Rescue Mountain –the mountains in Ukraine,” said Sarah Morrison, PCPC’s Ministry Leader of Mobilization 

Thank you to all our VBS volunteers who worked behind the scenes to make VBS a success! It was a special week to be together and to be encouraged by the gospel. We hope these VBS photos and memories will encourage you to share the good news throughout the summer in your homes, workplaces, and communities.