Edith Ruiz, children and adolescents ministries director of the IAD and creator of this year’s Vacation Bible Experience program leads during the launch of the online training workshop featured on Feb. 23, 2025.  [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Initiative, emphasizing the miracles of Jesus and offering guidance for leaders to reach over 350,000 children across the territory.

March 13, 2025 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division

The Inter-American Division (IAD) recently introduced its latest Vacation Bible Experience (VBE) program during an online workshop designed to provide comprehensive orientation for thousands of teachers, directors, leaders, and volunteers. The one-hour session offered guidance, resources, and activities to help facilitate the program, which ministers to more than 350,000 children and adolescents across the IAD territory during their school breaks.

VBE is an annual church initiative that seeks to reaffirm Bible principles and values for children and adolescents within the church and its surrounding community.

Union and conference leaders practice motions to the new songs from this year’s new Vacation Bible Experience program, [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Teaching Children About Jesus Miracles

Themed Impossible Acts, this year’s VBE program highlights the miracles Jesus performed while He ministered to people, emphasizing their meaning and pointing to valuable lessons and promises for young people.

“This is a very special program because it focuses on what Jesus can do for children and teens. Today, we might hear about superheroes like Superman, but what Jesus does for us is far greater—He performs the impossible,” said Edith Ruiz, children and adolescent ministries director of the IAD.

The new theme is especially timely, as children and adolescents today are increasingly distracted, said Ruiz. “Our young people need to be reminded that Jesus can bring them peace amid the challenges they face. He provides for all their needs, strengthens them as they persevere in doing what’s right, helps them in times of need, and gives them hope in the midst of despair,” she explained.

Raiza Ramírez, children and adolescent ministries director of the West Venezuela Union shows different themed snacks that could be offered during the VBE program this year. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
The five miracles highlighted in the VBE program include Jesus calming the storm, feeding the 5,000, restoring sight to Bartimaeus, turning water into wine, and His resurrection from death.

The launch showcased a variety of songs, stories, crafts, tools, ideas, animated segments, tips, and resources that will reaffirm the power of Jesus throughout His journey on earth and His ongoing work in heaven, said Ruiz.

Creative Activities and Resources

The VBE program includes a manual with detailed craft and game activities, recipes, decorating tips, and more resources for directors, teachers, and VBE leaders who will be involved in the annual evangelism initiative, Ruiz added.

Edith Ruiz, children and adolescent ministries director of the IAD, demonstrates the themed T-shirt designed to accompany this year’s VBE program. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
“The workshop serves as a model for VBE leaders to get a clear idea of what can be done and expand on this year’s theme,” she said.

The online workshop, produced at the IAD headquarters in Miami, Florida, was attended by dozens of children and adolescent ministries directors from unions and conferences across the territory. The event provided leaders an opportunity to see the VBE program firsthand and gather creative ideas to implement back home as they train local regional and church leaders and volunteers.

Most of the unions have already placed their orders for this year’s VBE program across their congregations and schools and will soon receive their materials, said Ruiz.

Ranfys Valeriano (back left), children and adolescent ministries director of the Dutch Caribbean Union  [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
VBE’s Evangelistic Reach

Martha López, children and adolescent ministries director in the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, brought 10 of the 11 leaders to the unveiling of the VBE program. “Year after year, we look forward to impacting so many children in our churches and communities with fantastic, themed programs like this one,” said López. In 2024, more than 33,300 children were impacted by the various VBE programs held across the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union. “We must continue to work together, letting children see that God loves them, and using creative themes to reach children who are so accustomed to interactive screens at home, school, and on their phones,” she added.

López also shared that entire families have been converted thanks to the VBE program held across the union. “It shows us that this is a valuable and necessary evangelistic tool, not only in our churches but in our communities, towns, and neighborhoods,” she said. Many local churches gather children from surrounding communities to participate in the VBE program week after week, López explained.

Martha López (7th from right) children and adolescents ministries director of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union stands on stage next Edith Ruiz of the IAD and Orathai Chureson (5th from left), children ministries director of the General Conference, and 10 of her union’s conference directors who attended the VBE launch gathering and experienced the program firsthand. [Photo: Courtesy of Martha López]
Janet Torres, children and adolescent ministries director in the Puerto Rican Union, participates annually in the online VBE workshop. She noted that the program is key to reaching many communities across the island. In 2024, 52 percent of the children who participated in the program in Puerto Rico were non-Adventist, Torres said. “We had hundreds of volunteers helping us in each of the areas that oversee the VBE,” she added. The annual program also serves as a launching pad for many additional initiatives that follow up with the hundreds of children and adolescents who participate in the one-week themed program.

“We receive so many positive reports after the vacation program takes place in our churches. For example, in one church, a woman with three children who had never accepted an invitation to attend church lived right across the street. Her children were invited to the VBE, and little by little, she started visiting the church and learning more about the Bible,” said Torres.

Janet Torres, children and adolescents ministries director of the Puerto Rican Union demonstrates crafts that can be used during the VBE program with this year’s theme. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
“Each year, the VBE program gets better and better, with more creative Bible promises to teach. We pray that even more children and families will participate in this year’s program, join the church, and have their names written in the Heavenly Books,” Torres added.

VBE is about bringing children to Christ and discipling them for the Kingdom of Heaven, Ruiz concluded.

During the VBE program launch, General Conference Children’s Ministry Director Orathai Chureson expressed gratitude to union and conference leaders for their dedication and commitment in ensuring that children across the Inter-American Division are reached through various evangelistic activities that help them discover more about Jesus and His love for them.

Children and adolescents ministries directors from nearly all 25 unions throughout the Inter-American Division pose for a group photo at the end of teh online launch this yea’s new Vacation bible Experience program evangelism initiative. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
To watch this year’s VBE workshop launched on Feb. 23, 2025, in three languages:

For English, click HERE

For Spanish, click HERE

For French, click HERE