Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2026
  • The Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2026
  • The Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Classifieds

Former MK shares how it ‘all started with VBS’

Each year, thousands of children gather at church for Vacation Bible School. Read this former IMB missionary kid's experience with VBS overseas and how she was transformed by Christ through the work of faithful VBS teachers.
  • June 10, 2024
  • Mississippi's The Baptist Record
  • Latest News, Mississippi
(Photo courtesy of the Baptist Record)

Former MK shares how it ‘all started with VBS’

Former International Mission Board missionary kid Elena Hart*, who was born and raised in Southeast Asia for 18 years, is a graduate of Mississippi College and is now an elementary school teacher. Hart recounted how overseas Vacation Bible School brought her to a personal relationship with Jesus.

For as long as she can remember, Hart attended and loved VBS at the IMB annual meetings held in Southeast Asia. Hart recalled the tropical theme of a particular year, when she was seven years old: “Outrigger Island: Living God’s Unshakeable Truth.” To this day, Hart remembers most of the VBS songs she learned ever since she was young enough to sing on a stage and strum a ukulele-shaped balloon.

“I didn’t think anything different about that year,” Hart shared, “until the VBS teachers had a sit-down talk with us where we all sat on the floor, and they discussed with us what a Christian life looks like. They said if you are a believer and you’re walking with God, that means you have a Friend Who is always good, Whom you can always depend upon to be good and Who is always there for you. Naturally, my very logical brain thought, ‘OK, so a Friend Who is always there, but also Someone you can always look to, to be in the moral right.”

To read more, click here.

*As a former MK from a high-security location, Elena Hart uses an alias.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lindsey Williams and originally published by the Baptist Record.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Pastor Saeed Abedini, former political prisoner in Iran, accused of abducting daughter
    Pastor Saeed Abedini, former political prisoner in Iran, accused of abducting daughter
    June 25, 2026/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Southern Baptists are not drifting’: 5 questions for new SBC president Willy Rice
    ‘Southern Baptists are not drifting’: 5 questions for new SBC president Willy Rice
    June 25, 2026/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Zero! Exactly none!’: Study shows Christianity’s role in U.S. founding excluded by publishers
    ‘Zero! Exactly none!’: Study shows Christianity’s role in U.S. founding excluded by publishers
    June 25, 2026/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Pastor Saeed Abedini, former political prisoner in Iran, accused of abducting daughter

Evangelical pastor Saeed Abedini was once an international symbol of a Christian being persecuted for his faith. Now, he’s been accused in a lawsuit of

‘Southern Baptists are not drifting’: 5 questions for new SBC president Willy Rice

Three days after Willy Rice was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, he sat down for five questions. Here’s what he had to say. 

‘Zero! Exactly none!’: Study shows Christianity’s role in U.S. founding excluded by publishers

A study, which assessed more than 300 books curated by children’s publishers for America’s 250th anniversary, found that public libraries and publishers are ignoring Christianity’s role in the U.S. founding, focusing instead on progressive history. 

World Cup victories, faith and challenges of life

After America’s World Cup victory over Australia last Friday, Christian Pulisic shared a photo on Instagram showing several US players gathered in a circle on the field, their heads bowed in prayer.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • The Kids Edition
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • The Kids Edition
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2026 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • The Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • The Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe

Our mission is to serve the Church through trustworthy journalism.

As a nonprofit Christian news ministry, we seek to provide grace-filled, trustworthy reporting from a Christian worldview while keeping our content freely accessible online.

Support from readers and ministry partners allows us to continue equipping churches, informing individuals, and providing ministry resources at affordable rates. Would you prayerfully consider supporting this work?

Support Our Ministry

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel