Yee haw!" Ranger Bud shouts as he bounds through the door onto
the stage. It's time for another Rockin' V Wild West Show!
This weekly Sunday event has the children in the audience roaring their approval in a high-energy interactive event designed to entertain while teaching godly principles. From rollicking worship songs to passing the
"can-o- tithe" to help other children in need, everything is designed to get children involved in ways they can understand.
"I've got the best job in the world," explains Ranger Bud (a.k.a. Bud Reberry, Vineyard Boise's family pastor). "I get to be a singing cowboy and act like a kid." (Maybe that's why the children relate to him so well - he's one of them!)
In four years, Bud has transformed an inspired vision for
Children's & Family ministries into a model that is being imitated by other churches. In fact, one of Bud's goals is for Vineyard Boise's
Family and Children's ministries to be a "global resource," helping other churches develop effective models for family and children ministry. Vineyard Boise has been selected to host a National Vineyard Children's Ministry Conference in 2001. That is quite a compliment.
Bud is the first to tell you he didn't do it all by himself. In addition to a professional staff, a team of leaders and volunteers totaling 87 (and growing) keeps things humming along. Bud gives a lot of credit to people like lead Sunday school administrator Jon Hoffman, nursery & pre-school director Tery Nicholson, co-op school principal Patti Yocum, and many committed volunteers.
Adhering to the popular Vineyard maxim of "equipping the saints," Bud says his job "is to make these people feel like kings and queens. ... By empowering and equipping everyone involved, we have a great team. Everyone feels called and is trained."
Bud grew up in the Boise area and often worked with his father at a church camp in Cascade. It was at this church camp that Bud gave his life to the Lord at age 11. He knew then that he wanted to be involved in ministry and later worked as an assistant to the youth pastor at a local Christian church.
His father was a committed and attentive man who, though not wealthy, provided a rich family life and inspired Bud. Another role model and hero was John Sawyer, a camp counselor and Sunday school teacher during Bud's youth. "John was always there," says Bud. "He always cared and encouraged."
Bud and wife Katy first came to the Vineyard in the summer of 1992 at Katy's insistence. "That first day worship was incredible, and when I heard Tri talking about hunting and fishing, I knew I'd found a home" says a grinning Bud. Later, Bud and Katy were expecting their first child and attending a
"Growing Kids God's Way" workshop when Bud first felt that God was calling him to family and children's ministry.
While Bud was in prayer, God revealed to him Psalm 78 and a vision that served as the basis for his
holistic approach to family and children's ministry - ministering to children by ministering to and equipping the whole family. The rest, as they say, is history.
As Vineyard Boise grows, so do family needs. The children's ministry now serves about 450 children, up from 320 just one year ago, with an average of two to three added each week. More facilitators are needed for parenting workshops. The Ezra Center is already filled to capacity.
Opportunities to serve are always available, from being a puppeteer or character in the Wild West Show to being an on-call Sunday school teacher who's dedicated to back up only one specific class.
"Come work with us when God calls you, and leave when God tells you to leave," says Bud.
Everyone is valued, trained and empowered to help make a difference and to make every experience a rich and rewarding one.
According to Bud, one of the greatest joys of children's ministry is "being the kids' friend and sometimes even a hero."
