This week, a young man came to Bible to fulfill state requirements for community service. The pastor put him to work in one of the classes. Although not used to being in church, the man listened to the gospel that was presented during V.B.S. On the last night, he received Christ as his savior! Praise the Lord.

This week, we met a man who is a morning cook for a restaurant nearby in Millersburg, OH. Every morning he goes to work at 3 am and prepares food. Last year, he suffered a heart attack and came close to death. “It made me evaluate my priorities,” he said. As a result, he decided that helping kids reach Christ should become a high priority in his life. This week, he took off the entire week to help teach kids at Catastrophe Kitchen. May God bless him and others who have sacrificed their personal gain for the cause of Christ this summer.

Praise the Lord, 5 children accepted Christ as their Savior during V.B.S. last night.  It is truely a blessing to see how God is working in the hearts and lives the ones that attend.

On stage in Elkhart, IN, culinary guests bring smiles to over 145 children.  Behind every smile is a person. Our goal is to reach people with the love of Jesus Christ.  By the way, we would love to collect your VBS smiles.  Share them with us at musicalm@musicalmerrills.com.  Check back soon for our Green Bean and Sweet Onion Vinaigrette recipe–sure to make your guests smile!

Deacon Chad Barnett–a former ‘85 V.B.S. student encouraged us by bringing his family and a Bible that Evangelist Randy Merrill had signed 24 years earlier. Chad earned the New Testament for reciting 50 verses. John 17:17

Chef Merrill with a former VBS student Chad Barnett

Chad's Bible

If you’re near King’s Mountain, NC come join the action! We’re cooking up great things…even with power out and tornados and thunderstorms. More coming soon!

Wow! The kitchen is well under way with all kinds of excitement for kids of all ages. This week we are cooking up great things with the fantastic people of Danielsville, GA!

Not only is there excitement because of what the Lord is doing, but Chef celebrated his birthday!

We are so thankful for the volunteers this week. Lots of effort allows for maximum enjoyment for everyone! So a BIG shout out to each person who helped this week become a success…THANK YOU!

Marciah is painting part of the offering scale as part of final production for Catastrophe Kitchen.

Did you know we carefully select colors for each program? Here the paint (shown in the image to the right ) was matched to this year’s color guide. This consistency allows us to present a unified image. (This is vital with such a large production.) Wonder about our inspiration?

For example take our blue this year, prompted by cobalt and taken from influences of porcelain patterns found in thrift stores and antique stores, this warm ocean-blue hue is widely used in China. Popular among contemporary Chinese artists, designers, and architects, similar blues are now making their way to museums and trendy hotels.

So where do you get inspiration?

Moriah drills holes into some pieces for the final stages of VBS items.

Screws, drills, electric cords, jigsaws, spray paint, sponges, and more! All these and so much more are scattered across the location as construction of various VBS props unwind. Not only do family members play musical instruments, sing, preach, and teach but they paint, drill, sew, assemble, design, draw, compose, and more too!

Much of what is incorporated into the program is handcrafted. The family believes that we serve a perfect God and He deserves the best possible that we can give. (Not to mention it takes quality to withstand 20+ weeks of road travel and performances.)

For an upclose experience or hands-on tour, see a Cast Member!

Tricia Merrill sewing fabric for incorporation into the Catastrophe Kitchen set design.

Did you ever dress up? Have you ever wondered how to successfully recreate biblical attire? The amazing transformations in this year’s program are credit to sewing skill, creative collaboration, and designer sketches. Over 100 yards of fabric are sewn, embroidered, and assembled for this program. Each piece is carefully constructed specifically for the character. Imagine living in some of the zany, authentic, or out-of-this-world clothes and you’re on way to joining this sizzling adventure.

Want to learn more? Watch for our video interview coming soon!

We have begun the 72 hour countdown to officially launching Catastrophe Kitchen! If you could only see the amount of energy, effort, and enthusiasm poured into the program at this point…..WOW! Everything including sound, lights, costumes, projectors, displays, sets, prizes, props, materials, and so much more is now being packed and loaded into position.

Pray that as this program rolls out, God will touch lives and allow His Word to transform kids of all ages. Thanks so much for your support, prayers, and keeping in touch.

We have been creating and directing multiple Vacation Bible School programs for over 20 years. The amount of work that is accumulated at this point is staggering. Imagine the transformation into multiple characters for each team member and for many church volunteers. Watch as team members dazzle your eyes while clearly presenting the importance of a personal relationship with God. Glimpse the massive set and costume creation. Discover the technology and ingenuity that powers these unique presentations. These are the signature to each presentation. Check out the process for bringing these one-of-a-kind  events to life. In this continuing series we will share some of the Behind the Scenes to a ministry that has proclaimed the Gospel to thousands of people in 47 states, Canada, and Mexico. There is no other Vacation Bible School program in the world like this. Join us!