Grace Wins: A Night of Family Worship at Sierra View Junior Academy

Exeter, Calif. – Under a starlit sky and the soft glow of string lights, families gathered on the lawn at Sierra View Junior Academy for a heartwarming Friday night vespers themed “Grace Wins.” With camp chairs, cozy blankets, and the sound of student-led praise music in the air, the evening had all the charm of a backyard revival and the power of a Spirit-filled gathering.

A rustic flatbed trailer transformed into a stage set the tone—simple, authentic, and welcoming. Students led worship with sincerity, followed by a message from guest speaker Lisa Plasencia, Director of Children’s Ministry for the Central California Conference.

Lisa began with a personal story of longing for baptism as a child and how messages of “not being ready” or “not being good enough” shaped her understanding of God’s grace. It wasn’t until years later that she fully grasped the truth: salvation is a gift, not something we earn.

“Grace doesn’t wait until we’re perfect,” Lisa shared. “It meets us where we are—messy, unsure, and searching—and says, ‘You are loved. You are Mine.’”

Where Sin Met Grace

The centerpiece of the evening was a visual object lesson that captured the message of salvation with simple items: jars of water, iodine, bleach, and a wooden cross.

Three jars were placed on the table. The two side jars represented the thieves on the cross—both poured with iodine to symbolize sin. One thief acknowledged Jesus, asking to be remembered, and into that jar Lisa poured the clear liquid from the center jar—the one representing Jesus and the cross. The "sin" vanished instantly.

The other thief rejected Jesus. Still, his sin was poured into the jar representing Jesus… and that sin too, disappeared—not because it was ignored, but because Jesus took on our sin without becoming sin.

Then Lisa invited the students to respond.

One by one, children from Kindergarten to 10th grade came forward, each pouring iodine (representing their sin) into the jar with the cross. As they stirred the cross, their sin disappeared and the water remained clear—each child visibly witnessing the symbol of forgiveness and grace.

The effect was powerful.

A Response that Moved Generations

A kindergarten teacher stood with tears in her eyes afterward. “I’ve always shared about Jesus with my class,” she said, “but tonight, I saw how deeply even our youngest students can respond to the Gospel.”

A grandfather shared how emotional it was to watch children respond to the message of grace. “This is what we need more of—children understanding they are fully loved and accepted by God.”

Grace Wins—Every Time

The message was clear: We don’t have to get everything right to come to God. We come to Him, and He makes us right. Grace isn't a reward for performance—it’s a gift for anyone willing to receive it.

By the end of the evening, students had not only heard the message of salvation—they had touched it, seen it, and responded with their hearts.

As families packed up their blankets and chairs, there was a sense that this wasn’t just another school event—it was a sacred moment that will stay with them for years to come.

“Grace wins,” Lisa said in closing, “because Jesus already did.”