Creative programs see children growing and giving: Telling the story of 2008 VBS

BY DR. JOAN LABARR
Editor

When the July 3 call went out for NTC churches to submit photos and information from their 2008 Vacation Bible School (VBS) experiences to share through a future NT UM Reporter feature, the response was immediate and encouraging. Churches of all sizes were eager to tell the story of the summer’s VBS outreach to children and others.

As the responses began to arrive, there were several powerful reminders of how central VBS can be in a child’s Christian journey, especially as an introduction to mission and what it means to reach out in Jesus’ name.

One of the first pastors to respond to the request was Rev. Russ Noland, First UMC, Sachse. There is no doubt that of all the photos arriving at the NTC Communications Office, Sachse’s were the most unique and the accompanying report pointed to a VBS filled with fun and meaning. VBS leaders took the “Rainforest Adventure” theme to new heights, inviting Daryl Sprout of “Snake Encounters” to bring some slithery visitors, including Neon, a 55-pound Albino Burmese Python for a Monday night adventure.

On Aug. 14, Rev. Noland died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack, just one month after he jokingly posed with Neon casually draped around him. At his Aug. 23 memorial service, Rev. Noland’s love for children was one of the qualities for which he was especially remembered. With this in mind, the NTC 2008 Vacation Bible School review is dedicated to Russ, who shared the following VBS highlights:

During the July 14-18 VBS, the children had two mission projects, raising money for the Nothing but Nets anti-malaria initiative and gathering school supplies for McWhorter Elementary in Mesquite. Associate pastor Rev. Brady Waters challenged the children to raise money for ‘Nets’ by offering to dye his hair pink for a collection of $700 and purple for a collection of $1000. “We raised $1240, so needless to say, Brady had a colorful weekend,” Rev. Noland reported. He added that participants also gathered more than 1300 school supplies for the school.

At Custer Road UMC, Plano, more than 700 children participated in VBS. They, too, collected donations for Nothing but Nets, netting $1,100.

Wylie UMC VBS had a record 420 children enjoying their “Beach Party” VBS theme. They also picked Nothing but Nets for a mission project, which the children claimed with great enthusiasm, collecting $5,200, enough for 520 nets to protect children from the mosquito bites that lead to malaria.

Christ UMC, Farmers Branch, held its evening VBS June 22-26. Theme was “Power Lab-Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Powers, and the “Funology Lab” began at 6:15 p.m. with participants gathered in the sanctuary for “Sonic Sing and Play.” Young adults Chris Boyle and Professor Penny (Stephanie Matous) explained and demonstrated the evening’s lessons, including the science experiments of the week.

Faith UMC, Corinth/Denton, is a new church that so VBS was held in a local elementary school. Faith UMC, which also used the Power Lab curriculum, had some 240 children enrolled. The Faith mission, “Kicks for Kids,” grew out of a conversation with does not have a building yet, so VBS was held in a local elementary school. Faith UMC, which also used the Power Lab curriculum, had some 240 children enrolled. The Faith mission, “Kicks for Kids,” grew out of a conversation with Christ’s Foundry Fellowship pastor Rev. Owen Ross and raised money to support the Christ’s Foundry soccer program. The children brought soccer balls, cleats and shin guards, as well as monetary donations. In the end, the Faith VBS collected 46 balls, 36 pairs of shin guards and 12 pairs of cleats and donated $360 dollars to the program.

“It was a phenomenal event and something that our kids really related to,” said Gina Ozmer, executive assistant to pastor Rev. John McLarty.

At Trietsch Memorial UMC, Flower Mound, more than 1,000 children and 600 volunteers selected Christian Community Action’s (CCA) Back to School Program and Heifer International as their local and global mission efforts. They collected more than 1,600 jeans for CCA and $8,000 for Heifer International, which purchases livestock for rural families in the U.S. and abroad.

At Nueva Vida Fellowship of Spring Valley UMC, Dallas, VBS was a success even before it started. Two weeks prior to opening, pastor Rev. Carlos Nascimento and a group of youth began knocking on doors to register Hispanic children for VBS. It was an opportunity to reach out and meet new people and discover ways to be more effective in ministry to them.

Several of those invited came, including a 17-year old girl, Miriam, who not only registered her brother and sisters, but also volunteered to join the group and register more children. Miriam, who is blind, was an inspiration to all. Rev. Nascimento describes how she knocked on doors, saying, “Hola, I want to encourage you to register your kids for VBS here at this church…And yes, I will come and pick your kids up!” She showed up on opening night with 29 children in tow. Miriam and her entire family are now part of Nueva Vida, which appropriately means “New Life.”

At the close of the Nueva Vida VBS, some 68 children received completion certificates and a “Fiesta en la Playa,” (Party on the Beach) T-shirt. “We also had the joy of working together
Cornerstone UMC, Garland with 20 volunteers from Spring Valley and 15 from Nueva Vida,” Rev. Nascimento says.

Plymouth Park UMC, Irving, VBS also had a beach theme, using the Cokesbury “Beach Party – Surfin-through the Scriptures” curriculum. The Gleaning Network of Texas was the mission project, and there was a competition between classes to see who could raise the highest percentage of donations. The smallest class, the third graders, won and celebrated the prize of an extra session on the water slide during the final day celebration.

Cornerstone UMC, Garland, had a multi-generational VBS experience as older adults interacted with the children in “Surfin through the Scriptures.”

Argyle UMC also went “Surfin through the Scriptures,” enjoying outdoor activities such as “Science Under the Tent” and a special family night with “mad science.” Fourth and fifth graders went “Stepping Out” into the community to help others. The local mission projects included helping an elderly member by cleaning the garage and washing a vehicle; preparing and serving food at Denton’s “Our Daily Bread” feeding program for the hungry; and helping and playing with children at New Hope Learning Center at First UMC, Lewisville.

At Tinney Chapel, Winnsboro, which bills itself as “the Quintessential Country Church,” teacher and writer Angela Wylie documented the experience in words and photos for the local newspaper. Tinney Chapel, which used the Power Lab material, offered an array of activities, including great excitement the second day when the children “walked on water.”

As the children heard the story of Peter walking to Jesus on the stormy sea, they were presented with a container of a substance not quite liquid, not quite solid. “If one walked across quickly, one could walk on ‘water’ without sinking,” Wylie reports.

At Chapel Hill UMC, Farmers Branch, children enjoyed a retro moment as volunteers tie-died T-shirts in vivid colors. Music and story time were favorite VBS activities for the congregation.

Stonebridge UMC, McKinney, had a big week at Vacation Bible Camp, collecting 500 new teddy bears for Children’s Medical Center as part of its mission focus. They also sponsored a “BIG FISH” program for fifth and sixth graders that delivered 40 blankets for Project Linus.

This was the church’s first year to use the new Robertson Activity Center for VBS, which allowed the space to accommodate 619 children, 100 more than the year before.

VBS leaders created the BIG FISH curriculum because they note that fifth and sixth graders are at an awkward age when it comes to traditional VBS.

On June 23-27, campers from pre-school to elementary school age gathered to sing songs and learn the Bible Point for the day. The campers then enjoyed a rotation schedule including Hyperspeed Games, Wacky Crafts, and Missions, Test tube Treats, Cinema Science, Bible Blast, and a Faith Fusion Finale. A highlight was spraying pastor Rev. John Mollet with silly string for his birthday.


Argyle UMC


Chapel Hill UMC, Farmers Branch

 
Christ UMC, Farmers Branch


Custer Road UMC

Faith UMC, Corinth

 
Plymouth Park UMC, Irving

 
First UMC, Sachse


Stonebridge UMC, McKinney


Tinney Chapel, Winnsboro


Wylie UMC