Rockingham churches begin holding Vacation Bible School

Tri-City Baptist Church, Eden

The theme of Tri-City Baptist Church’s Vacation Bible School is Olympics “Good News — Winning with God’s Team.” The 2008 Summer Olympics will be held in China in August, and the theme verse for VBS is Hebrews 12:1, which instructs Christians to run the race with patience.

“We believe as Christians, we’re in a race against evil. We’re in a race trying to serve the Lord and do what’s right,” said John Aker, VBS director.

“It’s about running the race for Jesus,” said Dr. Benny Wood, pastor. “Kenya is known for its runners, so that’s one of the things we’re talking about.” The VBS students learn about a different Olympic country every night.

In the Olympic spirit, the children also compete. Nicholas Hallman, a rising fifth-grader, said the games are his favorite part of VBS.

“We did the egg toss and we’re getting ready to play tug-of-war and volleyball,” he said.

Even the food at VBS reflects the “Olympic” theme. Each night revolves around a new country.

“Tonight is China, so we’re doing Chinese noodles and the fortune cookies. They have Bible verses in them,” said Ginger Chenault. “Tomorrow we’re having a pinata and salsa (for Mexico). We try to let them learn a little about each country.”

Chenault is in charge of refreshments and crafts, including door hangers, picture frames and bookmarks that say “Jesus Makes My Heart Smile.” Chenault enjoys being part of VBS and thinks it’s a great way to minister to the children.

“I think it’s a fun way for kids to learn. I think they all get something out of it,” she said.

Gail Hallman, a VBS teacher, is impressed with her 8- to 12-year-old students’ knowledge and inquisitiveness.

“They’re very eager to learn. They’re very interested,” she said. She quizzed her son Nicholas and his friend, Brandon Greer, a rising sixth-grader, about Sunday and Monday night’s lesson. The boys recounted the story of God blinding Paul on the road to Damascus and Paul’s conversion to Christianity.

“The hands-on crafts help them learn,” said Hallman. Sunday night, she said, the children made a safari to help them learn about Kenya, the theme country.

Sue Denny, who teaches primary grades, said the children have a memory verse to learn every day. Monday’s was 1 Corinthians 3:9 — “We are laborers together with God.”

Aker said the purpose of VBS is to have something in the summer that brings children to church, where they can “have a good time and meet friends.” He said the goal of VBS is to lead the children to the Lord. Aker said Tri-City Baptist Church has had a good turnout this year, averaging 35 children a night. Tri-City’s VBS is open to children as young as 3 — all the way up to senior citizens.

The VBS starts at 6:30 every evening this week through Thursday. It begins each night with an opening ceremony in the church sanctuary.

Tri-City Baptist Church is at 160 Romans Drive, off N.C. 135 outside of Eden. For bus transportation, call 627-1276.

• Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at mbaines@reidsvillereview.com or 349-4331, ext. 35.

Baptist Temple Church, Reidsville

The theme of Baptist Temple Church’s Vacation Bible School is “Son Harvest Fruit of the Spirit.” Each night, teachers focus on a different fruit of the spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. Monday night’s lesson was “joy.”

Wanda Fields, minister of children at Baptist Temple Church in Reidsville, said VBS is a “wonderful” form of children’s outreach.

“They can learn about Jesus in a fun, creative atmosphere,” she said.

Games are 8-year-old Caleb Doss’ favorite part.

“Freeze tag! Simon Says!”

Doss is also learning about the fruit of the spirit. Sunday’s lesson was about love. He said he has learned “to love anyone, as hard as it is.”

The VBS teachers use crafts to help teach children Bible stories. The fifth- and sixth-graders decorated pots, and they plan to grow something to illustrate how the fruit of the Spirit grows if is nurtured.

“They grow strong roots if you plant them with God,” said Wendy McKinney, a VBS teacher.

Meanwhile, the first- and second-graders used play dough to shape the numbers “99” and “100” while learning the Parable of the Lost Sheep. The shepherd finds the lost sheep, bringing the number of his flock back to 100. The story is a parallel for Jesus’s rejoicing when a lost soul repents and comes to know Him.

Fields said VBS includes a lot of “hands-on learning type of activities” to keep children engaged. Amy Huberer, a 5-year-old and kindergarten teacher, uses a flannel board with visuals to teach the children. She also does crafts. On Sunday night, they made chicks out of cotton balls.

“Tonight we’ll be making strawberry jam,” said Huberer. At the end of VBS on Monday evening, the children watched a video on making strawberry preserves. Even the clothes the children wear to VBS go with the theme of “Son Harvest Fruit of the Spirit.”

“Tonight is farmer night. Tomorrow night they’re supposed to wear something with fruit,” said Fields. In honor of farmer night, rising fifth-grader Kasey Frye wore a long, checkered skirt her mother once wore as a student at Moss Street School.

Just as the theme of VBS changes every year, so does the emphasis on the mission. This year, the church is raising money for playground equipment for the day school. VBS is one of many ways the mission-oriented Baptist Temple Church reaches out to the community.

Amy Janney, who teaches fifth and sixth grade at VBS, feels good “knowing that we’re doing something for the community and anybody can come.”

The church held a prayer walk Saturday to invite neighborhood children to VBS. Anita Fox, wife of the church’s pastor, George Fox, said those who took part prayed for the children and told them about the Lord.

“Everyone needs to know the Lord, but especially children,” she said.

“After just one night, we all left really excited,” she said Monday evening. VBS begins at 6:15 each evening and runs through Thursday. It is open to children 3 and older. Baptist Temple Church is at 729 Wentworth St. in Reidsville.

• Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at mbaines@reidsvillereview.com or 349-4331, ext. 35.