Elkdale sanctity of life VBS leads to practical partnership

Michele Dyson admitted it was a bit overwhelming when she began planning her first Vacation Bible School.

“I started getting all these books with samples and stuff,” said Dyson, who recently completed her first year as director of children’s ministry at Elkdale Baptist Church in Selma. “I read through each one and narrowed it to two.”

But as she prayed about which to use, one kept resurfacing — Answers VBS Zoomerang — which had the theme “Returning to the Value of Life” for 2022.

“Every time I would have my quiet time, I came across the same verses that were the theme verses for Zoomerang,” Dyson said. “It was just clear that that’s what we should do.”

So she got to work planning. The curriculum was set in Australia, so she had fun incorporating her husband, Brett, who is Australian, into the week’s activities. She also planned to have some kangaroos visit the children to interact with.

Value of life

But most importantly Dyson felt she needed to use the week to teach the children about the value of life. The curriculum would tell them about creation and how life began, how they are fearfully and wonderfully made, how they can have eternal life and how God has a purpose for each person’s life.

To go along with that, Dyson began to think about how they might help a related ministry during the week.

“It seemed like a no-brainer to me that we should partner together with our local Safe Harbor Women’s Medical Clinic in town, which one of our church members facilitates,” Dyson said. “Our youth pastor and I went to Safe Harbor to visit and talk to the ladies about needs that they had that our offering could potentially help fund.

“As we talked we were told of the need for an updated ultrasound machine. Even though this seemed like a massive undertaking, we started praying and asking the Lord to show up and provide.”

As they began to brainstorm, the clinic facilitator decided to contact Knights of Columbus at the state level to see what they could do. In the end, KC donated the ultrasound machine. The children’s VBS offering, more than $2,100, covered the tax.

On the last day of VBS, Dyson learned Roe v. Wade had been overturned.

“It was just the best week, and I can’t believe that I get to be a part of what God is doing at Elkdale and in the city of Selma,” she said. “Our prayer is that the gospel was made clear and that hearts and lives were changed.”