Fairfield Baptist Church in Hollywood held its first Vacation Bible School (VBS) in more than 20 years, which is a testament, said Pastor Johnny Mayes, to what happens when people pray and let God take care of the rest.
This church near Scottsboro in the Tennessee River Association had a three-hour VBS on July 12, with 21 children participating. “We were very pleased with it,” said Mayes.
That turnout, in itself, was a reason for rejoicing, since the church of about 40 members has three children in its congregation, said Mayes. “That’s why we were tickled about the 21.”
The workers – approximately 15 to 20, roughly half of the congregation- used the Kingdom Caper VBS materials, but without the music.
Mayes explained that session lengths were shortened in order to fit into the three hours. “We did a few classes and told them about Jesus,” said Mayes.
Though no professors of faith came about, Mayes said the seed was planted.
The church chose the three-hour, one-day format in order to ease back into planning and holding a VBS.
Plan to expand
Next year, it is Mayes’ hope for the church to have an all-day VBS on a Saturday. The intention, Mayes said, is to continue expanding until the VBS is weeklong.
It took the church approximately three weeks to prepare for the VBS morning, said Mayes. Two sister churches- Harmony Baptist and Mayes’ home church of Roaches Cove Baptist- assisted by donating materials and providing some helpers.
Fairfield members put up signs around the neighborhood to announce the VBS, went door to door to hand out flyers and advertised on radio and television. They also prayed, said the pastor.
Mayes’ wife, Jessica, served as VBS director.
“It’s amazing how God prepares us,” Mayes said. Jessica served as a summer missionary several years ago in Tennessee River Association and, therefore, was familiar with the innerworkings of VBS. That work, he continued, readied for her serving at Fairfield Baptist, where she hopes to begin a Woman’s Missionary Union group.
Mayes, who has been Fairfield’s bivocational pastor for five months, said he approached the church about reinstituting VBS, to use it as an outreach tool. “They were real receptive of it.”
Shortly after being called as pastor, Mayes also helped establish Wednesday night services.
He believes the recent VBS experience has given Fairfield members a renewed vision for being active in the Lord’s work and reaching out to those around them.
It is Mayes’s desire to begin an outreach program at the church because that community, he noted, is ripe for such a ministry.
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