State’s Baptist churches see growth, break down barriers with Vacation Bible Schools

Whew! Did you hear that? No, it wasn’t another hurricane sweeping through Alabama. It was the collective sigh of relief of churches across the state as they concluded Vacation Bible School (VBS) 2005.
   
Whether VBS takes place over a week, in one day, in the evening or in the morning, it is usually one of a church’s largest annual projects. VBS often requires many volunteers, many hours of preparation and some funding. But church leaders agree that it’s worth every penny and every minute of time.
   
“VBS is one of the most evangelistic tools of the church,” said Sammy Turner, pastor of Seale Baptist Church. “Many young people come to know Christ through the teachings they learn during VBS.”
   
As of July 27, 737 Alabama Baptist churches had reported holding VBS, said James Blakeney, associate in the office of Sunday School at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
   
According to the office’s report, total enrollment for VBS for all ages was 101,277, with 3,758 decisions to receive Christ.
   
“There have been some excellent Bible schools,” Blakeney said, noting that he had visited some of the ones held. He also noted the current numbers are a little behind last year’s due to churches not posting reports yet.
   
Lloyd Wright, associate pastor of administration and assimilation at NorthPark Baptist Church, Trussville, said, “(VBS) is one of our largest outreach efforts to the community. Many parents will bring their otherwise unchurched children to Bible school at NorthPark.”
   
Noting that VBS may be the first exposure some children have to God and church life, Wright said, “Almost everything else going on here stops so that each staff person can ensure the kids have a fun time while learning about God.”
   
This year, churches had a choice of VBS destinations, with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention offering “Beach Blast” in addition to “Ramblin’ Road Trip.” 
   
Blakeney said “Ramblin’ Road Trip” was popular among Alabama Baptists. He noted that in spite of the growing number of VBS materials available from other sources, Alabama churches seem to be staying with LifeWay’s material. 
   
He said several Alabama churches used both of LifeWay’s 2005 themes — one for VBS and the other for summer Wednesday nights or camp. 
   
LifeWay plans to offer two themes next year with “Arctic Edge: Where Adventure Meets Courage” and “Club VBS: Space Quest.”
   
Kim Conaway, VBS director at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Birmingham, said the church chose the “Beach Blast” theme because VBS was scheduled for later in the summer. “We wanted to offer something the kids hadn’t already been exposed to at other area churches,” Conaway explained.
   
Early state VBS reports also indicate that sharing materials among churches, or “linking up,” is rising. This year, Blanton Baptist Church, Valley, was one of the more than 400 churches that have reported sharing materials (see story, page 5). 
   
“LifeWay encourages linking up,” Blakeney said, noting that the term means churches may share materials or teachers, with one church helping another one.
   
Along with a choice of themes, many churches are choosing to move away from or add to the traditional offering of a weeklong, morning VBS. Some, like Blanton Baptist (see story, page 5), offered one day of VBS. Others looked to the evenings.
   
Blakeney said the popularity of evening VBS continues to rise. Last year, 61 percent of Alabama Baptist churches reported conducting evening VBS, and early 2005 reports indicate the same trend. Blakeney cited one reason for this — working parents.
   
Conaway agreed, “People are more tired in the evening, but they are also more available. And tired availability is better than no availability.” 
   
She said Ridgecrest Baptist uses VBS as an evangelistic tool for all ages, offering Bible studies and activities for ages 4 to adult. They also plan it for late summer so follow-up visitation can be coordinated through the FAITH ministry when it resumes in August.
   
Slackland Baptist Church in Leesburg, also aimed for all ages with its VBS. Carol Chesnut, VBS director, said the church featured VBS activities throughout the month of June. Children’s VBS met each morning June 6–10. One-day VBSs were held for students and  senior adults, and Wednesday nights in June were devoted to adult VBS. 
   
Chesnut said radio and newspaper promotion also proved effective for the church, which averages about 100 in weekly worship. She said 83 children, 28 students, 40 adults and 30 seniors registered for the VBS activities.
   
Newspaper ads and fliers also helped Pine Grove Baptist Church, Centre, to continue its attendance of 600 or more for the fifth year (see story, this page).
   
Breaking boundaries was important for First Baptist Church, Montgomery. The church offered enhanced VBS for deaf and hearing-impaired children for the fifth summer. 
   
David Richardson, coordinator of deaf ministries at the church, said of the 632 that attended VBS in June, nine were hearing-impaired or deaf children. Accompanied by interpreters, these children experienced crafts, group singing and recreation with their peers and had a separate Bible study session led by two professional deaf educators, Sheila Harris and Joanna Cobern. 
   
Harris, an elementary school interpreter, said teaching the Bible study separately gave some of the children a chance to really experience the Bible. “Although they may attend a church with their parents, most do not have the benefit of having an interpreter,” Harris said.
   
While First, Montgomery, broke  the “sound barrier,” many Christians in Alabama are working to break the language barrier with Hispanic VBSs. 
   
Blakeney said he expects rising numbers from Hispanic VBSs. Two training opportunities led by Zuly Lemus were offered this year for Hispanic VBS leaders in central Alabama. 
   
Lemus’ husband, Pastor Carlos Lemus, is president of the Hispanic Baptist Fellowship of Alabama and led a Chilton Baptist Association-sponsored Hispanic VBS at First Baptist Church, Jemison. Fifty-five attended and several made professions of faith, Carlos Lemus said.
   
He noted that the Bible schools are a way to meet Hispanic families and earn their trust. “They found out that we want to give their children a better life through the teaching of the Bible.” 
   
Carlos Lemus also helped with the Autauga Baptist Association VBS at New Vision Baptist Church, Prattville. He noted that many Hispanic congregations plan their VBSs for late summer, so a true picture of Hispanic VBS in the state would not be available until then.
   
VBS creativity also spilled into the offering plates as churches found new ministries to sponsor through their VBS offerings. NorthPark Baptist’s VBS offering focused on feet, collecting enough to purchase 750 pairs of shoes for needy children worldwide through the Happy Feet Ministry.
   
Slackland Baptist exceeded its $500 goal for the community outreach center in Grants, N.M., a ministry to the Navajo. The VBS offering was $1,835.21, and the church agreed to match the donation, bringing the total gift to $3,670.42.