With the 2018 Winter Olympics just around the corner, leaders at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Sebastian decided to get into the spirit of things for this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) camp.
“Our theme was Olympic-centered with ‘Go for the Gold!’” said St. Elizabeth’s rector, the Rev. Dave Newhart. “Vacation Bible School 2017 was a week of fun, fun, and, yes – fun.”
More than 60 kids made the July 10-14 camp a rousing success as camp organizers taught important lessons from Scripture’s Super Kids’ “On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!” program focusing on the Gospel of Mark. St. Elizabeth’s divides the SuperKids program, a missionary outreach that consists of 10 summer day programs, into five days each year.
“VBS is considered by St. Elizabeth’s as one of our main outreaches,” said St. Elizabeth’s organizer Sandy van der Meulen, administrative assistant to the rector. “While some churches used a canned program, we have chosen to use the curriculum by Scripture Union, creating our own decorations, activities and crafts.
“Additionally, we do not charge to attend,” van der Meulen said. “Some families have three and four children, and even at a nominal fee of $10 dollars it might discourage some from attending due to the cost to send them all.”
St. Elizabeth’s ensured a big turnout by starting registration in mid-May before the 2016-17 school year had ended. Officials distributed flyers throughout the community and to schools in the area.
“The day of VBS opening ceremony, we had over 50 kids outside of our church family registered and ready to go,” van der Meulen said. “When we opened the doors for check-in, we had kids bringing friends, which pushed (us) over 60 for attendance.”
Campers ranging from kindergartners to middle schoolers enjoyed a full week of Bible study, music, crafts, and outdoor activities, van der Meulen said. “They started each night in the sanctuary, where Father Dave and Jim Bonet greeted the kids with a small devotion introducing the lesson for the evening, followed up with worship music led by our talented Joanne Knott,” she said.
Youth in all four classes then went to dinner, which was run by 24 volunteers. Campers also enjoyed a dessert each night with their meal, with officials distributing a whopping 425 meals for the week.
After dinner, campers went to Bible-study class to learn about the Gospel of Mark. Camp organizers then pulled each class, round-robin style, for music, crafts and outdoor activities.
“In the music class, they learned songs and movements to present at the closing ceremony,” van der Meulen said. “Crafts were based around the lessons presented. They made frames for their picture, which we took and printed for each child to take home in their beautiful names of God tote bag.
“They painted rocks to ‘Rock our community’ with the gospel,” van der Meulen said. “They also painted and colored their own pot to plant flowers to remind them later that God plants the Word in our hearts.”
In an effort to expend the kids’ energy, camp organizers also held outdoor activities each night. Campers played field hockey with pool noodles and beach balls, kickball, sharks and minnows, and “Minute to Win It” games when rain forced campers inside.
“We knew the kids loved it when one child walked up crying because she didn’t get to put panty hose with a tennis ball on her head,” van der Meulen said. “To add to the fun, each night was themed out by what we wore. We had patriotic night, pj night, crazy hair, and team jersey night. The kids really enjoyed dressing up.”
During camp, organizers also sought out feedback from parents to help ensure that VBS was fair and balanced for all. “We worked tirelessly to make sure each child didn’t just attend, but had an experience they wouldn’t forget and sent home more than coloring papers, but mementoes to remind them of God’s love,” van der Meulen said. “We like to involve our parents as much as possible, and communication was the key. We took lots of pictures and posted on our social media – with parents’ approval, of course – so our parents could see firsthand all the cool stuff their child was a part of.”
St. Elizabeth’s VBS also was unique in that this year’s camp was held in the evening, giving parents some potential time together they otherwise might not have had.
“We see it as a ministry to the whole family,” Newhart said. “One of our motivations is a statistic that 43 percent of Christians accepted Christ before they were 13 years old. Or last year, 3 million kids attended VBS nationwide, and 91,000 accepted Christ. We know at St. Elizabeth’s this year the Word of God was planted and watered in 61 kids, and we also know His Word does not return void.”