Summer Bible classes draw hundreds

UM congregations use
Vacation Bible School
to reach communities

By Claudia M. Williams
Staff Writer
By mid July, many Southwest Texas congregations have put their Vacation Bible Schools behind them. In others, VBS is just now getting under way. Some programs continue into August.
United Methodist congregations use special summer Bible classes not only for their own members but as an outreach to their communities. And with great results.
By the end of June, 30 congregations in Southwest Texas reported hundreds of people involved in their programs.
What draws the youngsters to VBS and the adults to volunteer?
At Bethany UMC, Austin, the draw may have been a camel.
Two camels joined the 521 children and 272 youths and adults on a treasure dig at the Austin church June 12-16. It was part of the “Adventure of the Treasure Seekers: Exploring God’s Promises” curriculum.
Each day youngsters would dig up artifacts that related to a daily theme:
> God loves you.
> God know you.
> God forgives you.
> God cares for you.
At least seven other Southwest Texas congregations reported using the adventure curriculum from Cokesbury, retail arm of the United Methodist Publishing House.
Another 14 Southwest Texas congregations were using “Fiesta! Where kids are fired up about Jesus” this summer. The material comes from Group Publishing.
In “Fiesta,” five important lessons about Jesus are presented:
> Jesus is our friend.
> Jesus is our life.
> Jesus is our leader.
> Jesus is our savior.
> Jesus is our helper.
Jefferson UMC, San Antonio, used the “Fiesta” curriculum June 19-23 during a special VBS program. It was conducted primarily by youths involved in the Southwest Texas Conference MY (Methodist Youth) Mission summer project.
Jefferson Pastor Tamara Srehli said the Bible classes drew about 20 children. She deemed that a success for at least two reasons:
> The turnout was good for a congregation that doesn’t include many families with children.
> The Vacation Bible School was the first at Jefferson in a number of years.
The classes couldn’t have happened without the youths in the MY Mission program or without the support of the youth group from First UMC, Kerrville, Srehli said.
If the conference youth department asks Jefferson to be the location for the youth mission again, she added, the church would certainly conduct VBS again.
“We would love to do it on our own,” Srehli said, “but we don’t have the resources.”
She pointed to the “Fiesta” props around her. “These came from Kerrville,” she said. “They brought them to us. That shows the connection at work.”
Another popular VBS curriculum has been “SonTreasure Island.” This tropical-theme offering is from Gospel Light.
“There’s treasure on the island,” the Gospel Light explanation reads. “More precious than gold and more lasting than diamonds, it’s the greatest treasure of all—God’s love as described in 1 Corinthians 13.”
Helotes Hills UMC, Helotes, used “SonTreasure Island” June 26 through 30.
It was scheduled for the evening, VBS director Roy Baldwin said, to get the parents involved in a Bible study, too.
“Education is for everybody,” he said. “And families do things together—like take vacations. So why not do things with your kids like VBS?”
All ages attended the opening celebration. Then, like the children, the adults had a music program and a Bible study. The groups came back together for the evening closing.
Baldwin said that scheduling VBS for June 26 through 30 gave the church a special appeal.
“Most of the other churches in the community have had theirs,” he said, “so we’re not in competition with the others.”
“SonTreasure Island” was the theme for Asbury UMC, Corpus Christi, this year, too. Classes June 12-16 drew some 600 students.
Gospel Light said Asbury had one of the highest VBS enrollments using its curriculum last year. More than 500 children attended.
At least three Southwest Texas congregations were using “SonTreasure” curriculum this summer.
VBS programs in general follow a daily schedule. Sessions open with a worship celebration. Then the children break into groups and have different experiences. Those include music, Bible study, and arts and crafts.
On the last night, often a Thursday, parents and friends are invited to a closing celebration. It usually includes the children singing and perhaps talking about what they learned that week.