The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Churches use fun themes to liven up Vacation Bible School

By Teri Horsley, Contributing Writer Updated 2:13 PM Monday, July 19, 2010

Exploring the high seas. Visiting Saddle Ridge Ranch. Joining forces with a superhero. The options are endless for local kids, and the adventure is as close as their local church.

Vacation Bible School is under way and hundreds of area children are spending part of their summer learning about God while having the time of their lives.

“Vacation Bible School creates a foundation upon which all other Biblical truths can be built,” said Jeremy Spence, director of Student Ministries at First Baptist Church in Hamilton. The church held its annual program last week, and more than 120 children from the Hamilton, Middletown, Ross and Edgewood school districts participated, viewing God as a superhero who they can join forces with in good times and bad.

“It’s important that kids know that as a Christian they can still have fun while learning about God in a non-threatening way,” said Elise Martin of Hamilton. Martin’s three children, ages 11, 7 and 4, attended VBS while she helped out as a volunteer.

In addition to Bible stories, skits, games and music, the First Baptist program focused on service, with kids donating backpacks and school supplies to help their less fortunate peers.

“I learned that you have to give praise to God, and you have to give to the offering, too,” said 10-year-old Isabella Wallace of Hamilton.

Money was also collected to help needy families in earthquake-stricken Haiti, where the church’s mission team is headed at the end of the month.

As the First Baptist VBS comes to a close, the fun is just getting started at Breiel Boulevard Church of God, in Middletown. More than 400 children, ages 3 through fifth grade are expected to set sail on the church’s High Seas Expedition, which explores God’s love through Bible stories, crafts, games and theater.

More than 150 volunteers have spent hundreds of hours preparing for the week, which begins tonight, and kids will be treated to life-size characters, realistic sets complete with fog machines and strobe lights to make the church look like the bottom of the ocean.

“It’s a way for kids who don’t normally attend church to attend and learn in a fun, non-threatening way,” said Nancy Clark, one of the organizers of the event. The church typically sees an increase in membership after VBS, as part of the program includes parents in an end-of-week celebration. Amy Tolson of West Middletown has attended the church for seven years and said she became involved because of VBS.

“I remember walking in here and thinking, ‘Wow, if they put this much time and effort into what the kids are doing, we need to be here,’ ” she said.

Tolson’s children, like many at the church, now serve as volunteers at VBS and said working with the younger children is as much fun as when they got to be part of the program themselves. There is no charge for kids to attend this year’s event.

Area Vacation Bible Schools

There’s still time to attend Vacation Bible School in Butler and Warren counties.  Upcoming events include:

Fairfield

Fairfield Church of God

Evenings (call church for times) Aug. 2-6

6001 Dixie Highway Fairfield

More info: (513) 874-2434 or www.cog.com

Hamilton

Hamilton West Baptist Church

6 to 9 p.m. July 19-23

1050 N.W. Washington Blvd., Hamilton

More info: (513) 868-2680 or www.hwbaptist.org