Kids Experience God’s Wonder Lab At VBS

By JESSICA PETERSON

The Progress

Vacation Bible School (VBS) was held at the Calvary Community Church last week, July 18-22. Kids ages 4-12 years old enjoyed a week of games, crafts, Bible stories, and more.

“Vacation Bible School is a place where kids can come and have fun and learn about Jesus. That’s it!” said Calvary Community Pastor Jason Ham.

VBS is a free summer camp which has been recurring for over fifty years at the local church. Parents were welcome to drop off their children from 4-6:30 p.m. each day of the camp.

Upon arrival, the kids gathered in the chapel where a welcoming service was held. After the service, they were divided into four groups by age and sent to different stations throughout the building.

This year’s VBS theme was “God’s Wonder Lab.” The chapel, gym, halls, and classrooms were decorated with fun, homemade science decor. Large paper cutouts of beakers filled with strange concoctions hung on the walls with colorful fizzy bubble decorations. Green table cloths hung from windows, doorways and shelves, cut to look like dripping science goo.

“Our theme focuses on the fact that Jesus does the impossible,” said Nancy Postma, organizer of VBS. “So each day focuses on a different one of Jesus’ miracles.”

The groups spent twenty minutes at each station. The stations included music in the chapel where the kids learned some sign language and could get on the stage to sing and dance. There was also a storytelling station where a different story was told each day about Jesus and his miracles. Other stations included games, a craft, and a snack.

“Everything goes together,” Postma explained. “So today’s theme ‘Jesus Walks on Water,’ the snacks go along with the craft which goes along with the story.”

On Tuesday, the kids heard the story of Jesus walking on water and were then sent to the snack station. There, they received a “Whipping Up the Storm” snack to show God calming the storm. They were given cups of blue Jell-O which represented the sea of Galilee. Then they could put marshmallows over the Jell-O to represent waves and pour blue sprinkles on top for clouds and rain.

In the craft room, they made stained-glass butterflies. Each child was given a piece of paper with a butterfly and instructed to color it in with markers. Once finished, a volunteer then cut the butterfly out and helped the kids place a black outline over the finished product.

Martha Ham guided the kids through the craft. “I enjoy being with the children,” she said. “I just think it’s a great opportunity to show them the love of Christ and that Jesus loves them.”

In the gym, Pastor Ham played fun games with the kids such as Simon Says, bean bag races, and musical chairs.
“The purpose of the games is to have fun,” Ham said. “But they’re not just for competition. It’s more to learn how to follow instructions. I’m big on that.”

After each group had visited all five stations, they returned to the chapel for a closing service. Kids were also encouraged to memorize a key bible verse each day. If they could recite it to Postma, they would receive a prize.

At the end of the day on Friday, parents were invited to come early. There, they could watch a slideshow featuring everything the kids had been doing and learning all week.
“We always want kids to come and enjoy but we also want them to know Jesus,” said the pastor’s wife, Martha Ham. “You know, that’s the main purpose is for them to know Him. Or plant those seeds with them. You know, the seeds of who He is.”