The Ohio County Church, Ky., welcomed 15 children on the opening day of its fall Vacation Bible School, following a “Fire Trucks and Ice Cream” kickoff event attended by more than 30 people.
Held during the autumn school break, the VBS brought children and families to a congregation where children had seldom attended regularly. The week included songs, Bible stories, crafts and activities, concluding with a Sabbath morning program where children demonstrated what they had learned.
The idea began during a church board meeting. Several members had started bringing their grandchildren to church, and Donna Dell had recently moved to the area. She loved working with children and was eager to help with the children’s Sabbath School class.
“I think we should have a Vacation Bible School this autumn school break,” Regina Benson said. “Other churches do it in the summer, but no one does it in the fall.”
Members supported the idea and proposed a kickoff event for the Sunday before VBS. Pastor Kevin Dunn turned to Bill Burgess, a former volunteer fire chief, and asked, “Can you get us a firetruck?”
“I sure can!” Burgess replied.
With less than two months to prepare, members put their hearts into the effort. Some members who had not attended in a while also began returning for church services and Sabbath School.
The kickoff day was forecast to be cold and rainy. Members prayed, and the rain ended overnight before the Sunday event. The morning remained cold and cloudy, but families soon warmed up to one another as they played cornhole, tossed Frisbees and enjoyed board games in the fellowship hall.
After ice cream was served, a firefighter showed the children the truck and demonstrated how the hose worked. Children took turns holding the nozzle. Before long, the sun came out, and children ran through the spray as others helped with the hose.
VBS began Monday with 15 children. Pastor Dunn led songs, Benson kept the program on course, Doug Santos led the Big Idea station, and Dell told Bible stories. Lynn and Bill Burgess prepared tropical snacks, while Jan Rogers led crafts. Jeff Ralph and Cynthia Avers registered children and helped where needed.
At the Sabbath closing program, families watched a slideshow of photographs taken throughout the week by Wendy Dunn. They were invited to stay for lunch and enjoy some of the fruit highlighted during VBS. Members are already thinking about what they will do next year.
