Martinsburg
BIC Monday
June 21–Sunday June 27
I spent this week at the Martinsburg BIC Church. Most of what I did was help with Vacation Bible School. I ended up helping, and teaching the Kindergarten class. It was neat to see that one of the boys in the class had been at CRC’s Discovery Camp the first two days of the week and then came to Bible School for the rest of the week.
Martinsburg’s Vacation Bible School was simple and basic. No giant, fancy decorations, no intricate skits, no complex bible studies; only a Mennonite woman who had been ministering to children for decades. The songs were simple, fun, easy to remember, and printed on large pieces of poster board. The bible lessons were told using felt people and backdrops.
The theme of the week was “Shine as Lights in the World”. This was taught through the four memory verses, and the lessons of Elisha, Paul, the Disciples, and more. The approximately 20 children were gathered together in the sanctuary first, where they sang songs, and were taught the bible lesson. Then they were given some outside play time. When they went back inside they were split into their classes. In their classes they had a snack and worked on booklets that Aunt Clara, the speaker, had made for them to reinforce the things they had learned. An assortment of crafts were then made and taken home.
Overall, the week at Martinsburg was a great chance to go back to the basics of ministering to children. Do we still have Vacation Bible Schools? Or has it become VBS? Is there really a need for elaborate programs? Or is there a more intense need for programs that reach the hearts of the children?
I spent this week at the Martinsburg BIC Church. Most of what I did was help with Vacation Bible School. I ended up helping, and teaching the Kindergarten class. It was neat to see that one of the boys in the class had been at CRC’s Discovery Camp the first two days of the week and then came to Bible School for the rest of the week.
Martinsburg’s Vacation Bible School was simple and basic. No giant, fancy decorations, no intricate skits, no complex bible studies; only a Mennonite woman who had been ministering to children for decades. The songs were simple, fun, easy to remember, and printed on large pieces of poster board. The bible lessons were told using felt people and backdrops.
The theme of the week was “Shine as Lights in the World”. This was taught through the four memory verses, and the lessons of Elisha, Paul, the Disciples, and more. The approximately 20 children were gathered together in the sanctuary first, where they sang songs, and were taught the bible lesson. Then they were given some outside play time. When they went back inside they were split into their classes. In their classes they had a snack and worked on booklets that Aunt Clara, the speaker, had made for them to reinforce the things they had learned. An assortment of crafts were then made and taken home.
Overall, the week at Martinsburg was a great chance to go back to the basics of ministering to children. Do we still have Vacation Bible Schools? Or has it become VBS? Is there really a need for elaborate programs? Or is there a more intense need for programs that reach the hearts of the children?
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