School's out

for summer, and that means churches across the land are well into the

Vacation Bible School mode. This concentrated time of Bible study, activity,

music, craft, recreation, refreshments and fun for children and students

usually is held during a week of "summer vacation." Churches

across Fayette County offer a variety of approaches and some options on

times. Most are morning schools, but some are held at night.

VBS was the

brainchild of Mrs. Walter Aylette Hawes, a doctor's wife who was concerned

about so many children wandering the streets of New York. In 1898 and

1899, she rented space on New York's east side to conduct her "Everyday

Bible School." As the 20th century dawned, VBS became a growing trend.

In those days, VBS was a four-week event. Eventually, it became a two-week

emphasis and was incorporated into churchlife. Today, most schools last

one week.

Preparation

and follow-up, on the other hand, take weeks before and weeks after the

event is completed. Our workers at McDonough Road Baptist spent several

weeks decorating their rooms to coordinate with this year's London setting.

They spent weeks preparing their material and lesson plans. Once VBS is

completed, the work continues as Sunday School teachers visit children

and invite them and their parents to participate in Bible study groups

on Sundays. They see if the church family can minister in any way.

For me, VBS

is not only a present blesssing, but also a pleasant childhood memory.

My early years were spent at Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church in East Point.

We'd have a crowd. I still remember Bible verses that I learned in those

summer settings. I remember gluing popsicle sticks together to make a

"plaque" and then gluing on macaroni letters that read, "what

time I am afraid I will trust in Thee," (Psalm 56:3).

I remember

always looking forward to refreshment time. The refreshment crew would

bring peanut butter crackers and a bottle of Nehi grape or orange soda

to our classrooms. After moving to Milledgeville, I remember riding in

a bicycle parade to promote VBS in the neighborhood. I had just learned

how to ride my bike and was pretty nervous going down those hills in the

Hardwick community.

VBS later played

a key role in my call to ministry. As a college student, I applied to

be a Baptist Student Union summer missionary. Baptist Student Union is

a Baptist-supported ministry to students on campuses across the nation.

Every summer hundreds of students contribute their summer to serve in

various roles overseas and nationally.

I was appointed

to serve as a vacation Bible school worker in the Bahamas. (It was a tough

assignment, but someone had to do it). I was Georgia's representative

on a team of 12 students. We were divided into teams and then teamed with

Bahamian youth and assigned to different churches over a five-week period.

Our team stayed in Nassau and worked with five different churches helping

to pull-off successful VBS.

I had the privilege

of teaching the youth, and my two partners worked with the children and

the preschoolers respectively. At the end of two weeks, my partners wanted

to switch. One of them took youth, the other took children, and I ended

up with the preschoolers. I didn't really picture myself as a preschool

worker, but it was a time of exercising great flexibility and of realizing

how God could use me in His service if I was just willing to be used.

It was a time of great personal and spiritual growth. Looking back, I

now see how God used that formative experience to show me He could use

me as a full-time minister.

Vacation Bible

Schools are still going strong helping lots of children and young people

learn more about the Bible and about how to have a stronger relationship

with God. They also give lots of people an opportunity to serve. Our students

just returned from New Orleans, where they led VBS for Suburban Baptist

Church. While it was a tremendous blessing for this small New Orleans

fellowship, it was great leadership training for our crew.

(Dr. David

L. Chancey is pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church, 352 McDonough Road

in Fayetteville. The church family invites you to join them for Bible

study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. each Sunday.)

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