Vacation Bible School kicks off

Screaming in church has never been so much fun.

Loud, upbeat music calls energetic children to jump and spin around while yelling key phrases of the song they sing - "Yes, Jesus loves me."

It's all part of the fun and excitement of Vacation Bible School, and one of this year's first programs set the tone for summertime biblical learning in Odessa.

University Heights Baptist Church, with its Veggie Tales VBS "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything," pulled in more than 100 different children through its four-day event - complete with songs, memory verses, crafts, Bible lesson and a full meal.

Youth minister Craig Stevenson said the evening lessons on Bible characters like Moses and Daniel were taught through magic tricks and illusions of Harlin Rhoades, "The Balloon Man."

"Each night he's taken heroes out of the Bible - heroes understand that God is always with them and that their power comes from God," Stevenson said.

Delanie Porras, 7, liked singing the songs at the University Heights VBS, partially because her mom was the person leading them.
Mother Shellie Porras said this was her fifth year helping with the program, which she said was the church's biggest by far.

"It's so much fun and the kids enjoy coming," she said.

Delanie, a Milam second-grader, said that even though her classmates didn't come to the VBS - and she invited them all last month - she still enjoyed herself with things like Harlin's handkerchief and ball illusion.

"I couldn't stop laughing about it," she said. "I really liked his tricks."

More than 3,700 invitations were distributed throughout the community, Stevenson said, but he was pleased with this year's turnout and the many new faces he saw.

"We were able to pass out our invitations in six of the schools," he said. "We had 81 (children) the other night, which was great for our church."

Stevenson said about 10 children from the High Sky Children's Ranch attended the church's VBS, which was able to raise more than $900 for the Manna Worldwide organization through a penny march competition between boys and girls.

The VBS pirate theme will even last beyond short-term decorations to launch a summer-long children's class on the church.

"We're using that theme to tie us in with our summer Wednesday night children's program," Stevenson said. Carol Woolf acted as voluntary cook for the VBS, which served full meals of corn dogs, spaghetti, tacos and hot dogs."

"This is the first year we've actually had a meal," she said. "They get something that nutritious instead of snacks that are just all sugar."

While the VBS provided physical food, plenty of entertainment and some spiritual application, Woolf said she gets involved to serve God and the children.

"I love the Lord, and I love the church, and I love doing things for the church," Woolf said. "The kids just love it, and they have a good time."

WANT TO GO?

Here's a list of some other Vacation Bible Schools scheduled for the summer:

>> Monday-Friday: 8:45 a.m. to noon at CrossRoads Fellowship, 6901 E. Highway 191, for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. This is a children's arts camp and cost is $20. Call 368-2500.

>> Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to noon at First Church of God, 2212 E. 11th St., for children 4 years old through sixth grade. Call 332-9481.

>> Monday-Friday: 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Primera Inglesia Bautista, 1333 San Andres Drive, for children in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Call 332-2265.

>> Monday-Friday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Lee Ave., for children in first through sixth grade. Call 337-1527.

>> June 15-19: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1401 N. Sam Houston Ave., for children 4 through 12 years old. Call 337-3526.

>> June 16-20: 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Westwood Baptist Church, 1601 W. University Blvd., for children 4 years old through sixth grade. Call 337-3948.

>> June 21: 10 a.m. to noon, reservations. June 22-26: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Andrew Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1415 N. Grandview Blvd. Call 367-8603.

>> June 22-26: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 1601 E. 42nd St., for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Call 366-8866.

>> June 22-26: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sherwood Baptist Church, 505 E. 42nd St., for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Call 362-0311.

>> June 23-26: 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 709 N. Lee, for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Call 337-1524.

>> July 13-16: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 6th and Jackson Church of Christ, 301 E. Sixth St., for children 2 years old through adults. Call 332-0926.

>> July 19-20: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 21-22: 9 a.m. to noon at Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord, 1603 N. Grandview Blvd. Call 362-2549.

HAVING A VBS?

>> Submit your church's event information to the OA Church News by e-mailing oalife@oaoa.com