Ministers and residents hold a unified, weeklong Vacation Bible School for children and adults.
By JEAN JOHNSON
Published July 19, 2003
BROOKSVILLE - While individual congregations usually offer their own Vacation Bible School each summer, for the past 12 years the Minister-Layman Alliance of Hernando County has taken a different approach. The group sponsors a single VBS event for students and adults who attend Brooksville churches.
Alliance member Ardell Sims said the idea of having one VBS event for many churches was to show the togetherness and purpose of an "Alliance" that would work for the betterment of all.
"We try not to conflict with other churches' Vacation Bible School sessions," said the 45-year-old Astoria, N.Y., transplant who coordinates the preparation of daily refreshments.
The Alliance consists of about eight clergy and 10 lay persons from congregations including Victorious Church of God by Faith, United Methodist Church of Spring Lake, Good Samaritan Baptist Church and Bethlehem Progressive Baptist, both in Brooksville. Although historically all black, in recent years the Alliance has attracted members from predominantly white congregations, including First United Methodist Church in Brooksville and Weeki Wachee Chapel.
Membership in the Alliance is open to anyone, whether or not he or she is a member of a church. Newcomers may be accepted during meetings held the third Thursday of each month at Victorious Church of God by Faith on Josephine Street.
Sims said the Alliance draws from churches throughout the community.
"It could be 10, 15 or more churches involved," she said.
Sims' husband, the Rev. Nathaniel Sims, has been the Alliance president for the past four years. The 58-year-old Brooksville native spent more than 33 years in New York City before he returned to his hometown. He teaches middle and high school alternative school students in Hillsborough County schools.
The Rev. Sims said he got involved with the summer program because he wanted to improve the community through religious services and activities. Sims, associate pastor of Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church, said members of the clergy can help lay members by assisting with paperwork, transporting children, preparing meals, distributing assignments and making sure everything goes smoothly.
To reach as many people as possible, the annual event is publicized through posters, the local television network, radio and newspapers. The weeklong session usually attracts a fairly even number of girls and boys.
"Some age groups will have more males than females and other age groups will have more of the other," Rev. Sims said.
It has been easy to attract host churches. This year it's Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.
"The majority of the pastors usually welcome us," he said.
While the number of participants grows each year - last year the highest daily attendance was 105 - Rev. Sims hopes the growth continues. He is pleased with the number of repeat participants because repeaters bring newcomers.
To encourage good attendance, this year the host church is on Wood Drive in the heart of the community, and there will be a large group of children who can walk to the site.
One of this year's participants is expected to be Jermice Drayton, 16, who lives with her five siblings and her grandmother, Margaret Wells. This year the Hernando High School student and several of her sisters have agreed to participate in the praise service.
Drayton, who regularly attends New Jerusalem Church of God in Twin Lakes, said she is excited about taking part in the service because, "it gives me a chance to praise God."
The teenager said she will also contribute to the praise dancing group, teach a Sunday school class and participate in the Wednesday night youth group service, when students between eight and 18 will talk about the Bible and discuss different issues facing the community.
The Vacation Bible School isn't just for the teenagers, however. Adults play a big role. Preparation for the Bible-based programs begin about six weeks in advance. In addition to teachers, volunteers are chosen to serve in various areas: refreshments, music, monitors, teacher/assistants, secretaries and administration. In all, there are more than 30 willing hands from all walks of life and various houses of worship, said Brenda Mobley, a founding member of the 15-year-old Alliance and one of the Vacation Bible School coordinators.
As part of the preparations, Mobley said, adults select topical issues that affect young people in their daily lives and look at what the Bible says about those issues.
In the past, they have held community awareness programs, including updates on local and federal law, financial advice and voting procedures from the supervisor of elections.
Mobley noted that in the past, members of the Florida Highway Patrol and the Sheriff's Office have addressed the importance of wearing bicycle helmets, the danger of drugs and the merits of being more friendly to law enforcement officers.
"We worked to bridge that gap," said Mobley, who has worked for Mid-Florida Community Services for 33 years. She hopes that the young people will participate and come through with new and innovative ideas.
"We want to teach the word to all people," said Mobley. "But we also want to be informative and offer something that will help in the years to come."
