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Religion

Plans for Bible schools budding

First United Methodist Church of Brooksville will host a gathering to help educators plan vacation Bible schools.

By JEAN JOHNSON
Published March 5, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - Summer vacation may be months away, but figuring out how to keep youths biblically informed and entertained during those lazy months is already on the minds of church educators.

As part of that effort, First United Methodist Church of Brooksville is hosting a Serengeti party "Where Kids are Wild About God."

Vacation Bible school directors from around the county are invited to attend the instructional get-together to learn new ways of reaching and teaching children about the Bible and God.

First United Methodist vacation Bible school director Kelly Griffith is hoping the party's theme will induce other vacation Bible school directors to take this opportunity to come together and take advantage of learning how to tweak children's imaginations so they will want to learn more about the Bible.

Last year, Griffith used a professional vacation Bible school publishing company for the first time.

"It's like a training workshop," Griffith said. "They go through each day of the week and come with samples of their products."

Publishing company specialists will offer attendees information about various activities, including how to construct props, said Griffith, a 43-year-old teacher.

"We'll also use our imagination. We're lucky to have talented, crafty people at church, and we get ideas from them," said Griffith, who co-directs with Trish Skipper.

"Trish and I make a good team. She does the organizing, ordering books and products and lining up the numbers, and I'm the mouthpiece."

Skipper, who has been a vacation Bible school volunteer for five years, said many of the churches around the county use the same program. Since many churches offer their vacation Bible schools during a different week during the summer, resources can be spread around, Skipper said.

"They share the music and decorations and it helps to reach more people in the community by sharing the materials," Skipper said.

Although the church supports a school center with grades K-3 through sixth and approximately 15 teachers, only four or five teachers usually are vacation Bible school volunteers out of a total of 30. Groups are kept small - about five to eight in each - with a mixture of ages that gives the older kids a sense of responsibility and breaks up cliques.

Volunteers usually return year after year.

"Seems like once you do it, you don't want to miss it the next year," Skipper said. "It's an exciting week for teachers, crew leaders, organizers, those bringing in snacks, supplies, music, set decorators and those who pitch in for all types of odds and ends."

There also are people who enjoy going around to the different groups to offer encouragement and become a part of the whole picture.

"Last year," said Griffith, "we shared products, including props, lessons, music and other items with Faith Presbyterian Church, which reduced labor and we will again this year. We'll also have less to order because we'll use the products the first week and Faith (Presbyterian) will use them the following week."

There are advantages of using a professional program include: tailoring to meet the needs of small or large churches; mixed age groups; format can be changed from five days to weekday mornings or evenings, day camps or Sunday mornings; training from a group specialist; use of the kid-friendly New Living Bible Translation; an age-appropriate program for preschoolers.

The Serengeti party will run from 9 a.m. to noon March 12 at First United Methodist, 109 S Broad St., Brooksville. Each attendee will receive practical training from a group vacation Bible school specialist, receive a training DVD and get a hands-on sneak preview of the Serengeti Trek Bible adventures, crafts, music, decorating ideas, and even get a chance to swap ideas.

Registration is $20 for the first person from each church and $10 for each additional person. Registration for walk-ins and those who register seven days or less before the event is $25 for the first person and $15 for each additional guest. The company suggests that you bring your crafts leader. Registration may be conducted by calling toll-free 1-800-366-8948 or go online to www.groupvbs.com with your credit card information or by using the registration form on the last page of the vacation Bible school catalog and mailing it to VBS Serengeti Party, P.O. Box 270814, Fort Collins, CO 80527.

Make checks payable to Group Publishing Inc. For additional information, call the church at 796-3363.

[Last modified March 5, 2005, 00:41:15]