Vacation Bible School (VBS) season is in full swing, and churches are having a bit of fun while teaching local youth about God.

For more than a 100 years, the nondenominational tradition has been a prime ministry for reaching young people, according to Pastor John Koch, pastor at Second Baptist Church.

“It’s teaching them about God and the Bible from a very young age in a language they can understand,” said Stephanie Rose, director of Second Baptist Church’s VBS, which is being held this week.

Rose said the program appeals to youth because it makes learning about God and the Bible fun and allows children to do so alongside their peers. Bible schools are normally weeklong programs, which allows instructors to bond with the participants and build connections with children and families from within and outside the church, Koch said.

The programming is often based on a theme for arts and crafts, music, Biblical lessons and even instruction on mission work and the importance of helping others in need throughout local communities and beyond, according to Koch.

“Vacation Bible School is an important way for a church to connect not only with our own people, but also with those who may not be part of our church or any church, and it exposes them to the gospel of Christ, Christian ministry, Biblical teachings and passing those values to the next generation in an innovative and interesting way,” Koch said. “Just as we’re teaching our children with our missionary activities, it’s a way of taking the message of Christ to other people and helping those in need.”

Scott Wilkinson, children’s pastor at First United Methodist Church, said he has his own wonderful childhood memories of VBS, and those memories resonate in the lives of its participants.

“It’s a time when the love of God is really emphasized, and children can really feel loved and accepted for who they are,” Wilkinson said. “There is a lot of fun (at VBS) so it presents God in a fun, cool way, which is certainly how I think God is. I think it’s just a special time that we set aside a week when we put the emphasis on children and on God being loving and fun.”

Many area churches are hosting VBS programs of their own this summer. Some of them include:

First United Methodist Church

June 26, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., June 27–30, from 9 a.m. to noon, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Open to children age 4 through fifth-grade

 

First Baptist Church

June 27-30, from 9 a.m. to noon, June 29 family night from 6–7 p.m.

 

First Church of Christ

June 20–24, from 9 a.m. to noon

Open to children age 2 through fifth-grade

 

Grace Lutheran Church

July 18–21, from 9 a.m. to noon

 

First Christian Church

June 22–July 30, every Wednesday night from 6–8 p.m.

 

First Free Will Baptist Church

Aug. 1–5, from 6-8:30 p.m.

Open to children age 2 through rising sixth-graders

 

Five Points Free Will Baptist Church

July 3–9, 6­–8 p.m.

Open to ages 4-12

 

Haw Branch Church of Christ

July 17–21, from 6–8:30 p.m.

Open to kindergarten through fifth-graders

 

Metropolitan AME Zion Church

July 13-15, open to all ages.