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Community VBS unites churches in ecumenical project
By LINDA M. LINONIS
hubbard
Christianity unites churches in the Hubbard community in a cooperative effort to sponsor a vacation Bible school.
Vickie Evans is a longtime member of First Baptist Church, where this summer’s session took place this week. Churches involved, in addition to First Baptist, are Central Christian, First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Grace Lutheran and St. Patrick.
Evans said the ecumenical effort began about a decade ago. “Some churches just didn’t have enough volunteers to sponsor a vacation Bible school,” Evans said. But working together, the joint project takes the pressure off individual churches. There are volunteers from each church.
It takes from 20 to 25 volunteers to operate the VBS. Evans added that local high school students “volunteer and help with activities.” “We all have a lot of fun,” Evans said.
Pastor Katie Oskin, who shares clergy duties at First Baptist with her husband, Pastor Luke Oskin, said the cooperative VBS “lessens the burden on individual churches, provides a greater number of helpers and results in wonderful cooperation among churches.”
The VBS attracted about 70 children from 4 years old through those who have finished sixth grade. Evans said the children are grouped by age, usually pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first, second- and third-graders and fourth- through sixth-graders.
The sessions took place from 9:15 to noon weekdays on the theme “Camp Discovery.” Each session opened with music and a skit that engaged all children. Pastor Katie Oskin said the theme teaches “how Jesus lives in us and how He works through us.”
Evans said the groups of children move from station to station of activities. Churches have divvied up activities that include Bible stories, music, crafts, science and snacks. Each day opened with a skit focusing on the Bible lesson of the day.
“It’s nondenominational. There’s no individual doctrine involved but basic information on Jesus as savior,” Evans said. “It’s more an introduction to Christian education. We keep it upbeat and positive.”
The last session, which took place Friday, featured a closing program, picnic and swimming at Hubbard Community Pool. Hubbard Christians in Action pay for pool time, Evans said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for churches to work together,” Evans said. “It’s about concentrating on what we have in common.” Additionally, she continued, the VBS is “a wonderful outreach” that involves children from the city, township and elsewhere.
The VBS also had two mission projects. School supplies and small toys were collected to fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, an international outreach. The local mission was Buckets of Love, a Valley ministry that helps the homeless.