Vacation Bible School presents timeless truths in a fresh way
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 3 months AGO
Students at Moses Lake Presbyterian Church’s Vacation Bible School learn about the Gospel with kid-friendly activities.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | June 30, 2016 6:00 AM
MOSES LAKE — It’s not your father’s Vacation Bible School.
Moses Lake Presbyterian Church’s week-long program for kids last week built on the long history of VBS, but brought the Gospel into a 21st century setting for a younger generation. The staples were still there: singing, games, activities and Bible stories, but the old-school flannel boards were replaced by elaborate sets and even a phone app to accompany the curriculum. The program brought in about 240 kids, which was especially impressive with four other churches holding VBS the same week, according to Lynn Frey, who coordinated the program.
This year’s theme was “Jesus is the Light of the World.” The curriculum, called “Cave Quest,” led kids on a tour of Biblical virtues and hopefully either to make a commitment to Christ or to strengthen the one they have, Frey said.
“We are a church that really believes in going all out for kids,” Frey said. “If a child makes a commitment to Christ before the age of 13, there’s a greater chance they’ll continue to be a follower of Christ.”
Monday’s focus was on Hope, Frey said, using the prophet Isaiah as an example. Tuesday looked at Courage and the story of Peter walking on the water, and Wednesday was devoted to Direction and the Sermon on the Mount. Thursday took a serious turn and focused on Love and the salvation message. Friday rounded out the week with Power and the story of Christ’s ascension.
Kids seventh grade and older are encouraged to volunteer and make an example for the younger ones, Frey said. She added that she tells them “you are Jesus’ ambassadors in this place. We don’t know what kids’ lives are like at home, but we can shine Jesus’ light.”
The kids took part in another exercise of faith as well, raising funds for Serve Moses Lake. Frey estimated that the kids alone raised over $1,000 for the local charity, and parents kicked in too. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we ended up giving them $1,300 to $1,400,” she said.
Through all the fun and the hoopla, the basic purpose is still the same as the church’s mission statement, Frey said: to reach seekers and build believers.
No, it’s not quite like the Vacation Bible School older folks remember attending as kids. But in the most central ways, it’s still the same.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake author’s book, “A Christian Woman Striving to Live Her Faith in a Man-Controlled World,” takes aim at the role to which many churches relegate the female half of their congregations. “It’s to encourage women in the faith,” Linda Curran said. “A lot of churches say, ‘Teach Sunday school, do this, do that, but don’t (evangelize.)’" In her book, Curran recounts a time when she moved to a new community and joined a church there. She was surprised to learn that, as a new female member, she had been automatically assigned church cleaning duties. When she questioned it, she wrote, she was met with condescension and her objections were brushed aside. In other churches, she said, women who were capable of teaching were relegated to “women’s ministry.”