Vacation Bible School presents timeless truths in a fresh way
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 2 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
Quincy National Night Out scales down
QUINCY — Quincy’s National Night Out was more compact this year, which worked out well, said QPD Sgt. Joe Westby, who’s in charge of event planning for the Quincy Police Department. “National Night Out is a big event, and the fact that we’re able to shrink it up is like a breath of fresh air,” Westby said. “If you're always doing the same thing, it's kind of nice to switch things up and see how it works.” National Night Out took place Thursday on the block of C Street next to the police station, a shift from previous years when it was held at Lauzier Park. The smaller space meant fewer emergency vehicles for children to explore, but it also meant less walking for attendees. Grant County Fire District 5 brought a fire truck, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office had a patrol boat. Renew, the Grant County behavioral health agency, had a booth and so did Quincy Partnership for Youth. Veterans Operation Creation sang the national anthem, and the Quincy Animal Shelter brought kittens that piled over each other making friends with passersby. As before, the QPD served grilled hot dogs.
Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.
Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.