Children were able to learn about various countries to gain a deeper understanding and acceptance of other cultures.
Indian Mills United Methodist Church hosted its annual Vacation Bible School from June 25 to June 29, where children in kindergarten through fifth grade were invited to the “Everywhere Fun Fair.” This theme allowed children learn about different countries, such as the United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, Australia and Zimbabwe.
Religious values were incorporated into their activities through the theme of the week, where children could get a deeper understanding of other cultures, and in turn, allow them to comprehend and accept neighbors from all across the globe.
There were 30 children in attendance at this year’s Vacation Bible School, where they participated in the opening performance called “Friendship Central.” They were able to sing and dance to songs, while learning powerful messages about treating your neighbors with respect, care and forgiveness, and that you should treat your neighbors as friends.
After “Friendship Central,” they rotated to different stations, including “Bible Bazaar” for an interactive Bible lesson, “Creation Zone” for arts and crafts, “Choral Corner” for singing and dancing, “Innovation Station” to engage in science experiments and the “Eatery Expo and Global Games” where the children enjoyed snacks and participated in recreational activities.
“We tell others about the love of God and that makes a difference in the community because people are more caring and compassionate, hopefully, and Jesus is very caring and compassionate,” said Pastor Jack Orr. “If kids are more involved in a Christian program, they’re more inclined to think ‘What would Jesus do?’ and they won’t be as prone to bullying and acts of aggression.”
Director of Vacation Bible School Diane Nelson followed that statement by saying, “We want them to know Christ and we want them to have a deeper relationship. If they don’t know him they can learn about him and the Bible, and know that God loves them and so do we.”
The church accepted donations throughout the week, which totalled more than $400. This will allow the church to split the funds, as half will go to the Lord’s Cupboard, where ShopRite cards will be given to local families to purchase perishable food items.
The other half will go toward the Heifer International Project, where chickens will be purchased for families in Ghana. With these chickens, they will not only be able to provide food for themselves, they will also be able to sell the eggs as a way to earn income.
A member of the church, Darlene Bouffard, joined the church two years ago, moving to the area after being in the military. She was seeking a strong church connection, since that was hard to find while moving around frequently.
“When I moved to this community, I did my research on local churches and this is the one I felt most comfortable at. You have that community feeling here, and a nice pastor and nice members,” Bouffard said. “We hope that the children walk away [from Vacation Bible School] with an appreciation of God and hope that they’re eager to continue their learning process. We want to teach them the desire to treat each other with respect despite their differences. We just want to make them good citizens not only in this country but in the world.”
The summer schedule for services has begun, with one service being held every Sunday at 10 a.m. Beginning Sept. 16, the regular schedule at Indian Mills United Methodist Church will resume, with services being held at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The church will be holding a “Blessing of the Animals” on Sept. 23 at 11 a.m., where crated or leashed pets are invited to receive blessings.
