Andersonville First Baptist VBS drew guidance from Psalm 119:10
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Students at First Baptist Church of Andersonville’s Vacation Bible School (from left) Remy Sharon, Laney Ergen and Keaton Lane, learned about the Ten Commandments from teacher Tommy McBroom, far left. The VBS was held June 19-23. - Pete Gwada
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Skit actors (from left) Riley Alley, Bella Brummett and Zack Green portray wanderers lost in a wilderness at First Baptist Church of Andersonville’s VBS held June 19-23. - Pete Gwada
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Lucy Sewell tries to see how many rubber ducks she can scoop out of a wading pool filled with colorful balls. This was one of several fun games played by children at First Baptist Church of Andersonville’s VBS held June 19-23. - Pete Gwada
Each year the Vacation Bible School held by First Baptist Church of Andersonville is a unique event.
This year’s VBS, held June19-23, was no exception.
The theme was “Wander,” based on the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
It included the spiritual lessons learned by such things as the giving of the Ten Commandments, the golden calf, and the spies being sent into the Promised Land.
Tana Elkins, VBS director, said the overall theme was, “We are unfaithful; God is always faithful.”
The theme drew from Psalms 119:10: “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”
About 40 children from 3 years old through those going into the sixth grade participated.
Elkins said preparation began in January with eight people, and the crew expanded until there was a week-long churchwide decorating event the week before VBS, involving a large number of people.
The sanctuary was transformed into a dense forest complete with a bear and rugged mountains in the background.
The Family Life Center held a version of Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, complete with erupting volcano and a cave underneath. Moses himself was present to lead the wanderers.
The area surrounding Mount Sinai consisted of mountainous terrain, lava, and desert cacti. Classrooms were decorated to resemble desert areas.
Elkins said the tradition of an original VBS each year began in 2005.
She said that at that time, many churches, including First Baptist, were purchasing the same prepared VBS materials.
By the time children came to First Baptist’s VBS they had already attended several similar events and knew all the answers.
So she decided to come up with something different each year.
“God always gives me something,” she said.
Each year, there is a completely new, original program with appropriate decorations.