With summer comes one of my favorite events of the year: Vacation Bible School.
I was privileged to attend many Vacation Bible School’s during my childhood and for decades, have taught, led, played, sang and took a few pies in the face for the team.
Some of my fondest memories of Vacation Bible School’s were having fun and all of the cookies, Kool-Aid and crafts. Did you ever fight over who could hold the Bible and flags as we all said the pledges to begin each day? Why do the older boys always get to hold the flags?
I learned to sing, “Do Lord, Remember Me” and still wonder why we don’t sing it anymore. We held out hope last summer to have Vacation Bible School at the United Methodist Church. With the pandemic, we finally realized it was not going to happen. We are so excited like other local churches are having Vacation Bible School this summer!
In the church, Vacation Bible School is a recent creation. Mrs. Martha Miles was a school teacher and the spouse of the Methodist pastor at Hopedale Methodist Church in Hopedale, Ill. In 1894 – out of her concern for children to learn more about the Bible – she organized and taught the first Vacation Bible School. She received permission to hold it at the public school where she taught. There were 40 children and the first Vacation Bible School lasted four weeks. The children had Bible lessons and even recess.
Soon, other churches around the nation heard about this new method of spiritual formation for children and followed. Denominations began to promote it to their churches. It was not long before churches everywhere were holding Vacation Bible School’s and children had a new opportunity to learn about the Bible and Jesus. Communities without churches were seen as mission fields to hold Vacation Bible School’s for children and ministers and association directors organized them.
It caught the attention of Christian-publishing companies and they started to offer Vacation Bible School curriculum and kits. Training was offered to churches and their teachers. Each year, there was a new attractive theme to catch the attention of the children. Many things have changed since Miles’ love and concern for children began a new movement.
Some churches have adapted and while they no longer hold weeklong morning classes, they hold evening and some weekend Vacation Bible School’s.
If your faith community is offering Vacation Bible School this Summer, please contact The Graham Star.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is the pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church. Email him at ereece@wnccumc.net.