Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By NATHAN HOWELL | Special to the Reporter

HELENA – Instead of asking parents to bring their children to vacation bible school in person, First Baptist Church Helena created a unique experience that will bring VBS to the people in different communities across the city.

The theme of this year’s VBS “Rocky Railway: Jesus Power Pulls Us Through,” is very appropriate as the church will actually be rolling into several neighborhoods to spread the message and provide quality faith-based activity for children of the city.

“We just want to reach out and minister to families in our communities,” said Jackie Champion from the church. “We are on the busiest corner in Helena, and we want the community to know that we care about them and their children. We want to be part of their lives, and we want them to be a part of ours.”

The VBS was scheduled to kick-off at Joe Tucker Park on Monday, June 22, but was moved to the church’s gym due to inclement weather. However, Champion said that despite the rain, the kickoff event was still successful.

Following the three kick off days of the VBS during the week of June 22, the church will move to the Amberley Woods community from June 29 through July 1.

The next location will be in Fieldstone from July 6-8, in a front yard. Following that will be at a residence in Old Cahaba July 13-15. The final location will be at a residence in the Wyndham neighborhood from July 20-22.

According to Champion, the vacation bible school will last roughly an hour and a half each night, starting at 5:30 p.m. The first hour will be the lesson, songs, crafts and snack portion of the bible school. The last 30 minutes will be a time for the children to just play and have fun together, which is also intended as a service for the parents.

The VBS uses train imagery, activities, songs and themes to remind children that no matter what happens, Jesus will be there to pull them through.

The church staff will make sure to follow health guidelines to protect the health of their volunteers as well as the children.

The VBS has been revamped from its original format to fit the traveling nature of the program. However, the church plans to hold a more traditional in-church VBS around Christmas, provided that there are safer conditions.

For more information about the VBS and the communities the church plans to visit you can visit Facebook.com/Firstbaptisthelena.