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Children participated in activities and fundraising for ministry work during Kingwood Church’s annual Vacation Bible School series July 14-16. (Contributed/Kingwood Photography Team)

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor 

ALABASTER – Children participated in fun activities and fundraised for ministry work to help others during Kingwood Church’s Vacation Bible School series.

Kingwood Church, located at 100 Harvest Way in Alabaster, held its annual VBS July 14-16 with a variety of activities and lessons for kids in first grade through fifth grade.

“From my perspective, it was the most fun and most enjoyable VBS that we’ve done in the past five years,” said Jayson Heath, children’s pastor at Kingwood Church.

This year’s installment of VBS at Kingwood Church featured the theme, “Set Sail” which brought cruise inspired decorations and skits for the 139 kids in attendance to enjoy. Children in attendance were able to enjoy game time each night as well as snack time and arts and crafts which allowed the kids to take home their own creations. Additionally, the church hosted an adventure zone where kids went on pretend excursions each night of the VBS, including activities like kayaking, scuba diving and snorkeling.

“(VBS) was a really exciting time for all of them,” Heath said.

Each night of the VBS featured a different theme with day one focused on how “God shows us how to love others,” day two focused on how “God loves spending time with you” and day three on how “God prepares you to share the good news.” Heath said that each night also had a prayer focus with the final night featuring altar time for kids who had not yet “started a relationship with Jesus.”

Heath spoke on the importance of holding VBS and what the annual event offers local kids.

“I think the importance is that the kids are (getting) an extra event that allows them to focus on their faith, and for them, that faith can also be fun,” Heath said. “Faith can be an event that they actively participate in.”

In addition to the lessons and fun activities offered to kids at VBS, the church also took time to raise funds for missions work. Together, the church raised $6,000 for the missions project Backyard Orphans which partners with local churches as well as foster and adoptive care groups.

Kids also participated in the church’s outreach project, Caring for Caregivers, which provides meals for families in the community that need extra assistance after having to care for someone. During VBS, the kids in attendance helped pack 150 care packages for families that the church has identified in the community that need extra assistance.

“One of our goals at VBS for our kids is not just to make it about themselves but also to make it about other people,” Heath said. “The kids are not just soaking up things for themselves but they’re also giving back to our community in the process.”

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