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Westwood Baptist Church in Alabaster held its annual Vacation Bible School June 10-14 for kids in 5K through sixth grade. (For the Reporter/Tracy Wood Franklin)

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Children scuba dived into lessons about God during Westwood Baptist Church’s recent Vacation Bible School series.

Westwood Baptist Church in Alabaster held its annual Vacation Bible School June 10-14 for kids in 5K through sixth grade.

“We had a wonderful time,” said Ric Callahan, families pastor at Westwood Baptist Church. “It was a lot of fun and (there were) a lot of kids, a lot of leaders and a lot of energy.”

During the VBS series, children engaged in a variety of activities with crafts, games, snacks, Bible study, drama, interactive lessons and more.

“(Scuba) teaches you how God loves you and cares for you and how He desires to be in friendship with you and how that can take place (and) how we should treat our friendship with God and with others as well,” Callahan said.

In fitting with this year’s material and theme, the church saw a selection of aquatic decorations displayed throughout the church.

“We had incredible decorations,” Callahan said. “It was kind of like being under the sea—very colorful all the way across.”

Additionally, the church’s project system was able to project onto the wall to aid in the illusion of the undersea adventure.

“(The kids) had a blast,” Callahan said.

Each morning kicked off with a video of Callahan scuba diving and running late for Bible school before hurrying to get to Westwood. During the drama portion of the VBS, Callahan said the character Scuba Steve shared the Gospel message.

Over the course of the week, Westwood Baptist Church’s VBS saw more than 600 kids in attendance with the help of 150 leaders.

“We want kids to enjoy coming to church because when they enjoy it, they will learn more and they will retain what they learned longer,” Callahan said.

The church was also able to use the VBS as a chance raise a collective $3,700 for the Alabaster Christ-Centered United Appeal Fund. During the fundraiser, they had boys and girls compete to raise funds with the girls ultimately winning and the children got to enjoy seeing Callahan get hit in the face with a pie.

Callahan spoke on the Westwood Baptist Church’s goal and what it offers to the community and its members.

“We invest in people who will impact our world for Jesus,” he said. “We are a family-oriented church.”

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