Let’s begin with the numbers.  Two churches, four days, more than 155 children, 12 hours and over 70 volunteers.  Those numbers tell the story of Vacation Bible School.  

VBS was hosted at Becker Baptist Church by Becker Baptist and Becker Evangelical Free Church from Mon., July 15 to Thurs., July 18. One hundred and fifty-five children from throughout the community attended the week of VBS from 9 a.m. to noon.  Some of those children had never had any previous church experience or ever heard about Jesus before the week began and for the over 70 people who volunteered, that’s the reason they set aside 12 hours this summer. 

The Old and the New

Long-time residents of Becker, 82-year-old John Stoesz and his 81-year-old wife Vernelle stood by the door waiting for volunteers and children to arrive.  It was their job to greet them as they entered the building.  It was a job they clearly enjoyed, especially Vernelle.  She giggled and smiled as the kids passed. 

“It’s fun to be with young people,” she said.  “It’s been fun to see them grow up.  We’ve met some of them when they were four and watched them play sports and grow.  We’ve even gone to some of their weddings.  They’ve been such a blessing.”

John offered this perspective. 

“Kid’s at this age are very formative,” he said.  “They’re getting ready to shake those little lives into something bigger.”

Looking around the building on Wednesday morning, you would be hard pressed to find a label about age or gender that would cover the volunteers.  Men and women of all ages, retirees to teens, all had a place at VBS and each had a job assigned for them to do. 

Jenn Olson (40), who was the videographer for the week, shared her thoughts on the event. 

“I wish older people would realize their value.  They have a lot to share with others, their experience, what they know.” 

VBS was a place where older adults could do just that because the week of VBS wasn’t just about the kids, it was about building community.  A community where everyone is valued and cared for.  A place where people can grow in love and become a family.

Family Ideals

Jenn’s children, Olivia (11) and Hayden (14) were volunteering as well.  Jenn saw VBS as an opportunity for her children to learn about themselves and how to care for others.  

“There’s a ripple effect between learning something and being able to pass it on to someone else.” 

On Wednesday, love, compassion, empathy, and the inherent value of each person were being taught and passed on by volunteers and their families.   

The Weege family was on hand.  Dustin and Heidi Weege volunteered along with their son Derrick (12).  For Derrick, this was his first opportunity to volunteer at VBS.  He was ready to pass on what he learned.  

“When I was that age, I looked up to the volunteers.  Now they look up to me,” he said.    

He was helping out with the games that were being played outside.  He didn’t get into specifics, but simply stated that, “A lot of running around is involved.”

Stephanie Johnson was with her daughter Madison and son Wesley.  

“There’s your biological family and your spiritual family,” she said. “Sometimes people don’t have good biological families and need help to find how to be together with others.”  

That is one of the things she saw happening during the four days of VBS.

Different Experiences

Denise Straw was wheeling around the building in her wheelchair and was volunteering with her husband Rick.  She was an example of how people with differing abilities were needed.  She talked about how children react to seeing someone in a wheel chair.  

“It takes the fear away and it shows them that I’m not different,” she said.    

Lessons Learned

This year’s theme was “Breaker Rock Beach”. The blurb on Lifeway’s VBS website states: “They (the children attending) will be challenged as they discover that God’s truth never changes, everyone needs Jesus, and learn to speak the truth in love.”  

To a cynical and unbelieving public that may be a hard lesson to learn or accept, but for the people who volunteered, that is the mission.  For them, the week was about demonstrating that there is another world that we can live in - A Jesus centered world where everyone is loved and cared for and where everyone belongs. 

Julie Toedter, who organized and directed the week alongside Cissy Horston, summed it up.

“I love this.  I feed off this.  I’m not saying I don’t go home tired, but when you see kids dancing who moments earlier didn’t want to leave their parents, It’s worth it,” she said. 

As this reporter was talking about to Toedter and Horston, a volunteer led an exhausted child to the organizers.  He had been crying and needed a moment to gather himself.  In an instant, Cissy bent down to his level and wrapped the child in a hug demonstrating to him that he was cared for and loved and that he was in a place where he belonged.  

The numbers tell the story of VBS.  Two churches who partnered over four days to care for and teach the 155 children who attended the 12 hours of programming, made possible because of the 70 people who volunteered their time and perhaps most importantly, one moment when one child needed to know how valuable they were.