Pipestone Flyer
Alberta - In our province and the rest of Canada, churches celebrate summer as parents are seeking enriching adventures for their children during the no-school months. Well, this is no different for churches within the Cities and Counties of Leduc and Wetaskiwin. Vacation Bible Schools are a popular option for families wanting to add a little spiritual learning and supervised activities to their kids' summer plans.
Usually the cost to the parents is a free-will offering: the entire congregation, its leadership and large number of volunteers plan and prepare for this event all year long and absorb the budgets needed into their annual operating budget, supported by their congregation’s weekly tithing! In the City of Leduc, one church went beyond the call of duty to prepare a memorable two weeks of fun, spiritual learning and sports adventures. The two ZAO Summer Camps at Leduc Community Baptist Church (LCBC) were attended by 85 and 60 local youths, and manned by dozens of volunteers.
The volunteers ranged from teens to seniors, and one parent who took one week of his holidays to help out commented that he had so much fun he’ll look into taking two weeks off next year to participate! A video was created by a young church member, and it was fascinating to visually witness the wondrous joy and energy of it all, and the smiles of the participants. Rocket-building, parachute games, a giant inflatable waterslide, cupcake decorating, jewellery-making, Bible lessons, songs and more crafts, the list goes on… Pastor Tim Kerber and his wife Rachelle are thrilled with the success of this new two-week formula, and the fantastic feedback this Summer Camp has been a reward for their Summer Camp committee’s hard work!
Churches all over the region have either completed successful Vacation Bible Schools (VBS), or are in the midst of registering kids to their upcoming Summer Camps. We wish them all energy, fortitude and great weather. We encourage parents to look in their local phone book directory to locate a church nearby to enquire on their VBS schedules, and if you have already registered your kids with your favorite church, good for you and your kids !”