New Around the Mission

Children’s Minister Learns From Sister Church’s VBS

July 13, 2011

“We should all go work each other’s summer programs,” suggested Children’s Ministry Director Melanie McGehee of Church of the Apostles in Columbia, South Carolina, at a children’s ministers gathering last spring. She said it on a whim, but Heather Eure of Christ Church in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, grinned and said, “Come on down!”

So Melanie did. Apostles had planned five mornings of VBS throughout the summer instead of a full week, so she was free during Christ Church’s VBS June 20-24. Fellow staffers joked about her “working vacation”—but Melanie hopped in the car and drove the 150 miles to Christ Church, joining 85 children in a raucous and life-changing week of “Pandamania!” VBS.

She soon discovered 76% of the children were visitors from the community, some from a YMCA day camp held at Christ Church facilities this summer. As a crew leader, Melanie was assigned a small group of 3rd, 4th and 5th grade girls and accompanied them to rotating centers each day. As she participated in song time, crafts and games based on Psalm 139 and God's wild love for His children, she jotted mental notes on what she saw.

The entire Christ Church staff participates. How can I motivate that teamwork at home? Will I be willing to help out our other staff members with their events? This Bible story rotation is filled with creativity. We need to go all out with drama at Apostles to make the story unforgettable. We need to get involved with community groups like the YMCA or Boys and Girls Club!

In addition to the energizing influx of ideas, Melanie found herself growing attached to her charges—especially a girl named Mia who struggled to make friends but began to understand grace as the week progressed.

“These girls from nonchurched families, jaded by the realities of the world, still wanted to hold my hand, hug me and sit in my lap,” Melanie says. “At the beginning of the week, they sat in their seats during music. By Thursday, they were running up front to do music motions in front of everyone.”

She went home refreshed, inspired and challenged. “This was a mission!” she says. “I’ll be encouraging other children’s ministers to go visit their peers and see them in action!”

Learn more at Church of the Apostles.

Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Discipleship