Vacation Bible School: Past and Present

 

Another VBS is in the books. It cheered me up to walked into the Worship Center each night and sit with the kindergartners. One of my assignments for the week was to be there at 5:45 to greet them since the assigned workers had to work and could not arrive early enough.

It is amazing to watch the transformation of the “new” kids from Monday night until Tuesday night. The first night they come in with their parents, not smiling and sit wherever you point. They are difficult to engage in conversation. I remarked several times Monday night that the kids who were all sitting quietly in their chairs, not talking, would not act like that again that week.

I was right. Tuesday night they were laughing, jostling with each other to sit beside friends they had made in only one evening together. Watching that change happen is always fun. I wish adults could bond like that in one short evening.

VBS also makes me nostalgic for my days of VBS. It seems I can’t get through the week without having several conversations with other adults about the crafts we used to do. The boys sometimes made shoe shine kits or stand up podiums for the church. The girls didn’t get the tools, we got the aerosol paint and macaroni. I’m not sure what spiritual truth we were supposed to learn while we glued macaroni on whatever and sprayed it gold. It is a memory for me nonetheless.

I also miss the piano music and marching in. Oh yes, and the special chords on the piano to stand up and sit down. Some aspects are the same. The pledges to the American flag, Christian flag, and the Bible are the same. It seems harder to get kids to do the part of leading each pledge these days—probably because you don’t get to actually carry the flag and lead the march in. Even as a very shy child, I would relish the opportunity to carry the Bible in. The church I grew up in only allowed boys to carry the flags so my highest aspiration was to carry the Bible. I usually got a turn during the week to carry the Bible. There are some advantages to being a usually quiet, obedient child. Teachers tend to pick them for jobs like that because they don’t want someone who will mess up the pledges. So even in a big VBS, I usually got to do it. Also, I was a church kid—there every week, not just for VBS.

As a child, (I guess even as an adult) I was what I call a “high content” learner. That meant if the teacher taught it at VBS, I learned it. I still remember some games I played at VBS that had Bible facts in them. Every single time I recall that Simon carried Jesus’ cross part way—I remember the room I was in at a neighboring church’s VBS with the chairs that all hooked together and folded up when you stood. We were playing a Bible fact game suggested by the curriculum that year. We played it at the end every night while kids were being picked up. Since the “principal” of the Bible school was taking me home. I learned every Bible fact in the entire game. Evidently those facts have stayed with me all these years.

Those memories shaped who I was as a VBS teacher. I taught the first time when I was about 14 or 15. I remember teaching a group of kids to sing some songs I had learned at church camp and helping them paraphrase a Bible verse—whatever year it was—sometime in the 70’s.

In the 80’s when I taught, I used teenagers to help me. I used them because I remember how badly I wanted to “help” in church during my growing up years. I would try to see what special gifts and talents the teens had and get them to use them in some way. We would carefully prepare every single activity and “study stop” so that no child would run out of something to do during their time in our room. They would spend 2 hours in there for 5 days and they did learn a lot. I even added in extra activities like tours of the church, cooking pancakes and other fun stuff like special guests to visit.

I have one memory of a guest’s visit that stands out. One of the stories for my kindergartners was about helping in our community—I think it was from Acts about Christians sharing what they had. We had a church member who was a firefighter so I asked him if he could just drop in some time that week and tell the kids about his job. He said he could not give me a time because obviously firefighters are on call.

I was so surprised to see him walk in one morning with his firefighting clothes on, sweating like crazy and covered in soot from fighting a fire all night. He told me that he had not had a chance to come in all week and he thought he had better come on in before the week was over, even though he was tired and dirty. He definitely had the kid’s attention.

I found out later that word got around VBS that he was there and he ended up staying the entire morning at church sharing with different classes. Poor guy was probably exhausted but we all appreciated that he took some time for the kids to learn how Christians help others in their community. I don’t know if those kids remember it or not, but I never forgot it.

My favorite part of VBS is the sharing the gospel part. I like that our pastor takes a strong role in this. It gives the kids a chance to be close to him and see him set a great example for them in sharing their faith. This year I sat behind him so I could see the kid’s faces and prayed for each one while he shared.

He used his balloon inside a balloon and his three ropes to creatively help the kids understand the need for us to let Jesus forgive us of our sin and follow Him. He asked them to mark a card to show what decision they made. I really like that better than walking to the front like we did when I was in VBS as a child. I know because I was so shy I would not walk to the front. But, I would have marked a card. I believe I was saved the minute I placed my trust in Christ. But I didn’t make it public until I got in an environment where I didn’t have to walk an aisle.

A number of kids marked cards that they decided to follow Jesus. Pray for them as their parents talk with them, their teachers and leaders talk with them, and they ask questions. Many of them will attend camp in July so they will get plenty of opportunities to understand what it means to repent of their sin, follow Christ, and change their lives to live with Jesus as Lord of it.

VBS saw some people teach for their very first time. Some led music and stood in front of a group, also for the first time. Many students and adults used their gifts to make it happen. If no one has said it to you, thank you. Thank you for sharing your time, energy, talent, gifts, and compassion. Time spent that can impact eternity is obviously time well spent. Kids are not the church of the future, they are the church of the present and the future. Thanks kids for letting us see through your eyes.

“I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17 (HCSB)

Is Accountability a Bad Word?

Is Accountability a Bad Word?

Donna J. Wright

Remember the offering envelope checklist? If you are over 50 and grew up in a Baptist church you probably do. I remember getting my envelope—even as a young child, I had my own set, and marking each box on the front: Present, On Time (hopefully), Bible (I’d better go get it), Offering (Daddy, can I have some money?), Lesson, (Look it over for a minute), Preaching (always). Usually, I totaled 100%. I can honestly say I probably didn’t earn that 30% for studying my lesson, but I usually knew the scripture and topic before I arrived. Oh, and I had to keep up with my envelopes too. That provided some accountability for me.

I’m sure the checklist on the offering envelopes has gone away for lots of reasons. They can still be purchased today so evidently some churches still use them. But I haven’t used them in many years. I had friends that were never able to be 100% and it wasn’t their fault. I’m guessing that is one of the reasons they went away. Their parents didn’t bring them on time and picked them up before “preaching.” This reminded me of the seminary class I had in Childhood Education. Never reward or punish children for something that is not their fault. This proverb could have been the beginning of the end of the envelope. I don’t know.

Whether the envelope was good or bad, one thing it did provide was accountability. We’ve written them off as ancient but they did provide it in some ways. It gave me a short checklist of what was expected of me—someone who held a box of envelopes from South Summerville Baptist Church. I was expected:

·      To be present

·      To be on time

·      To bring my Bible

·      To give an offering

·      To study my Sunday School lesson

·      To attend worship

Today in our churches do we communicate basic expectations in such a tangible way? We may “encourage” regular attendance in Sunday School (small groups) and Worship (formerly called “Preaching”), and ask occasionally for the other commitments and participation, but I don’t think we do anything that shows people that we expect these things regularly, weekly even.

Many articles have been recently been written about the dearth of disciple-making in our churches. Sadly, I agree. I have read widely to find some ways to help my own church be a better incubator of disciples. I eventually concluded that we need two things. People to spend time with other believers in a way that encourages them to grow spiritually and as someone to “hold them accountable.” Beyond that I have to figure out how to make sure this occurs, and even measure it in some way.

And then I remembered the envelope. I can see and hear one of my Sunday School teachers, Mrs. Wallin, asking me if I filled out my envelope. One Sunday she questioned me about my “studied my lesson” check mark. She was on to my quick look before checking the box. I guarantee you that I studied my lesson more the year I was in her class. I couldn’t face her with my 100% envelope if I didn’t. I responded to her higher expectation.

As Small Groups Director in our church, I remind teachers not to embarrass anyone, to remember that some cannot easily look up scriptures in their Bibles, some don’t have Bibles, and so it goes. We have gone from accountability to trying not to embarrass anyone and to making sure they feel comfortable. I’m for those things. I don’t want anyone to be so embarrassed that they walk out the door and never come back. So, how do we hold people accountable and not embarrass them?

·      Set expectations publicly and not personally

·      Share expectations again in a small group setting

·      Make expectations and accountability a part of the one-on-one discipleship

My pastor, almost a year ago, did a series of messages where the gist of it was asking everyone who calls West Mobile Baptist home to do three things: attend worship regularly, join and attend a small group, and serve in some way in our church

This simple three-point list resonated with me. I used it on our website and in some meetings with leaders. Then, I was leading a small group and one of our newer church members shared that it was during that series of sermons that her husband and she decided they needed to get into a small group. So, evidently I wasn’t the only one that was moved by it.

No, it isn’t a fully developed plan to make disciples. But it is a clear set of expectations for every person in our church to know that at least three things that are expected of them.

So how about you? Are you accountable? Are you holding anyone else accountable? Want an envelope checklist?

Books Read in 2011

I often have people ask me what I’m reading or have read recently. Even more often, I’m asked the question, “How did you know that?” or “Where did you get that?” Life has taught me that I can learn far more from books than television. Since Pandora has made my work at the computer in my office more pleasant with music, I no longer feel the need to listen to music in the car. So, I usually have a Book on CD going during drives. On long trips, Thomas and I listen to a book or two. Even with the few miles I drive in a year, it is amazing how quickly you can listen to a book. The down side of that is that you cannot take notes.

I have a kindle and I love it but many of these books were the paper variety. That is mostly because I don’t buy many books, I check them out at the library. Kindle is my friend, though, because it allows me to highlight notes for later reference. I still miss the Gwinnett Library in Georgia because of its incredible variety and choice in books, but the Mobile Library is good and I’m in no danger or reading all the good books they have anyway.

If I saw someone’s list like this, I would like a comment or two on each, so I’ve added some here. It ended up being lots of parentheses but when I realized it I didn’t want to go back to delete them. You will just have to deal with it.

Books and Periodicals I read in 2011 are in no particular order:

Entre Leadership by Dave Ramsey (the best management and Human Resources book—he writes in a way that you can remember it because he has learned most of it by making mistakes. He tells lots of stories to go along with the principles.)

Simple Government by Huckabee (I like the way he talks and thinks and he reads his own books so its like having a nice chat with someone)

Radical by David Platt (rock your world)

Radical Together by David Platt (rock it some more so we can change the world together)

Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush (The years before the White House especially her childhood are the best parts. The second half is very similar to GW’s book that I read in 2010.)

Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman (I was sent one chapter of this in a mailer at church and was enticed to buy it on kindle. I gave this to several people for Christmas. A great read.)

The Millennials by Rainer and Rainer (somewhat analytical but good insight into twenty somethings and how they think)

Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers by Elizabeth Edwards (This is a great book for anyone who grieves the loss of a child.)

The Politician by Andrew Young (about John Edwards. . . I don’t like politics as much after reading this book. I think being a minister’s wife is easier than being a politician’s wife.)

Reveal – a compilation of helps for Adobe Illustrator (The Adobe Illustrator book for Dummies was too hard for me. This one gave me step by step without skipping a single thing. I’m no expert but I can do simple graphics with AI now—see the church’s new floorplans if you don’t believe me.)

Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado (I have read all his books so he is doing something right.)

The Most They Ever Had by Rick Bragg (This is insight into the lives of cotton mill workers in the rural south from the 40’s, 50’s, & 60’s. I didn’t finish the last fourth of it but it reminded me of life in my hometown. Both my parents were millworkers and most of my relatives.)

Crazy Love by Francis Chan (I did this with my small groups with DVD too. Very convicting)

Spiritual Disciples of the Christian Life by Donald Whitney (I read it every year)

America by Heart by Sarah Palin (I like the way she talks with that extra measure of attitude. My favorite line is when someone asks her where all these young, conservative Republicans came from—she replies, “from their parents—what do you think, they were raised by savages?” To me society undervalues the role of mothers in shaping our culture through raising children. That last line is mine, not from the book)

Reaching and Teaching by David Sills (If you want to disciple people, this is a great book)

The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie (I was a reader of all the Little House books and this is a humorous view of another devotee’s experiences visiting Little House home places and duplicating experiences Laura had.)

Simple Church by Eric Geiger and Thom Rainer (again)

Purpose Driven Christmas by Rick Warren (good for non-believers)

Prophet of Purpose (a biography of Rick Warren; decent book)

The Bible (If you aren’t in The Word, the rest doesn’t make sense. It truly is a guidebook for life.)

Still Higher for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (I was in an online group that read this together and shared insights)

Sunday School that Really Works by Steve Parr (I think this will become a standard work for churches, written by my college friend—good job, Steve—maybe he will read this post)

Do the Work by Stephen Pressfield (free kindle book on using your time well)

Truth that Sticks by Avery Willis & Mark Snowden (using oral storying techniques in a modern, technological culture—really, really good insights)

Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges (excellent challenge to holiness)

Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Adventure by Caroline Alexander (yep, we got to see where they went this year so the book was a necessity to understand it)

Martin Luther by Martin Marty (very well done, quite detailed—I learned a lot about the priesthood of Luther’s day—no wonder he thought something wasn’t right)

The Justice Game by Randy Singer (a fiction murder/legal mystery)

Too Late to Say Goodbye (a true crime story that occurred in our county when we lived in Georgia)

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis (the book the movie was based upon—movie was good—book is not better, just different)

Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman (story surrounding their lives including the traumatic death of their daughter)

An Amish Christmas by Barbara Cameron (fiction just for fun—didn’t read it until our cruise in January though)

We Forgot! The Seven Unlearned Lessons of 9/11 written by Joe Savage with Amy Wright (can’t leave out the famous author of the family)

Periodicals:

World Magazine (bi-monthly subscription)

The Mobile Register (daily –and they usually print my sound offs and letters to the editor)

The Alabama Baptist (I am one, I have to read it)

I read lots of news online as well as a number of blogs. There is too much to list here but I try to keep up with what is going on in the world.

So there you go, if you made it this far you must really like to read.

Wright Family News 2011

News from the Wright House January 2012

2011 was a whirlwind year. I am truly overwhelmed by the goodness and grace of God on a daily basis. This year, I completed requirements for a B.A. in Global Business at the University of Mobile and began working on my M.B.A., (yeah, I blinked and college was over!). I continued to work part-time as a writer in Media Relations at UMobile and as a freelancer for WORLD magazine online and www.worldoncampus.com. You can see the fruits of my labor on www.umobile.edu/news, the Alabama Baptist, Baptist Press, and the UMobile Magazine (www.umobile.edu/alumni). I also had the privilege of co-authoring my first book titled, "We Forgot! The 7 Unlearned Lessons of 9/11" with Dr. Joe Savage in September. It is currently available from the trunk of my car, on www.twelve23.org and soon through Amazon and Kindle as well.

This summer, I spent a week stormchasing in the Midwest, just for my annual dose of something ridiculous. It was worth every moment, and the chronicles of the journey are on www.stormchaserumobile.wordpress.com. I joined the family in Phoenix for a few days at the SBC (plus all the free books my heart desired), and a sunrise hot air balloon ride for my 20th birthday. In addition to a trip to Australia with the parental unit, (where we taught FAITH evangelism strategies, and naturally, went adventuring), I spent the rest of my time this summer in local missions work through a summer children's ministry job in a poverty-level community in Mobile.

I got to take a somewhat spontaneous trip to Japan with Daddy this November for Disaster Relief in areas impacted by the earthquakes and tsunami, (yes, I did skip school and work for a week to go adventuring, and it was beyond worth it). I also read more than 50 books this year with all my spare time. Occasionally I sleep, but not too much, because I wouldn't want to miss anything.

In 2012, I will be transitioning into a new full-time role as Assistant Director of UMobile's Center for Leadership while continuing work on my M.B.A. You can follow my adventures this year on Twitter @amythewright and on my blog at www.amywright.wordpress.com. Through all of the excitement of 2011 and the anticipation for 2012, I am continuously reminded that our God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us . . . to him be glory" (Eph. 3:20-21). Amy

Everybody:

Another wonderful year has come and gone! I am almost halfway through my Masters degree work at Southeastern Seminary and have loved every minute of it! I am continuously thankful and overjoyed to be studying there. I work in the media department coordinating audio/video recording, editing, and performances for the school. I have spent the last semester in an internship at my church--which was a great learning experience.

I have a girlfriend named Kayley who is my best friend, best supporter, and chief fashion advisor. (I need that.) In 2012 I will be continuing studies at Southeastern. I am studying to be a church planter in urban areas. Where that means specifically I do not know, but I am excited to embrace whatever God has for me! I am also thankful for all of you and would appreciate your prayers over the next year.

May God bless all of you! Find me on twitter @Jason_Wright Jason

The Wright family greets 2012 with incredible gratefulness. We continue to see the blessings, challenges and opportunities the Lord provides in Mobile and beyond. I am beginning a seventh year serving as Associational Missionary with the Mobile Baptist Association. (Like us on Facebook!) We have grown to 110 churches and 7 language missions. It is very rewarding serving with folks who recognize how much can be accomplished for eternity by working together. We continue to challenge our churches to send one more than ever before in local, state, national and international missions opportunities. This continues to provide ministry options among the nations. On a recent trip we carried 2000 Christmas stockings (in six 62 inch luggage bags) to the tsunami-ravaged region of Japan. Our IMB representatives and Japanese Churches filled the stockings with fruit, snacks and a gospel presentation. The stockings were delivered to temporary housing units built for the survivors. The message of hope provided important opportunities to share Jesus to those who lost family and homes.

Donna and I celebrated 29 years of wedded bliss Jan. 1. We dug out the wedding pictures and the years have been much kinder to my sweetheart than her husband. We enjoy watching Amy and Jason involved with their callings to ministry. My dad is now 93 and still living near Atlanta. His health prohibits driving but he continues to work in the garden and still enjoys singing hymns and playing his mandolin. Thomas

So, if you have read this far you probably are more interested that I thought. I didn’t send very many letters out last year and I heard a loud “what happened?” from some of you—so I tried to get everyone a letter this year (unless you are my friend on facebook or I have your email address). I’m still on church staff (westmobilebaptist.org) and writing. I’ve just finished one writing project and will finish another next month. I’m busy and happy. We’ve had to adjust to not seeing Jason very often but we enjoy having Amy still living at home. We are so predictable, though, that Jason calls when he knows we are both seated in the living room and can talk to him on speaker-phone. Also, the finding friends app is pretty amazing and creepy at the same time.

We did get to cruise to Antarctica early this year. So, now Thomas and I have been to every continent. You’d think that would take care of the desire to go more, but that is not the case. We still have the travel bug.

God has been faithful to our family and extended family as we have seen his grace pour out as we live lives that include the exciting and the mundane, consistency and crisis, loss and gain, and life and death. God is God through it all.

Blessings on you in 2012 Donna: @wrighthouse2 on Twitter