Vacation Bible School in 2004

Front: Samantha Snyder, Melissa McInturf, Jaden
Bentley, Shelbie Dorris, Erin Taylor, Harrison
Redden, Kyle Silsby. Back: Emily Haynes, Jordan
McInturf, and Brittany McInturf (Hoagland)

            18 years ago, Ralston children enjoyed Vacation Bible School. What a difference almost two decades can make!

            In 2004, kids sang songs, learned the motto, scripture passage, and pledges from large handwritten posters each of the five nights. Kids were invited by snail mail postcards, phone calls on landlines, and door-to-door flyers.

Leslie Fast, Nolan Bratton, D. J. Bartlett, Torie
Turner, Kelsie Fast, Lara Dooley, Kim Smith, and
Kaylee Terry

            Now what seems a light year’s leap ahead, the catchy song lyrics, motto, scripture passage, and pledges appear on the large screens at the front of the church in cool, colorful graphics. Almost every child’s family has access to posts from the church’s Facebook page and all children can be notified almost immediately all at once. 

Madison Davis, C. D. Silsby, Andrew Swafford,
Preston Dorris, Marcie Turner, Amber Wilson,
Dalton Crenshaw, Sierra Palmer, Kelsey Conner,
Destonie Dorris 

            Yet some things about Vacation Bible School remain the same. A necessary requirement is a staff of dedicated teachers and workers. A good VBS must have caring parents wanting their children to learn truths from the Bible. Another key ingredient in a successful Bible school is a bunch of kids who attend each of the five sessions. Finally, nobody attends Bible school without learning Jesus is God’s Son who loves each kid so much He came to earth, lived as a human who was fully God, and gave His life on a Roman cross for the purpose of paying for the sins of people.

Dylan Shannon, Dylan's cousin Jessica, Mercedes Bartlett, Robbie Kennedy, 
Tommy Hillsberg, Skylar Yarber, Jordy Brandenburg, Joe Harp

            Whether in our 21^st century or in the 1960s when my 97-year-old mother taught children that God who created them wants each of them to receive Jesus. With slim resources and her Bible, Mother impacted children who still comment about that fun time over 55 years ago. What a wonderful promise that anyone who receives Jesus can have a relationship with Him that begins here on earth and will continue eternally!

All PreK - 5^th graders are invited to 

2022 Vacation Bible School 

at the Ralston Baptist Church each evening from 6 – 8:30 p.m., 

Sunday-Thursday, June 5 – 9.