GREENFIELD — Not everyone will be contemplating the surf over spring break.
Later this month, Realife Church will encourage children to spend at least part of their break thinking about God.
This is the third year for the church’s Kids Conference, which has drawn about 100 children in kindergarten through fifth grade the past two years. They spend sessions of the three-day event together in the auditorium, breaking into six smaller groups for activities and sitting by age group for some of the small-group discussions.
“We’re doing a spinoff of video games,” said Shawna Banning, Realife Kids pastor at the church, 971 W. U.S. 40. “We’re talking on how to ‘level up’ in your relationship with God.”
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Realife is offering the event over spring break this year. It’s not alone in making that kind of timing shift.
“We just wanted to make it available to more families,” Banning said. “It fit our church schedule.
“You don’t want to compete, either.”
Realife is one of a number of local churches trying VBS-style events during school breaks instead of the summer, when nearly 20 Hancock County area churches typically offer Vacation Bible School, some in the same weeks and/or using the same themed curriculum.
In 2014, several churches in the Shirley area teamed up to offer a Vacation Bible School over fall break. One year, Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) offered a Habitat for Humanity-themed VBS over spring break.
Park Chapel Christian Church in Greenfield has begun to focus on family-style events such as “Walk with Jesus” before Easter — in which groups tour Bible scenes related to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection — in lieu of a summer vacation Bible school. Organizers there have said they want to provide an event families can do together.
Otterbein United Methodist Church ventured into non-summer VBS territory with a two-day Vacation Bible School on Jan. 2-3.
“I definitely think it was a good fit,” volunteer Katie Sanford wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter. “Many families don’t get the opportunity to travel on school breaks, and over Christmas Break the weather is usually too crummy to play outside. VBS gave our kids the chance to get out of the house for a fun, positive activity rather than being cooped up inside…
“We definitely plan to do it again next year.”
The Rev. David Wise, pastor at Otterbein, said there were initial concerns about whether volunteers would be available just after the holidays, but it turned out to not be a problem. To the mix of Bible verses, lessons and crafts, organizers added a meal to kick off each session; Wise said it’s a chance to ensure children are getting meals over their break from school.
“It was kind of a trial to see how it would work out,” Wise said. “It worked out really well.”
Otterbein’s VBS had a farm theme. Later this month, children at Realife will use video games as a metaphor as they talk about reaching the next level in spiritual growth.
Banning said sessions will be fast-paced, with discussion and activities to reinforce the main points shared. Nightly themes will focus on topics such as reminding children God is with them, finding strength from God to push through any obstacle, renewing their minds and not allowing fear to stop them.
“(They’re) just some practical things that will help children walk in all God has for them,” she said.
“I hope that the kids that attend our conference will walk away seeing themselves as God sees them, as brave, strong and unique. As mentioned in our theme verse Romans 12:2, they don’t have to copy the behaviors of the world, but they can allow God to transform them. If they do that, they will truly Level Up.”
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Level Up Kids Conference is for kindergartners through fifth-graders. It is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 23-25 at Realife Church, 971 W. U.S. 40, Greenfield. Registration is available at realife.ccbchurch.com.
Information: realife.org
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