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Each day to start vacation Bible school at Crossroads Community Church, children watched a 10-minute skit to introduce the evening’s activities.

At Community Covenant Church, attendees had craft materials ready for that day’s project.

Many children in Kearney and Holt attend area vacation Bible schools at local churches. They have lessons and activities centered on a Biblical message for a couple of hours each day for a week.

Many VBS volunteers put in more hours of work preparing than actual time spent with the children.

Shelby Ward was up until 1 a.m. cutting rock-shaped pieces of felt for a craft project the night before one of the Bible school days.

“It’s fun; the kids love it,” Ward said.

Ward, who assists with crafts, said it’s fun for her because she likes to make the crafts, too.

“I always try to help out,” Ward said. “There are never enough volunteers.”

At Crossroads Church, in the new building just south of Kearney, Wesley Phillips changed the set for the skit each day. He and several other volunteers showed up to the church a few hours before VBS activities began to rehearse that day’s skit. The skit set the stage for each day’s activities with the theme “Museum @ 12627.”

“This is kind of where they discover the mystery,” Phillips said about the theme. “It’s clue by clue. … Meanwhile they’re learning things about God.”

Volunteering for vacation Bible school came naturally for some.

“I like acting, so I wasn’t going to say no,” said Trevor Gruber, who was part of the skit group.

Some also realized the importance of helping out.

“Volunteering gives you a chance to get to know other people,” Brynna Gruber said. “If just a couple of us volunteer, we couldn’t do VBS.”

Crossroads also provided meals each night for the children attending in addition to the daily skit, crafts and other activities with Christian-based lessons.

Even before the week of VBS, members of Crossroads started volunteering. A week before Bible school activities started, 15 youth group members painted carnival games to match the theme.

Devin Hart, youth group leader, said involvement helps make vacation Bible school more engaging for the children.

“They’re able to connect with the (skit) actors and with the story better — it’s not just sitting down and watching TV,” Hart said, noting they had the option to show a DVD instead of performing skits.

Brenda Davenport, who was the VBS director for Crossroads, said the church averaged 50 children a day and had 60 volunteers helping with tasks including being group leaders, making decorations, helping with crafts and cleaning up.

“From the get-go we had a lot of people who did whatever needed to be done,” Davenport said.

At Community Covenant, some volunteers were just doing an extension of everyday activities. Steve Jacobsen’s pseudonym at VBS last week was Forrest R. Cool and taught children about nature. He works at a nature center for the Department of Conservation.

“This was a no-brainer; it’s what I do every day,” said Jacobsen, whose wife was the director of VBS.

He said he just needed to adjust his lesson plan to match the Sun Rock Kids Camp theme with biblical ties.

“It’s a pretty rewarding experience, too, working with the kids, seeing them learn about God’s creation,” Jacobsen said.

UPCOMING VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Theme: Crocodile Lab

When: 5:45 to 8:30 p.m. July 6 to 10

Ages: 3-year-olds (must be potty-trained) through sixth grade

More info: 628-6644, fcckearney.org

Details: pre-registration pool party will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 5. During vacation Bible school, family supper is served from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

CHURCH OF ANNUNCIATION

Theme: Son Rock Kids Camp

When: 9 a.m. to noon July 6 to 10

Ages: 4-year-olds through fifth grade

More info: Call Elizabeth Madeo at 628-5030 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Details: Students in sixth grade or older can sign up to be youth assistants.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Theme: Gadget’s Garage

When: 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. July 13 to 17

Ages: 3-year-olds (must be potty-trained) through sixth grade

More info: 628-6644

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN KEARNEY

Theme: Paul and the Underground Church

When: 9 a.m. to noon July 13 to 17

Ages: preschool through sixth grade

More info: 628-5560

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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