Returning to Jesus

First Baptist takes kids for a ride to learn about Christ

By Dale Liesch (Contact) | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Photo by Dale Liesch

Express ride: Students at the Vacation Bible School at Dadeville’s First Baptist Church take a ride on the Boomerang Express Friday as part of the week long school.

Much like a boomerang comes back to the person who threw it, the Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church in Dadeville came back to Jesus.

Students spent an entire week learning about Jesus through various crafts, music and fellowship through this year’s program titled Boomerang Express.

“It’s a way to give kids a safe, fun experience that can have a lasting spiritual impact,” FBC pastor the Rev. Gary Wiggins said. “The students memorize songs, Bible verses and stories that they remember. It stays with them.”

Set in Australia, Boomerang Express allowed the students to learn a Biblical lesson while learning about a geographical place as well.

“They learn about a geographical place while tying religious themes into it,” Wiggins said. “It’s a concerted effort in a week. Each lesson builds on another.”

The church saw its largest number of Bible school students ever during this year’s special event as more than 229 children age 4 through sixth grade were enrolled. Wiggins credits this year’s success to greater outreach and involvement.

Photo by Dale Liesch

Ashley Chase receives a plant as a gift for her parents at the Bible school.

“This week has been tremendous to have a lot of involvement,” Wiggins said. “You’ve got people committed to planning all this before it starts and working once it starts. It was fun for the kids to see more and more adults just loving them.”

Wiggins said the church is not finished there; in fact, they would like to build on the success of this year’s school for next year.

“I anticipate we’ll get even larger next year,” Wiggins said.

In addition, the school has allowed the students to bring in loose change in order to donate toward “life boxes,” which will be filled with personal items for soldiers overseas.

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