A few weeks before the Great American Eclipse brought thousands of people from all over the country to cities in its path of totality, another galaxy-themed event drew more than 100 children from around Mitchell County to the Buladean Community Center in Bakersville, N.C.
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Contributed photo A community wide Vacation Bible School drew more than 100 children from around Mitchell County to the Buladean Community Center in Bakersville, N.C. |
For the fourth year, Big Rock Creek Baptist Church in Bakersville, N.C., partnered with three other local churches of different denominations for a community-wide Vacation Bible School (VBS) July 31-Aug. 4.
Samantha Anderson, a member of Big Rock Creek, served as VBS coordinator. She met with pastors and members from Big Rock Creek, Buladean Presbyterian Church, Middle District Free Will Baptist Church and Roan’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church to plan the “Galactic Surveyors” event. The churches first began organizing community VBS a few years ago, after the nearby Buladean Elementary School permanently closed. The building became a community center. “The school building was vacant. We thought it would be a good way to keep the community spirit alive,” Anderson told the Biblical Recorder. “At least we could bring kids in the community together.”
Anderson’s own two daughters attended VBS and now go to school with students from other churches who were also at VBS.
“It’s a blessing that they understand that we’re all in this together regardless of the name of your church. … They understand that we all are believers in Christ,” she said.
Anderson said the partnerships between community churches are “stronger than ever.” Because the churches were of different sizes, coordinators opened up volunteer positions for members to choose. “When you put people in places they feel they can best use their talents, they’re much more excited,” she said.
Each of the four churches were responsible for one night of food, and all four contributed to order pizza on the final night. Scott Jenkins, pastor of Middle District, reflected on the week in multiple Facebook posts and said, “Praise God for churches that can work together for the great goal of furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ. … It truly blesses my soul to see churches coming together to further the Kingdom of God on earth.”