KNOXVILLE — For almost 100 years, Southern Baptist churches have hosted Vacation Bible Schools each summer. Countless children have heard the gospel as a result. 2023 is no exception: VBS was again a significant evangelistic and outreach effort for churches of all sizes.
The benefits of VBS to Tennessee’s children and families are evident. While less obvious, the blessings VBS provides workers — and the insights long-term workers offer — are equally valuable.
Ann Oliver, Ann Edwards and Joanna Moore are all long-term VBS workers in their respective Tennessee churches. All have insights gained from decades of serving children. All were widowed within the last few months, and all found community, support and purpose through their VBS involvement this year.
Ann Oliver has been a member of First Baptist Church in Paris for 50 years, and she has worked in VBS much longer. Oliver grew up in a small church that didn’t offer VBS classes beyond 11 or 12 years old, so as a young teen, she began helping with VBS. Later, when she moved to FBC, Paris, working in VBS came naturally, she said.
Oliver
Oliver has also helped train others across the state. She acknowledged that, for her, planning for VBS begins in January, and over the years, she has developed a strong team.
“I’ve worked with my team for 20 to 25 years,” Oliver said. “We all know each other — our strengths and where we need help.”
Oliver’s husband, Joe, died May 5, 2023. A close team and advance preparation allowed Oliver to serve in VBS this year, even though Joe had died just a few weeks earlier.
“Everything was already in place,” Oliver said. “This was something I could go ahead and do because I love it, and he would want me to.”
Ann Edwards, a member of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, has worked in VBS for more than 45 years. She retired twice, she said.
She served on staff of two churches for more than 17 years, most recently as preschool minister at Brentwood. She also served as a preschool consultant for Lifeway.
Edwards’ husband, Bruce, died April 28, 2023, following an extended illness. While Edwards did not work in VBS during Bruce’s illness, this year she was part of a six-person prayer team and helped with decision counseling. Edwards was particularly blessed not only by the opportunity to pray for and counsel children but by the support offered her by other members of the team.
“It was good for me to be there,” Edwards said. “Everybody loved on me.”
Ann Edwards, right, poses with her friend Kayli, who prayerwalked with her for many years in preparation for Vacation Bible School. Kayli is headed off for college this Fall.
Her work in VBS also gave her purpose, Edwards said.
“It changes your perspective to get away from what you’re feeling that day and to begin feeling for somebody else.”
Acknowledging it was tough to serve so soon after Bruce’s death Edwards said, “Bruce would say, ‘Go do it!’ He would have wanted me to go.”
Joanna Moore is a member of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson. She has been involved in VBS for nearly 30 years and has served as a children’s curriculum writer for Lifeway. She taught fifth grade girls in VBS this year.
Moore’s husband, Joe, died in January, and this was her first VBS in about four years as a result of the pandemic and her husband’s illness. A highlight for her was the enthusiasm of the kids and the workers.
“It’s important that kids have a whole week soaking in the love of Jesus,” Moore said. “So much of church is directed toward adults or families — and that’s the way it should be — but this week of Bible school is totally focused on kids. They hear the gospel on their level.”
No wonder, then, that VBS is the number one evangelism tool in the Southern Baptist Convention, Moore said.
“More people accept Christ during VBS than any other effort we have,” Moore said. “This is an opportunity for one-on-one conversations about the gospel.”
Moore also believes VBS is an opportunity to disciple youth volunteers. Moore estimated that her church enlisted 30 to 40 youth workers. These teens were trained by staff members.
Moore
“(The teenagers) didn’t just help the kids get from one location to another,” Moore said. “They engaged with the kids and saw that VBS is valuable work. VBS is an opportunity to help Christian kids understand the importance of growing in their faith.”
Like Moore, both Edwards and Oliver believe VBS is an opportunity to lay a consistent Biblical foundation in the lives of parents and their children.
“People have (recently) moved here from a lot of different states,” Edwards said. “Parents are searching for relationships. They came here (to Tennessee) looking for something better for their families. God’s Word does not return void. Anything said by the child in the home can take root in the lives of parents.”
Oliver said, “We don’t see preschoolers come to saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. But when a child turns loose of their mom or dad’s hand and takes hold of my hand at the classroom door, that is the first step of salvation. That child is learning to trust someone beyond their parents, and that is the first step in learning to trust a God they cannot see.” B&R — Lovell has written about Baptist work for more than 20 years. She is a member of the Church at Station Hill in Spring Hill.
