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By Mary Braswell

ALBANY —Vacation Bible School is a summer tradition in churches, one that crosses denominational lines and one with roots in the 19th century.

In the 1890s, Dr. Walker Hawes and his wife, Eliza, moved to New York City to begin a medical ministry for children. The couple noted that many of the children treated at the clinic had received injuries while playing in the streets of the booming metropolis.

Eliza Hawe had an idea for a safer way for the children to spend at least part of their summer break from school. She rented a beer hall in 1898 and 1899 on the city’s East Side and began what she called “Everyday Bible School,” which had no-frills Bible lessons.

In 1900, her pastor, the Rev. Howard Lee Jones, insisted that she move her Bible school to the church, Epiphany Baptist, which was located about a mile from the beer hall. The program relocated, but few children walked the extra distance to attend it, so Hawes managed to find a temporary location closer to the original site for the remainder of that summer. In 1901, NYC Baptist Mission Society picked up the work, called it Daily Vacation Bible School, secured five locations and used seminary students to lead the work. By 1903, there were 17 VBS locations within the city.

When Jones moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., and later to South Carolina, he took the concept with him. In 1907, a national committee for Vacation Bible School was organized through the Baptist Mission Society and the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School was founded 15 years later. In 1923, Standard Publishing became the first distributor of VBS materials with a five-week, all-day program.

Many baby boomers remember attending VBS as children. Programs have changed from macaroni crafts, cookies and punch. Today, Vacation Bible School in all denominations continues to be the largest single home mission program, attracting millions of children each year. With numerous themes and various material available from companies, churches can choose different ways to teach children the gospel through VBS. Most of the programs are free with attendees who often cross denominational lines.

One church engaged in the program, Jones Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Sylvester, conducted VBS during evenings this week. The church has a small congregation, with an average Sunday worship service attendance of between 15-25. On Tuesday, however, there were 12 children ages 4-10 in attendance at VBS, and nearly as many adult workers.

Jones Chapel’s theme, “Wanted by God,” had Western overtones, apparent from the decorations and the bandanas the children wore. Each evening, particiapnts pledged allegiance to the Bible and the Christian and American flags before breaking into groups — 4-6 year olds and 7-10 year olds — for activities.

The younger group colored a Bible verse sheet and then moved outside for play followed by crafts then music and a Bible lesson. Older children participated in the same rotation on a staggered basis. All ages gathered for the last 40 minutes to enjoy storytelling, review lessons and a snack as the night’s session came to a close. The snacks at Jones Chapel’s VBS were quite hearty, including on Wednesday night when the menu included beef stew, biscuits, drink and dessert.

Team Leader and Assistant Christian Education Director Mable J. Rockwell Jackson shared some thoughts on VBS. The reason Jones Chapel extends the invitation to all children in the community was simple, she said, referring to Proverbs 22:6, Jackson said she strongly believes in training children by the word of God to develop into responsible and respectful adults.

The greatest challenge the small church faces with VBS is not financial or finding enough adult volunteers, getting children to attend and return the rest of the week. Jackson said church members canvas the neighborhoods and offer transportation if needed. After the VBS dust settles, the willing workers will visit the homes of those children that attended and invite them to come back, she said.

Avalon United Methodist Church in Albany, meanwhile, is trying a new schedule this year. The three sessions will be 6 p.m.-8 p.m. today; 8:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, and 9:45 a.m.-11 a.m. Sunday. Director Debbi McCarthy stated that organizers hope the new schedule will attract more children ages 3 through rising 6th-graders. With parents working and many children already in day care or summer camp, kids and parents are tired and many simply do not attend VBS when held during the week, she said, adding the hope is the weekend plan will be more convenient.

Avalon VBS officials are hoping to see about 50 children attend. The theme is Barnyard Roundup, based on the 23rd Psalm. When asked why VBS continues to be conducted and why it is relevant, McCarty quickly answered, “To reach the unchurched and tell them the good news of Jesus.”

Some churches get an earlier starts on the summer school. Ty Ty First Baptist Church held its VBS June 5-9 for all ages. There was a nursery for volunteers with babies and classes for preschoolers through adults. The theme was Submerged (in God’s word), a LifeWay Christian Resources curriculum with an under-the-sea flavor. Average attendance topped 100 in classes, plus there were more than 50 adult volunteers.

Ty Ty Baptist’s pastor, the Rev. Rodney Owens, answered some questions about VBS:

Q: Why and in what way(s) is VBS still relevant after 100-plus years?

A: Vacation Bible School is still relevant after 100-plus years because the principles that Jesus taught are still relevant after 2,000-plus years. Vacation Bible School is all about introducing children to the life-changing teaching of Jesus Christ. These teachings give them an example to live by and aspire to … but, more than that, it gives them hope that someone bigger than them loves them and cares about them.

In today’s society, children need hope and VBS is a time to tell them about that hope. Research shows that children and teenagers, as well as many adults, have lost hope for the present and the future. …VBS gives us the opportunity to share with them the hope that is found in the teachings of Jesus.

Q: What are the biggest changes and challenges for VBS today?

A: If I could sum it up in one very simple statement … the biggest challenge for VBS is the attention span of children in 2016. The average child is very accustomed to watching videos on the internet on demand and watching television that comes in eight-minute sections between commercials. Keeping a child’s attention and keeping it moving is a high priority.

This year, I taught children of all ages during our VBS and, in a 20-minute segment, we taught a lesson, reinforced the principles of the lesson through a game or activity, and gave them an object to take home with them to cement the principle taught. Twenty years ago, we would have taught them for 15 minutes or more with them sitting around us on the floor. The principles never change, but how you deliver them does.

Q: What would you like to say about VBS?

A: I was introduced to Jesus through VBS and my life’s direction was changed. I have a very real bias toward VBS. In the churches where I have served as pastor, Vacation Bible School is our biggest outreach to the community. We believe that reaching children gives a lifetime of reward, but VBS also gives us an opportunity to introduce our family of Jesus followers to the families of the community and, hopefully, they encounter us as real, caring, people-loving, Jesus-serving people who really do care about them. VBS is one of the best tools to just show the community that the church is not just a bunch of people that show up at a building on Sunday … they really do believe what they say they believe…and they live it by serving children and adults with the love of Jesus.

Here are some upcoming Vacation Bible Schools in Albany:

Avalon United Methodist Church:3018 Gillionville Road; 6 p.m. today, 8:45 a.m. Saturday, 9:45 a.m. Sunday; age 3 to rising 6th-graders; (229) 432-9734

First United Methodist Church: 307 Flint Ave.; 9 a.m.-noon; June 27-July 1; (229) 432-7407

Gillionville Baptist Church: 4614 Gillionville Road; 6 p.m.-8:15 p.m.; June 26-29; rising K5 to rising 6th-graders; (229) 435-9738

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church: 4800 Old Dawson Road; 6 p.m.-8 p.m.; July 12-14; (229) 432-7964

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: 212 N. Jefferson St.; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Monday-Thursday; (229) 436-0196

Sherwood Baptist Church: 2201 Whispering Pines Road; 8 a.m.-noon; June 27-July 1; (229) 883-1910

— According to LifeWay Christian Resources, about 25 percent of the baptisms in Southern Baptist churches each year are a direct result of VBS.

— In 1935, there were about 1,000 Bible schools in the U.S. By 1950, the number had jumped to 20,000. In 2016, it is expected that 180,000 churches nationwide will host a VBS.

— Just over 50 percent of pastors who decided to follow Jesus as a child did so at VBS.

— Albany’s 1933 Daily Vacation Bible School got under way with a parade through downtown. Students — 313 on the first day — faculty members, ministers and city officials were led through the streets by a police officer on motorcycle followed by APD Chief D.W. Brosman’s car. The two-week-long program drew more than 400 children from all across the city and was held at the First United Methodist Church.