Activities, Christian message mix at Bible school

MOSES LAKE - The kids were mixing marshmallow creme and chocolate sauce to use as a dipping sauce for their pretzels, and Cheri Ann Bickler, wearing a classic stewardess uniform and cap, saw the opportunity for a lesson in philosophy.

Mix the chocolate into the marshmallow cream, she said. "Do you think you could get it out?"

"Not easily," said one of the kids watching.

Bickler explained in Christian doctrine it's like that with Jesus - once a person accepts him and lets him in, it's difficult to separate man from God. That's how the Vacation Bible School at the Moses Lake Presbyterian Church is conducted, lots of activities mixed with Bible lessons and Christian teaching.

The church has been sponsoring its popular program for about 12 years, said Lynn Frey, the program director. "We have over 300 kids this year - actually I think we're up to 320 with our nursery and our preschool," Frey said. Actually it's about 340, said Nancy Nishida, one of the volunteers.

Each day the children listen to a Bible-theme story, make a snack, play games, work a science experiment and watch a video. Supervising more than 300 children who are making snacks, playing games and conducting experiments requires a small army of volunteers - this year the crew consists of 167 people, said pastor Eric Frey.

"Many of them give up their vacation to be with us," Lynn Frey said.

"We kind of go all out to get volunteers, to decorate, to make it a fun week for the kids," Eric Frey said. It's one of the church's biggest outreach programs, Lynn Frey said.

Each year's activities are built around a theme. For 2012 it's "Sky, where everything is possible with God," Lynn Frey said.

Inside the church the walls are covered with kites and clouds and model airplanes; a parachute fills the ceiling along one hallway. The main stage and the biplane overhead were designed by John Jeniga, who's designed them for years. "Every year we have sets that are over the top," Lynn Frey said.

The idea behind all the fun and decoration is to acquaint the children with the Christian message. To that end the kids are asked to think about evidence of God in the world and in their lives, think about what they learn and apply it in their lives, she said.

"It's a beautiful thing. Honestly, it's the children and the volunteers, and their hearts, that make it a joyful experience," she said.

"It is a great time, fun, meaningful," Eric Frey said. "There's excitement by the kids and by the volunteers to be a part of this." The volunteers come back year after year, he said. "We see the same kids come back, over and over." Frey said one of the 2012 volunteers used to attend faithfully, until she grew into a volunteer role.

The week wound up with a barbecue for children and their families, and the children have been invited to present a program on what they learned at the church's Sunday services.