Amidst all the fun – the singing, the crafts, the storytelling, the candy, the water-balloon relays – Melissa Eisele was hoping to instill a message in the children who attended Vacation Bible School at First Christian Church.

The theme – all Bible schools need a theme – was “SonTreasure Island.”

“The message is that God’s love is the greatest treasure of all,” said Eisele, who organized last week’s event at the church, 1000 Ky.

Across Lawrence, and in nearly every community across the country, this is the season for Vacation Bible Schools. Children flock to churches to have a good time, and leaders hoping they can learn some Scripture at the same time.

“You sneak in the learning,” Eisele said.

‘Learn stuff’

Many churches go through publishing companies to get themes and materials for their Bible schools.

That was what First Christian Church did, opting for the popular “SonTreasure Island” through a company called Gospel Light.

Eisele said between 50 and 60 children came each morning to the Bible school, which ran from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Nearly 50 volunteers helped out in the departments of games, snacks, stories, crafts and music.

Sarah Kinder, 10, and Meagen Ziegler, 10, share some time together on a project during Vacation Bible School at the First Christian Church, 1000 Ky. Many churches in Lawrence capitalize on summer downtime to invite children in for additional biblical study.

Here are the reasons several children gave for going to the weeklong school:

¢ Nathan Koehn, 8 years old: “I’ve learned stuff, like Scriptures.”

¢ Courtney Nottingham, 9: “I remember last year was really fun. I enjoyed it. I want to teach someday.”

¢ Kenzie Garvin, 9: “It’s really fun. I get to learn about God and more about the Bible.”

¢ Austin Tucker, 8: “Candy. The candy’s good.”

‘Best behavior’

Kelley Workman, in her first year organizing a VBS, knew the task would be difficult – to make church exciting for children.

“What I was really working for was to make them want to come to church and want to learn about God,” said Workman, a member of Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church, 847 Ohio. “I wanted to put it in a format where they want to come. Kids don’t want to hear a preacher preach. It doesn’t catch their eye.”

Morgan Mattan, 11, gets some help from crafts instructor Janet Ambrose.

Workman also decided on the “SonTreasure Island” theme for her church’s VBS, which averaged 35 to 40 children a weeknight for five days in June.

She said one of the keys for Ninth Street’s VBS was to be upfront with children about behavior policies. She said she had adult volunteers designated to take children home if they were misbehaving, though no one was sent home.

“Everyone was on their best behavior,” she said.

Adventure meets courage

While several churches’ children were hanging out on SonTreasure Island, First Southern Baptist Church were spending time in the Arctic.

The theme for their VBS, which took place during mornings during a week in June, was “Arctic Edge: Where Adventure Meets Courage.”

Each day, the children learned about a different Bible verse and also did crafts and music, played games and ate snacks. At the end of the day, the group got together for a closing assembly.

“I hate to use the term, but that was to hammer it in, to make sure they learned the lesson,” said Sandy Bush, one of the organizers.

Bush offered this tip for churches planning a VBS: “I think one thing we do successfully, and it probably sounds minor, but it’s our decorating. We really did the sanctuary up good. It’s their first impression when they walk in. There’s music playing, and their first impression is it looks fun and inviting.”

Reaching children

At Clinton Parkway Assembly of God, 3200 Clinton Parkway, children are learning about other cultures.

On Sunday mornings during July, the VBS theme there is “Trading Places.” Each week, children learn about a different country – Mexico, Brazil, Poland, China and Kenya.

“The theme,” said Monica Burwick, the VBS organizer, “is kind of Jesus makes a world of difference. No matter who you are or where you are, Jesus Christ loves you.”

Burwick said her church is averaging 30 to 35 children each Sunday.

“I think it’s a good way to reach kids during the summer time,” she said. “They get to play the game or do the craft or be in a skit about the Bible story. It’s not just lecturing or teaching them. It’s a more active learning method.”