Vacation Bible schools offer fun opportunity for kids

(AP) — Ten-year-olds Hannah King and Ben Smith ran back and forth with their friends at Southside Baptist Church in Ozark before Ben stopped to hug Shirley "Big Momma" Paulk, a vacation Bible school teacher at the church's summer outreach event.

The kids, like several others throughout the Wiregrass, participated in a weeklong vacation Bible school as an opportunity to learn more about Jesus and the Christian faith in a fun way.

According to LifeWay Christian Resources' statistics from five years ago, more than 24,941 Southern Baptist Convention churches reported that they conducted vacation Bible schools.

Benny Ellis, whose grandchildren ages 4 through 12 attended Southside's vacation Bible school, said the earlier a child learns about Jesus the better likelihood they will hold true to the message, even if they strayed from the faith when they were older but later returned.

The teachers enjoyed using their creative minds to teach children with fun-filled teaching techniques as well as educational techniques.