News / Education
VBS partnership is creative solution
Vacation Bible School is evangelistic tool, churches say
At Hawaii Christian Baptist Church, Vacation Bible School is a key strategy for reaching their neighbors. Born six years ago and constituted as a church just last year, the congregation meets in the Waikele Community Park Recreation Center. The building is a small but easily accessible site surrounded by lush playing fields and trees in the booming suburbs west of Honolulu.
"The reason our church wanted to have Vacation Bible School is that we believe it is one of the best ways to reach out to the community for Jesus Christ," said Hawaii Christian Pastor Rudy Gomintong.
Plans to hold their first VBS last year nearly derailed because regular park programming made the facilities unavailable to the church. Undaunted, Gomintong went to a sister congregation, Waipahu Community Christian Church, and found their solution. Hawaii Christian would provide the staff and Waipahu would host VBS for both neighborhoods. The experience was a good one, and this year the partnership continued. VBS director Danny Catlin said, "Many adults work during the day and many children are in year-round school systems, so it’s very difficult to reach them any time but in the evening."
Jerry Wooley, LifeWay’s VBS specialist said he was glad to see Hawaii Christian have a successful VBS at an off-site location. "I hear some churches tell me they can’t do VBS because they don’t have a place. Hawaii Christian debunks that. Share space with another church."
Gomintong and many in his congregation are of Filipino descent, one of the largest ethnic groups in the state. Unlike other areas of the United States, there is no racial/ethnic majority in Hawaii. Those of Asian ancestry account for 41 percent; white, 27 percent; two or more races, 20 percent; native Hawaiian, 9 percent, and others, 3 percent.
The pastor said the diversity of Hawaii’s population actually provides a big plus for their summer outreach efforts.
"All the children in different ethnic groups are very willing to come out to VBS," he said. "We also wanted to reach out to their parents, and make the most of this opportunity to develop relationships and reach out for Jesus Christ. We find Vacation Bible School is steppingstone to getting to share the Gospel. It’s our hearts’ desire to reach out."
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