Church transformed to jungle for VBS
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Miles and miles away from the nearest rain forest, the dedicated members of Grace Baptist Church at 3731 West Point Road in LaGrange have turned their sanctuary into a jungle, complete with chirping birds and waterfalls.
As part of their 2015 Vacation Bible School, roughly 20 volunteers spent two days decorating and preparing for the roughly 200 adults and children that have flowed into their program each day this week.
This year’s theme, “Journey Off the Map,” takes the youngsters on a journey to a place far away to learn about their faith and how they can live it in their everyday lives, said Karen Tucker, the VBS’s director.
Each day, the program has offered supper, worship and activities for the participants — all of it offered free of charge, Tucker said.
In addition to the large display in the sanctuary, their parish hall was also transformed by volunteers. A large display in the center recreates a jungle hut, complete with palm trees and even a wooden bridge leading into the hall.
Participants are as young as two years old all the way up to adulthood. The large turnout this year at Grace Baptist, lead by the Rev. Donnie Benefield, has left Tucker nearly speechless.
“This is just so wonderful,” she said. “We’re truly blessed to have this turnout and I’m so thankful.”