I was sitting in the back seat of Pastor’s car, as he, his wife and I were on our way to lunch. “Are you coming to VBS (Vacation Bible School) tonight?” he asked. “And be around a bunch of screaming and yelling kids? Besides, I have to run the gym tonight because the coach is not going to be there,” I answered. “So you can be around screaming and yelling adults instead of kids,” the pastor commented with what sounded like a bit of sarcasm. “Screaming and cussing adults!” his wife giggled. The folks at the gym don’t curse that much, and they are more pleasant to be around than a horde of kids.
VBS at my church is referred to as “Family Nights”, which I believe is a turn-off to some folks, especially me. Pastor always says, “It doesn’t matter if you’re single, or if you don’t have kids, you are welcomed!” There is an adult Bible study component of the VBS, but traditionally, VBS is not designed for anyone over the age of twelve.
Against my better judgement, I allowed myself to be talked into going to one of the “Family Nights”. The festivities opened with a sugary-sweet song/cheer more suited to kindergarten students. I sat in the adult Bible study which was constantly interupted by kids either looking for their parents or just peeking in to be nosy. Everyone was gathered back in the main room for a skit where it was painfully apparent that the kids involved didn’t practice their lines. The kids sitting in the audience were too busy passing notes, giggling and whispering, when they weren’t hopping up and down. I don’t think they learned much about the Gospel that night.
I didn’t learn much either, other than VBS is not for adults, and I should not attend again.
