Rainforests, Railways and Rescue Missions: Chesapeake Churches Teach Bible Lessons Through Summer VBS

Columbia, Md. — Congregations throughout the Chesapeake Conference hosted Vacation Bible School programs this summer, teaching children Bible lessons through jungle, railway, desert and space-themed weeks that drew hundreds of kids and leaned on volunteers from across each church family. Ann Reynolds, director of Children’s and Adventurer Ministries for the Chesapeake Conference, visited every VBS program featured below and was thrilled to see how the churches are devoting time and effort for the children.

“VBS is more than a week of fun,” said Reynolds, “it’s an opportunity to invest in the next generation. For Chesapeake Children’s Ministries, supporting churches in their VBS ministry means supporting the Kingdom of God.”

The reports below reflect programs shared with the conference and are a sample of the VBS activity that took place across Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia this summer.

Atholton church welcomed more than 200 registered children to “Rainforest Falls: Discover God’s Unchanging Love” June 21-25, following a community kickoff party June 19 that drew more than 500 guests to the church’s Martin Road campus in Columbia, Maryland. Nightly attendance averaged 160 children and peaked at 170. Volunteers led campers through a jungle-themed sanctuary, pairing daily lessons with Bible verses teaching that God is the creator, knows everything, is a safe place, is love, and is forever. The week closed with a Sabbath celebration in which children placed paper hearts on a display to represent giving their hearts to Jesus.

Ellicott City church also built its VBS week around “Rainforest Falls,” transforming its classrooms into a rainforest jungle where children learned that God created all things. The church’s program included craft time, Bible stories, games, and snacks.

Baltimore White Marsh church revived “Rocky Railway: Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through!,” a theme the congregation originally used during a COVID-era VBS when the program had to be recorded rather than held in person. More than 30 children attended the Rossville Boulevard church daily this year for Bible lessons, worship, crafts, games and snacks centered on Jesus’ love and power. Church members supported the week through prayer, donated supplies from an Amazon wish list, and volunteered time. Linette Zuniga, a VBS volunteer, said the church welcomed many children who visited for the first time and are already excited to return. Baltimore White Marsh Adventist School and the church’s Adventurer Ministry planned an Aug. 30 End-of-Summer Fun Day to keep building relationships with the children who attended VBS.

Triadelphia church in Clarksville, Maryland, sent the conference photos from its “Space Rescue”-themed VBS week.

Reaching Hearts International church in Laurel, Maryland, held a VBS week built around the theme “Cactusville,” which called children to follow Jesus. Leslie Charles led the program, and more than 30 children participated in the weeklong adventure.

Waldorf church also used the “Cactusville” theme, returning to VBS after a nine-year gap. Twenty-five children attended, and nearly 50 volunteers served throughout the week. Volunteers gathered the Sunday before the program to pray over every room, station, and the grounds in a prayer walkthrough. Children took part in Bible stories, singing, crafts and games, and the church collected canned goods and non-perishable items for the Southern Maryland Food Bank as an outreach project. The week ended with a graduation celebration during Divine Worship on Sabbath. One family told the church, “What I appreciated most was that it was Christ-centered. It was not only fun and engaging, but also deeply educational. The children learned so much. They memorized scripture, reflected on it every day, and were able to apply God’s Word through the daily themes and hands-on activities. That made a lasting impact.”

New Castle Spanish church in Wilmington, Delaware, also used the “Cactusville” theme, decorating its sanctuary as a Wild West town with a rodeo arena backdrop. Children wore matching Cactusville bandanas and T-shirts as they took part in crafts, group activities, and an outdoor gathering with families. Pastor Jesus Santana shared that this program was especially meaningful for the kids at his church.

Martinsburg church in Martinsburg, West Virginia, registered 80 children for “Journey with Jesus,” an original program written by Aidan Sammons, a Southern Adventist University student serving as the congregation’s summer intern pastor. Children and their families spent the week learning about Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and love. The church’s young adult group anchored the week, while other members helped with decorating, setup, snacks, storytelling, crafts and outdoor games. Each evening, Sammons used object lessons to reinforce the night’s theme, followed by a skit performed by the young adults on different aspects of Jesus’ life. The week closed with a family water play evening. The church invited families to a Family Worship Time on Sept. 12, followed by a picnic at the river.

Ann Reynolds, Adventurers and Children’s Ministries Director for the Chesapeake Conference, compiled these reports from churches throughout the summer. To learn more about how to implement a Vacation Bible School in your church, please visit here.