Battlement Mesa & Parachute Sun

September 2004

By Charlie Hornick, Pastor Grace Bible Church

"Amazing Science and Wonders" was the theme of Grace Bible Church's Daily Vacation Bible School which was held from 8:45 am until noon each day, August 2 through 6. One hundred and eight children from the Parachute/Battlement community and surrounding areas were able to witness scientific experiments from Professor Hugo Wackey's laboratory. Experiments with items such as water, air pressure, heat, and motion were used to show the wisdom and power of God in creating the universe.

Each day began with prayer, pledges to the American and Christian flags and the Bible, and lively songs dealing with creation and the love and wisdom of God. Professor Wackey, played by Pastor Charlie Hornick, along with his young assistants, would make the children laugh as they observed a real live experiment.

A Bible lesson was given to each age group by Missionary Jasson Farmer. Each lesson also contained stories about leading scientists who were Christians such as Johannes Kepler, Michael Faraday, and George Washington Carver.

The children had opportunities during the closing sessions to pet a tarantula and to learn how magnets worked. The Sonshine Gang Puppet Team from Grace Bible Church did puppet programs on Thursday and Friday and the Rods for God Dowell Rod Team performed on Wednesday the song "Tug-a-War." The teens of the church led by Associate Pastor Jeff Niles played an active part.

Director Alice Smith, along with several other adults and teens, worked very hard to make the whole program fun; as well as a learning experience for every child who came. Every part of the program focused on the God of creation and science. The crafts each day, related to the lesson, such as the making of a peanut butterfly on the day George Washington Carver was studied. Even the tasty snacks the children received each day, such as Orbit Jell-O, were in some way connected to the day's theme.

The children also gave of their pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters for the missionary offering. On the last day of Vacation Bible School the children were able to present Missionaries Jasson and Kim Farmer with the total amount of $212.51.

Jasson and Kim live in Battlement Mesa and have plans to leave in March 2005, for Papua New Guinea with New Tribes Mission to start a church among one of the tribes there. The money will be used to help purchase a solar panel for energy to help them with their ministry.