For half a decade, members from the Port Moody Pacific Grace Mennonite Brethren Church have traveled up to Prince Rupert to help teach local children about their religion through Vacation Bible School, an enjoyable weeklong program that teaches kids about God.
“We are here to teach the children about God.” Said Fiona Wu, who is the Children’s Ministry Lead from Port Moody Pacific Grace MB Church adding, “We do a lot of things [with the children] like singing songs, doing crafts, Bible stories, and games to teach them about God and The Bible that we believe in.”
Vacation Bible School kicked off in Prince Rupert five years ago, when the senior pastor from the Port Moody Pacific Grace MB Church traveled through the small communities in between Prince George and Fort St. John. While he was in Prince Rupert the senior pastor from the Port Moody church connected with the local sister church, the Cornerstone Mennonite Brethren Church, and offered to VBS program for children living in Prince Rupert.
Since, the annual Vacation Bible School has increased in size, with around forty-five young children attending the program this year. The theme for the weeklong Vacation Bible School was “Son Surf Beach Bash”, with the lessons incorporating beaches and surfing with God.
“We hope that the children have fun and enjoy one another, as well as learn more about God, and that they will choose to be the person that God wants them to be, and bless one another and the community.” Commented Wu, before adding, “We aren’t just serving the church, we are serving the whole community.”
The program ended on Friday, August 26, when a beach themed closing ceremony was held at the Cornerstone Church. At the celebration, the children performed religious songs to their parents or guardians, as well as indulging in a yummy surfboard cake.