Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky., Karen Owen Column: Vacation Bible School Benefits Family
By Karen Owen, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
Jun. 9–Vacation Bible school can be an exciting time in the life of the church, but it can also be a lot of work.
Knee deep in Popsicle sticks and tissue paper, some volunteers may be wondering if all this work is worth it.
It was for one Owensboro family, at least.
John Hitchell and his family were living in Normal, Ill., several years ago. His sons attended school with the sons of the local Christian Church minister.
The Hitchells were Presbyterians and sporadic church attendees at the time, but the minister’s family invited the Hitchell boys to vacation Bible school. The parents attended the final program of the week.
At the time, “I didn’t know a whole lot about the church,” Hitchell admits.
His family started attending some Bible studies at the same church, and “it was very beneficial,” Hitchell says. He says his faith became much stronger because of it.
The Hitchells moved to Owensboro 28 years ago and got involved at Owensboro Christian Church. Hitchell, 78, is now an elder there and chairman of the board.
His church usually hosts 800 to 900 children for the annual week of Bible study and fun. This year’s event will be June 18-21.
Vacation Bible school may be the only contact some youngsters have with the church, Hitchell said. “I think it’s worth all the time and effort we put into it.”
Shourds leaving
A Methodist minister who has been deeply involved in Kentucky Wesleyan College, strengthening its denominational ties, is leaving the college.
The Rev. Adam Shourds, who has been campus minister at Wesleyan the last four years, is joining the staff of Broadway United Methodist Church in Bowling Green.
Shourds, 30, who lives near Patronville, will be an associate pastor in charge of small group ministry and community outreach at Broadway, which runs about 1,000 to 1,100 people in worship on Sundays.
He will be working with all ages there.
“There are a lot of good reasons to stay, except I felt called to go,” Shourds said. “I really did feel called back into the local church.”
Shourds is a Wesleyan graduate and was still attending Louisville Presbyterian Seminary when he joined the college’s staff.
Shourds worked to build connections between Wesleyan and area congregations and with staff members of the Kentucky Annual Conference, brought ministers’ training events to Wesleyan and helped develop and teach courses for a new minor in Christian ministry there.
His last day at Wesleyan will be Friday.
Shourds is being replaced by his brother-in-law, the Rev. Kent Lewis, who was also his predecessor as student minister.
During his absence from the school, Lewis was an associate pastor in Louisville and a pastor in Sebree. He officially returns to Wesleyan July 1.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
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