Stepping Into the 'Time Lab'

and Impacting Global Missions

What do time travel, the globe and nationally-acclaimed Christian comedian, Anita Renfroe, have in common? The 2018 Vacation Bible School (VBS) hosted by Friendship Baptist Church in June!

This June, area children are invited to take part during the annual, week-long VBS. The theme will be “Time Lab”, and attendees, from kindergarten to 8th grade, will travel back in time to experience the Bible in living color, as the stories are brought to life via skits, crafts, dress up days, theme-related snacks and so much more! “It is like nothing you have ever seen—this VBS,” recalls church member, Julie Dermody. “About 150 families come together to help, and it is absolutely amazing!”

Not only do students have the opportunity to grow and learn via time travel into the Bible during the week-long event, students will also have the opportunity to give back—to impact global missions on an incredible scale!  “Each spring, three boy captains and three girl captains are appointed as volunteers to spearhead the VBS teams, the boys versus the girls, in a competition designed to raise funds for missionaries currently serving in the field,” explains Dermody. After the captains are in place, they begin brainstorming and organizing different fundraisers leading up to VBS in an effort to lead their teams to victory by donating the most money to missions. This year, missionaries in Costa Rica and Ethiopia stand to benefit from their efforts.

The kids are dreaming big, and the creativity is inspiring! This year, the boys have secured a major performance which is open to the public. For one night only, on Friday, June 8, Anita Renfroe will perform in Owasso at Friendship Baptist Church. Tickets may be purchased at the door; however, advance ticket purchases at $25.00 are encouraged, as seating is limited. 

The girls have had some fantastic fundraising ideas as well. They hosted a Royalty Brunch for princes and princesses of all ages in May along with a variety of other events, including a successful bake sale.

Then, during the week of VBS, all of the attendees get in on the action, working in whatever capacity they are able to donate their individual earnings to the cause. It is a concerted effort of all of the kids, both before and during VBS, and the amount of funding coming from each source is kept a secret. In other words, no one knows how much was contributed by the captain-led events prior to VBS, thus no matter the amount of contribution, every child wins in the end. “It is so much more meaningful in that the children are encouraged not to just ask for donations, but to work for whatever they are able to earn the money and donate it,” explains Dermody. The excited expectation of the children is visible throughout the week of VBS, as they wait to see whether their sacrifices will take the top prize in the annual boys versus girls competition.

The real winners, however, are the souls that are impacted, globally, by a group of children from Oklahoma with such a big vision. Astoundingly, over thirty thousand dollars have been raised in past years which is proof-positive that youth are capable of great things!