Summer is over, and swimming outside will need to wait until next year, but there is something else that students can dive into…VBS! The kindergarteners and the 1st – 5th graders of the Minot Protestant Community on Minot AFB will have a chance to dive into a friendship with God at the SCUBA Vacation Bible School (VBS) on Saturday, September 7th. This free VBS is open to all the children of base families, no matter what their religious affiliation or church attendance.

According to Chaplain Harris, 5th Bomb Wing Chaplain/HC at the North Plains Chapel, “Our hope is that through the one-day VBS, families and their children experience a fun-filled day in a safe environment where they can connect to other families, and to the faith community here at Minot Air Force Base.”

Before the day’s morning and afternoon rotations begin, the kids will participate in a a Sing & Play Splash. This is a large group time with high energy music, video skits, and a place to meet a new Bible Memory Buddy. Some hymns planned to be sung at the VBS are: Thanks, God (this year’s VBS theme song), One True God, Count Your Blessings, One Big Family, and Forever God.

Kids can expect a full day in a small group that include skits, songs, and stories and four rotations including 1) Deep Bible Adventures, 2) Sticky Scripture Memory, 3) Imagination Station, and 4) Rec. Breakfast is free and available during drop-off, and snacks will be provided to the children, but parents are asked to pack nut-free lunch(es) for their children.

Chaplain Harris says that this VBS will take the kids deep into an amazing undersea adventure where they’ll experience the ever-flowing, never-ending love of God. At the Scuba VBS, kids will be immersed in the Word and discover what living water is all about. For example, in the morning’s Deep Bible Adventure, the Bible Story is God Shows Compassion to the People of Nineveh (Jonah 1-3). The Bible Buddy is Finnley the Dolphin. In the afternoon’s Deep Bible Adventure, the Bible Story is Jesus Calms a Storm. (Mark 4: 35-41)

According to Chaplain Harris, the Sticky Scripture rotation helps the kids “deepen” their Bible literacy skills. They “dive” into God’s Word with multiple senses, understanding the words, where they are in Scripture, and how the verse applies to them today. He says “That’s Bible-deep, and it changes everything!” Sticky Scripture contains a fun, interactive video that explores the meaning of the morning/afternoon verse, motions and visuals to help the kids remember the verse, and Scripture exploration to add important context to the verse and to teach hands-on Bible navigation skills.

Finally, the Imagination Station is like a arts and crafts activity, but it incorporates fun, STEM learning experiments that engage kids imagination and learning.

Chaplain Harris is currently recruiting volunteers to serve at the VBS. If anyone would like to volunteer for the VBS, go to https://forms.gle/iBc9ZgTp22QXP1Fp8. Or you can email Ch, Captain Brian Harris at brian.harris.48@us.af.mil to indicate your desire to serve during the event. All volunteers will be background checked, and qualified personnel will maintain a line-of-sight supervision during the event. A person from the chapel will contact you with the next steps.

To register for the event: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5iJfqhTp3ZhluW5zbl4WhyUep5v68n3glw1XEJ18L4cac2A/viewform

There is one registration per child, and each child must bring a sack lunch. Please register soon since the first 100 registrations are guaranteed attendance. If you register past the 100 limit, you will go on a waiting list. So, on September 7th bring the kids to the VBS at the MAFB North Plains Chapel. VBS is back, and it’s filled with faith-based fun!