2011 Vacation Bible School

"Take Faith to the Max!(Extreme Faith)"

This year's VBS was held the June 27 - 30. We had a fantastic turn-out (averaging over 30 a night) and lots of folks attended our closing program.

The theme this year was "Take Faith to the Max!" The lessons were based on Naaman the leper, Jonah and the Whale, and the Armor of God. The children participated in fun skits based on the Bible stories, learned some great songs, and enjoyed the puppets, magic, crafts and food.

Glenda and Mike Mann presented our VBS for the 5th year. The Manns have appeared throughout the Midwest in churches, schools, fairs and festivals. At VBS they present the Gospel to the children in a fun and exciting way, using Bible verses, original music, story telling, illusions, and puppetry. Glenda presents visual messages with her illusions, which she uses as object lessons. She calls her presentations "gospel magic" or "puzzles for the eyes." She quickly gains the attention of adults as well as children. Mike, the ventriloquist, humorously converses with the puppets.

Jonah and the Whale

Performing a Song

Listening to a lesson

VBS is fun!

2010 Vacation Bible School - "Rock Solid"

Vacation Bible School at St. Matthew's Evangelical was held the evenings of June 28 through July 1, 2010. The theme was "BEING A ROCK SOLID CHRISTIAN". VBS was again presented by Glenda and Mike Mann.

For the four evenings of our 2010 VBS, our attendance was 24, 25, 29, and 26. We were very pleased with the turnout and are grateful to everyone who helped with VBS. As always, everyone had a wonderful time at VBS! The church was filled with joy, music and laughter!

With the help of Glenda and Mike and their puppets Gertrude the Dog, Calypo the monkey, Billie, and Hector the Ostrich, the children learned lessons and songs and acted out skits about Daniel in the Lion's Den, Balaam and the talking donkey, and keeping our "Hearthouses" clean. Each day except Thursday a light meal was served. Crafts included making "talking donkey" puppets, and decorating the treat bags that were later filled with gifts and treats and taken home at the end of VBS. During the week, the children also got to take home some wonderful balloon creations made by Glenda.  Closing night was extra special as the children sang the songs they learned, and the magic show included the appearances of a live bunny and dove. Hector the Ostrich helped with one trick where it appeared he might lose his head! Then to top it off, one of the children got sawed in half (but he was successfully mended with a giant bandaid)!

2009 Vacation Bible School

St. Matthew's Evangelical held its 2009 Vacation Bible School Monday June 29 through Thursday July 2, 2009.

Mike and Glenda Mann led our VBS for the 4th year. This year's theme was "God's Detectives: Inside Information!" We had very good attendance that included children that regularly attend our church, other children from the surrounding neighborhood, and those that are relatives and friends of church members.

Each day, Glenda and Mike Mann taught biblical principals and presented the gospel through storytelling, illusions (by Glenda), ventriloquism (by Mike), puppets and lively original music. Everyone enjoyed the funny puppets (monkey, dog, ostrich and boy)and the illusions that magically produced a rabbit, white doves, etc. The children took home some awesome balloon animals made by Glenda.

A light meal was served the first three days and the children made some simple crafts. We had a balloon release on the third day. The balloons bore messages of God's love from St. Matthew's VBS. At the closing program on the last day, the children performed songs that they had learned, and Glenda performed some special illusions. The closing was attended by parents, grandparents, church members and friends, and each child received a box of fun things to take home.

2008 Vacation Bible School

God truly blessed our Vacation Bible School held Tues. through Fri. evenings, June 24 - 27, 2008. For the 3rd year Glenda and Mike Mann lead our VBS. The theme was "Beyond Imagination!" based on Ephesians 3:20 "He...is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..." Our attendance grew each day. The children learned Bible verses, stories and lessons, learned songs (written by Glenda), and learned the difference between "magic" that people do and that is only trickery, and "miracles" that only God does. A different puppet (a monkey, a dog and a boy) appeared each night with Mike (a ventriloquist).

The children also did crafts, played "balloon volleyball," and enjoyed a light meal together each evening Tues-Thurs, and several times took home some balloon animals created by Glenda. On Wednesday the children released balloons bearing bookmarks identifying the church and with a message that "The 2008 VBS Kids want you to know that God Loves You!" It was great fun watching the balloons soar over the treetops and wonder where they would land!

At the Closing Program on Friday the children sang the songs they learned at VBS and performed a skit about Samson and Delilah. Billie the puppet performed with Mike, and Glenda made Blackstone (a rabbit) and a white dove appear magically. The children received gift bags as they left. Families, friends, and church members attended the Closing.