Carroll

1952 Vacation Bible School staff - Drumright Assembly of God, Drumright, OK

Front step ... Rev. and Mrs. M.A. Malone, Opal Mizer Wilburn, Artie Mae Glimp Shelton,  Dorothy Capps, Dorthy Wilburn Owens, Pearl Cargill. Second row.... Geneva Mizer Dyer, Nita Rhyne, Candace Shelton. Third row....Mrs. Curtis, Ona Touchat, ??, Mrs. Bird Back row.. Ione Dyer, Margie Rhyne, ??, Florence Brown.

 In 1952 I was six years old and most likely was one of the Vacation Bible School students that lined up to march into the Drumright Assembly of God church auditorium on a Monday morning prior to 9:00 a.m., probably in June.  We lined up by age groups, the youngest to the oldest, a teacher with each age group to keep us orderly.  I’d approximate that 150-200 children were assembled. 

The teachers and helpers had been working for weeks getting everything just right.  I learned as I grew up of the tremendous amount of energy that went into planning the two week programs each summer.  Special study materials had been purchased for each age group around a central theme.   Each minute of the daily 3 hour program was designed around providing a spiritual and fun experience for all the children.  Music, crafts, Bible lessons, and storytime were fashioned to grab our tender hearts and show us the love of Christ.

At 9:00 sharp the music would begin to play and catch the attention of everyone that the exciting adventure was about to begin.  In those days there wasn’t air-conditioning in the church, so the church windows were open allowing the strains of the piano to signal us to begin our march through the double doors into the sanctuary.   The American and Christian flags were carried by volunteers from the older classes at the front of the lines as we proceeded into the church.   Once we were all standing at our assigned pews, the music would stop and we were led in our pledges.  First was our pledge to the flag of the United States ; next the pledge of allegiance to the Christian flag, and finally our pledge to the Bible:

Many might not be acquainted with these Christian pledges:

“I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to our Savior for whose Kingdom it stands; one brotherhood uniting all true Christians in service and in love.”

“I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word.  I will make it a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path.  I will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God.”  

After the pledges we might be greeted by the VBS superintendent, and then led in a stirring anthem.  We’d hear about all the good experiences we were going to have during the next two weeks which would culminate with an evening commencement program on the last Thursday when our parents would be invited to come visit our classrooms to see all the interesting crafts we had made, peruse our workbooks which were designed to help us capture the content of the lessons, to hear our songs, and get a glimpse of the good times we’d all shared.  The final Friday, after general assembly, we all went to Whitlock Park for a fun-filled picnic.

But, back to the opening day.  After general assembly, each group followed its teacher to the assigned classroom.  This was especially fun because during VBS we used the entire building, not just the normal Sunday School classrooms.  You never knew where you would be assigned.  Each teacher had come in early to decorate the rooms in a special way and though we were all thoroughly familiar with our church building, VBS was an adventure and the rooms took on a special aura.

The classes were on varying schedules so that all could have a time of music instruction in the sanctuary and a Kool-aid and cookie break under the trees in the back church yard.  Each teacher would present their lessons, much like Sunday School.  They followed the lesson plan carefully and miraculously the mornings flew by and suddenly it was 11:00 , time to march back into the sanctuary. 

All these activities were provided freely for the children and supplies were purchased out of the church budget; however, I remember each year of VBS the boys and the girls would be pitted against each other to see who could bring the most offering.  There was a set of balancing scales placed on the church altar.  We brought our pennies, dimes, and nickels and dumped them in the open cups that were designated either GIRLS or BOYS, hoping to see the scales tilting our way after the last group had passed by. (The girls always seemed to win!) 

After the offering was collected, for which there was much enthusiasm and rivalry, things quieted down as our VBS superintendent, Sis. Pearl Cargill, came forward to tell us a story using pictures pasted to construction paper which she held for us to see.  The pictures would be changed as the story progressed.  I always enjoyed the story about poor little crippled Jimmy who had been neglected for so many years and by so many people until one day he heard about Jesus who loved him so much that He gave His life to save him and make his heart clean, and to prepare a special place for him in Heaven. 

Many children, like me, found VBS to be two of the greatest weeks during the summer.  I understand that it was a different age and that what worked then wouldn’t’ work for today, but it is definitely something that made an impression on my childhood heart.  Even today, I can still hear the melody swell as we joined our voices in our VBS theme song:  

"The Bible is the Word of God, my guide for every day.
It shows me how to always live the happy useful way. 
It tells me how to speak to God; through it God speaks to me. 
It answers all my questions and it gives me Heaven’s key.”

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