VBS: Rocky Railway

El Dorado First Baptist Church held its annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) the week of July 6 – 10.  This year’s theme was “Rocky Railway: Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through” and it was quite the adventure with the train theme everywhere you looked throughout the church. 

VBS students learned about the power of Jesus to help them in all of life’s situations, through a variety of daily activities. Small groups rotated through stations that were conducted by volunteers. 

VBS students singing songs about the power of Jesus to pull them through.

Stations included bible story time, games, crafts, snacks and songs. Each station incorporated a daily verse that coordinated with the theme.  For students who memorized all of the week’s verses earned a special ribbon at the end. 

Laura Spradlin speaking to students about the craft activity of the day.

Students played games that help them learn their bible verses each day.

This year’s mission focus was on the Pregnancy and Family Resource Center (PFRC).

According to Associate Pastor of Discipleship, Matt Click, “We love what they’re doing in this community. They have such a high regard for the value of human life, for babies, for moms and for families.”

Pastor Matt Click conducting bible story time.

Click said, “We felt like, when talking about being missional, we really wanted to help our kids foster and cultivate that love for what PFRC is doing.” 

Allison Barkus, Nurse Manager with PFRC, prepares to perform an ultrasound during VBS week.

Allison Barkus, Nurse Manager with PFRC, and volunteer model Noel Hatfield, joined the Middle School group to talk about the mission on PFRC and demonstrate a sonogram. Providing free ultrasounds are part of the mission of PFRC.

Mario Triana leading Bible time with Middle school students ,

Throughout the week, students brought in money that they obtained through a variety of ways including extra chores at home and multiple lemonade stands and bake sales.

Donations were placed in pink or blue containers inside a baby crib to track who raised the most funds in a friendly competition.

A healthy competition teamed the girls against the boys and brought in over $2700. Their goal is $3,000 and each year, on the Sunday following VBS, the El Dorado First Baptist Church family collects a special offering to assist the VBS with reaching their goal.

Learn about your Ancestry

Many people received DNA kits for Christmas and have or will be soon receiving their results. 

The Butler County Genealogy Society is able to help you get started understanding those results.  

If you’ve asked yourself any of the following questions:

I got my DNA test results back.  Now what do I do?

How do I make sense out of all my matches?

Can my ancestry DNA be attached to my Ancestry tree? If so, then what’s the advantages of doing this and how do I do that?

How to approach a DNA match who might be a surprise in the family?

If you’ve wondered about these things or more then you are invited to join the monthly genealogy meeting at the Butler County Historical Society and the Kansas Oil Museum on Thursday, Jan 15 from 6 to 8 pm.

Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

LOVE ONE ANOTHER was the theme of this year’s ‘National Day of Prayer’ celebration held on May 2, 2019, at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.

Mayor Vince Haines shared some of the history surrounding the National Day of Prayer.

Mayor Haines stated that the first call to prayer was in 1775.  Our founding fathers prayed for wisdom to form this nation.  The inclusion of prayer in many of the early documents highlights the fact that prayer was a cherished aspect of daily life for them.

On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States.  President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer.

This year’s program featured Kimberly Fross, Executive Director of the Pregnancy and Family Resource Center, who shared her testimony and gift of song.

National Day of Prayer Speaker Kimberly Fross.

The opening prayer was given by Wade Graber.

Old and New Testament readings were performed by Kimberly’s sister, Shelley Merritt and mother, Ila Jean Crawford.  The closing prayer was given by Dave Slayton.

From left to right, Wade Graber, Larry Crawford, Ila Jean Crawford, Kimberly Fross, Shelley Merritt, Jean Plummer, Mayor Vince Haines, and Dave Slayton. 

 

Kansas Oil Museum | Family Fun Day

Kansas Oil Museum Family Fun Day, with the theme of the ‘Roaring Twenties,’ to help kids learn about 1920’s culture and style, was held on Saturday, September 15th.  The museum hosts the Free Family Fun Days for children of all ages and their families on the third Saturday of each month from 12-4p.  

Ardath Lawson, Museum Curator develops the monthly program with games and learning activities that center around a different theme each month.  

While regular admission rates still apply for touring the museum galleries, many of our free Fun Days showcase items from the museum collections for kids to look at and handle, providing a chance for unique hands-on encounters with history, nature, and science.

The next Free Family Fun Day at the Kansas Oil Museum is scheduled for Saturday, October 20th and the theme is “Spooky Spectacular” and will include Halloween and spooky things.