The 2023 Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Chattanooga First Church was an unforgettable flight to a destination that everyone on board was eager to reach. The VBS program, a simulation that competed with reality, got underway on Monday, July 24, 2023, when Adventure Airlines Flight 316 was preparing to take off for its final destination, Heaven.
As the 6 p.m. boarding time approached, the eager passengers, with parents in tow, entered the check-in area where the Departure Board posted flight arrival and departure times. They filed past the waiting area where a few travelers watched a sleek airplane glide by the window. All the props and decorations were impressively realistic.
The 4- to 10-year-old passengers made their way through the cordoned-off line to the Ticket Agents’ desk, where four pleasant and efficient agents waited to serve them. “We’re the first point of contact, so we try to be hospitable and friendly so they’ll want to travel with us again,” said Lorna Durrant, one of the agents.
With all their documents in good order, the passengers received their boarding pass. Then it was on to the next stop, Security, where TSA rep Pat Pearson checked their documents before giving them clearance. Once cleared, they entered the wide-bodied aircraft (aka the church sanctuary), now outfitted with a cockpit and other trappings of a flight getting ready for takeoff. The helpful flight attendants on board were easily recognizable in their uniforms topped off with a distinctive scarf.
Getting the flight prepared for takeoff, Melissa Bradshaw (“Miss Melissa”), chief flight attendant, in her crisp uniform and authentic flight attendant hat, gave the pre-flight “welcome aboard” and vital instructions. She offered a prayer for the passengers and crew. When everything was n ready, the voice of the captain came across the intercom: “Prepare for take-off!” The voice sounded just like John Bradshaw’s.
A delightful part of the flight occurred prior to takeoff when passengers and crew burst into song led by Miss Melissa. It was their theme song that would cheer them on the way to their destination. “J-E-S-U-S is my P-I-L-O-T” is the catchy first line of the song. The next line tells why they are so eager to go on the trip. “He lived and died so I could be with Him eternally.” And, it ends by inviting everyone to “pack your bags and come with me on Flight 316.” Not satisfied with just one song, the passengers sang a new Scripture song: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee,”
Isaiah 46:3. They learned it quickly and sang it with enthusiasm, the way they would other Scripture songs during the long flight.
Adventure Airlines Flight 316 had stopovers in a number of intriguing places, among them New Zealand, England, Brazil, and Africa. At each stop, clearly presented on the in-flight big screen, they picked up a lot of knowledge and appreciation for God’s wonderful and diverse world.
Regular VBS activities were neatly folded into the simulated flight. Zone leaders, each wearing a different color T-shirt, led the children to the four different activity groups: snacks, crafts, games, and Bible. Each evening, all the children had a chance to rotate into each of the groups with their zone leader. Young flight attendants in their recognizable uniforms rolled carts of goodies four times during the evening to serve snacks to each group. This was a pleasurable duty for Arlete, one of the flight attendants, who said with a smile, “I enjoy serving the passengers.”
Rusty Williams, senior pastor, was a visible presence at VBS, to which he gave strong support. The program’s air travel theme reminded him of a popular phrase from the past.
“When I was growing up, there was a bumper sticker that said, ‘Jesus Is My Co-Pilot’” he recalled. “It sounded great, but as you look closer, if we are the pilot, we are not releasing control of our lives to Him. I am so happy that times have changed, and we are teaching our kids to completely rely upon Jesus. It was so good to hear the kids singing ‘J-E-S-U-S is my P-I-L-O-T.’” He added, “When you are experiencing the turbulence of life, it is good to know that Jesus is at the controls.”
The five-day VBS program, an innovative, spiritual learning experience for 4- to 10-year-olds, developed by Melissa Bradshaw of It Is Written, is designed to be part of a series of VBS materials she is working on to provide Adventist churches with programs that reflect Adventist beliefs instead of having to borrow from other sources.
Adventure Airlines Flight 316 was a memorable experience for the 57 youngsters who participated in VBS at Chattanooga First Church. One of the youngest passengers, Jaxton, couldn’t settle on just one thing that he liked best about VBS. When he was asked to tell, he said, “Everything!” with gusto and repeated his one-word answer. He spoke for most of the children. One parent who had three children in the program said she was very pleased that “it stresses Bible verses.”
The aura of an airplane trip permeated the VBS atmosphere right from the start, and, along with everyone involved, Miss Melissa, chief flight attendant, hopes that the excitement and joy it created will motivate the children “to look forward to going to God’s vacation place on a trip that will last forever.”
Judith Nembhard is a member of the Chattanooga First Church.
Georgia-Cumberland | December 2024
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