About 200 children filled Clarkston Community Church for Vacation Bible School, this year simulating ancient Rome and the underground Christian church.
During the weeklong program, campers visited with the Apostle Paul, travelled led through a Roman marketplace, learned songs, played games, and learned about life in Biblical times.
“People didn’t know what a tomato was,? said Max Calzada. ‘When we describe it, they think we’re talking about an apple.”
They also raised about $800 in their Operation Kid-to-Kid coin drive to support a modern-day underground church in the Middle East, said Lori Jeung.
The campers began and ended each day with Extollo, praise in song, said music instructor Denise Janke.
“It’s really neat,” Janke said. “The kids live in Rome, literally. They really get it.”
The children learned Bible verses, worked on daily challenges in the community, and talked about what they learned, she said.
“They get into it ? in character, we ask children about this Jesus they are hearing about, and the kids tell us,” said Ann McMichael. “We ask them to share Jesus with us, and they do.”
One thing they learned about the early Church: the Ichthys symbol of a fish, used to identify the faithful to each other.
“It’s a sign ? it shows you’re a believer in Jesus,? said camper Sammy Haremza, whose group included campers Hanna Jeung, Anna Higgins, Jessica Larson, and Madison Young.
‘It was very dangerous for early Christians,” Hanna said. “Caesar didn’t like them, and took away their money and shops.”
“They’d have to worship in caves and tunnels, underground church,” Higgins said.
“Guards shut down the shop. They don’t like Christians because they believe in God, and they believes in other gods,” said Larson.
Why did they stick with it, despite the hardships?
“God always sticks with you and always love you,” Young said.