This year’s vacation Bible school at Foundry Methodist Church in Great Bend is a sports camp with lessons on baseball or softball, basketball, and rifle safety and target shooting. The class is available for children 8-13 years old and is free of charge.
This is a real sports camp with real coaches teaching real skills, the Rev. Kevin Baxter said. “We will also be discussing what it means to live a real Christian life.”
The program will be offered from 6 to 9 p.m., July 21-24, at Foundry Methodist Church, 5401 Broadway Ave. Preregister by calling Kristi Mason at 620-282-2689. Participants will be able to take up two sports each evening.
“The last night we’re going to have actual games,” Baxter said.
There will also be a shorter program for children from preschool through second grade, said Mason. They won’t be handling any firearms, and their classes will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Preregistration is desired by registration will take place each night. Early registration is especially recommended because the number of air rifles for target practice is limited and parental consent is required. Also, children must attend the first night of safety training to attend other rifle classes.
Baxter noted that Foundry Methodist offered a different sports-themed VBS in the past. He wrote the curriculum for this program, titled, “Player or Pretender: Mastering the Christian Life.”
“The idea is to help them develop basic skills in these sports, under the direction of people who know the sports,” Baxter said. “And then we’re going to talk about mastering the Christian life. How do we grow in our Christian faith? These classes will be between the sports.”
Baxter notes the keys to success in sports, living a Christian life, or any other aspect of life include the basics of being committed and disciplined, turning weakness into strength, and testing.
The instructors are:
• Bob Marcum, coach of the national junior girl’s softball champion Great Bend Rebels and owner of Precision Printing. Members of the Rebels will also be lending their talents.
• Josh Allman, coach of the Great Bend Bobcats (Hap Dumont under 11 team) and a third-grade teacher at Eisenhower.
• Nicholl Weigel, freshman girl’s basketball coach for Great Bend USD 428. She is a sixth-grade teacher at Eisenhower.
•Todd Kaiser, head coach of Great Bend’s varsity cross country and track teams. He is an assistant coach for the football teams and a physical education instructor at Eisenhower.
•Marlyn Poncin, who is well known by the pickup basketball world. He works for Miller’s Oilfield Warehouse.
• Scott Smith, who is licensed by the 4-H organization in rifle safety. He works for Custom ReBath.
• Greg McAlister, an officer at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.
• Scott Boeh, an avid hunter who is employed at Ritchie Exploration.
• Parker Smith, daughter of Scott Smith, and an award-winning marksman.