Listen to this article
VBS reaches out to community.
With the help of 40 volunteers, the Long Beach Corps (Calif.) rocked the dock this summer with their vacation Bible school (VBS) program. “Crocodile Dock: Where Kids Shine God’s Light” drew almost 90 children daily.
For the fourth consecutive year, Christopher and Joanne Golden coordinated the program; Majors Glen and Linda Madsen are corps officers and Captains Luis and Korina Acosta are associate corps officers.
“I was very impressed with the volunteers—everyone gave it their all,” said Chris. Joanne added, “We do everything we can to ensure this program runs as smoothly as possible, including our VBS leaders’ meetings, which are beginning to resemble corporate board meetings where we provide everyone with manuals—designed by Chris and me—with generic and personalized information to help prepare and guide every volunteer.”
With its strong leadership, the VBS outreach runs as a well-organized, educational and fun program. Chris said, “Not only do the children who attend our VBS benefit from this program, but they also collect money for World Services by having a boys-versus-girls penny drive. Every year the children raise well over $300.” The total of last year’s competition was nearly $500.
What inspires the kids’ fundraising efforts? Yes, they are helping others, but an ulterior motive is also present. If the boys win the penny battle, Chris gets to throw a pie in Joanne’s face and if the girls win, Joanne throws a pie at Chris. Victorious for the last four years, the girls triumphed by only $2.00 this year.
“Chris wants to get a dunking tank next year,” said Joanne. “We have a lot of fun.”