Page 18 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 6-19-15

June 19, 2015 FEATURE Thunderbolt
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Spiritual pillar

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56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Prekindergarten and kindergarten children compete June 4 in a game of red light, green light at the Luke Air Force Base Chapel
Vacation Bible School. VBS was June 1 through 5 at the chapel.
A slew of volunteers, including eight
active-duty members, helped make the Luke Michael Afan, Vacation Bible School volunteer, tries to FROM LEFT: Sophi Bergay, Kiara Beedle, Alyssia Lopez Souza and
Air Force Base Chapel’s Vacation Bible “catch” children during a game of sharks and minnows Courtney Barns rehearse a scene June 4 at the Luke Air Force Base
School program a success June 1 through 5. June 4 in front of the Luke Air Force Base chapel. chapel. The act and other performances were part of the closing night
ceremonies for family members and guests.
More than 130 children participated in
the event, which aimed to help them grow
in their faith.

“Our mission was to develop the spiritual
pillar of the Comprehensive Airman Fitness
concept,” said Chaplain (Maj.) David Barns,
56th Fighter Wing Chapel deputy wing
chaplain. “VBS was open to any child who
wanted to attend, but because the program
is funded through the chapel tithes and of-
ferings of our Catholic and Protestant par-
ishes, it was Christian-focused, remaining
true to their faith tradition.”

This year’s VBS theme was “Hometown
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cording to Loida Lagang, 56th FW Chapel
religious education coordinator.

“The chapel was decorated to look like
Nazareth,” Barns said. “Each station the
children visited throughout the evening was
to help them learn more about Jesus as they
took a journey through Nazareth.”

Mary’s (Jesus’ mother) house was one of
the stations where children heard stories
from Jesus’ childhood.

“They also went to the marketplace to
experience some crafts from Jesus’ time,
enjoyed meals in the food market and
learned games that Jesus probably played
as a child,” Lagang said.

Barns said it was inspiring to see the
group of volunteers who put this week-long
event together.

“We have, on average, 150 children annu-
ally who attend VBS,” he said. “Obviously,
the logistics of planning an event like this
is challenging, but our volunteers have it
down to a science.”

The goal of VBS is to teach children about
the importance of their faith and how it can
help them navigate life while having a posi-
tive church experience, Barns said.

“While this program was designed to
align with the Christian faith group, the
opportunity for other faith groups to have
similar programs exists,” he said. “We want
to accommodate the spiritual needs of all our
Airmen,” Barns said.

Vacation Bible School not only helped
children learn about their faith, it also had
a positive impact on the mission, Barns said.

“The more programs we can provide for
the entire family to grow spiritually, the
more productive, emotionally stable and
content Airmen and families we will pro-
duce,” he said. “If things are going well with
family life, our Airmen will be better able to
focus on the mission and not be distracted
by problems at home. If one is healthy spiri-
tually, it will have a positive impact on the
other areas of human wellness — physical,
social and emotional.”