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To the children, the June 24 activity was all about fun.

But to the adults who organized the activity, it was about much more.

“We want them to think that being a Christian isn’t a dull thing — it can be fun,” Chris St. Germain said. “We hope they leave this wanting to know more about God.”

The crafts activity was part of a weeklong Neighborhood Kids Bible Club put on by Smithville’s Emmanuel Bible Church. St. Germain, the wife of church pastor George St. Germain, ran the club last week. Church members Rachel and Dennis Miller hosted the five-day, evening event in their Kansas City North home.

The church plans to have at least one more in-home, weeklong event this summer. Last week marked the first club event for the church. In the past, the church had vacation Bible school at the church.

The decision to move the children’s summer event to homes instead of the church was based on a few factors. The church, located at U.S. Highway 169 and 179th Street, is in a rural area, which rules out the possibility of walking to church.

“We can bring the activities to them this way,” Melody Geddes, a church member who helped with the event, said of the neighborhood club.

Darlene Engle, who served as the church’s vacation Bible school director for several years, added, “This way, we might reach more kids.”

The five-day club ran from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Each evening included a Bible story, songs, crafts and games.

The club’s theme was “Jesus Expedition,” so the children pretended they were in a different place each day. Monday was Antarctica. Temperatures soared into the 90s that day, so pretending to be in a cold place was welcome. Tuesday was an Egyptian desert. Wednesday was a Brazilian jungle. Thursday was Mount Everest. And Friday was the Pacific Ocean.

On Wednesday, the children played a game of ‘guess who has the plastic snake’ to go along with the jungle day.

“Who has it?” Leah Stern, 4, asked with her eyes closed.

She guessed correctly on her first try.

“Ashley,” she said before Ashley Miller, 6, revealed the skinny green plastic snake she had hidden behind her back.

St. Germain hoped the week helped accomplish some of the church’s goals.

“I hope the seed of God’s word is planted in their hearts,” she said. “I also hope this can help build relationships between the kids in the church and kids and adults in the church.”

JOIN THE CLUB

Emmanuel Bible Church will hold its next Neighborhood Kids Bible Club from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, July 20 to 24, at the home of Dallas and Laurie Shipley in Cedar Estates. If you’d like your child to participate, contact Chris St. Germain at 370-2499.

Smithville Editor Nancy Hull Rigdon can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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