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If you think you’re seeing double on the front lawn of First Baptist Church today — two giraffes, a pair of monkeys, a couple of kangaroos hanging around a giant wooden boat — don’t panic. It’s just the wonder of God’s command to Noah on display for the children participating in First Baptist’s vacation Bible school.
As part of this year’s VBS, “100% Chance of Rain,” church members have manufactured a 50-by-12-foot replica of the biblical ark, which housed Noah, his family and a pair of every animal while God flooded the Earth.
The ark is the brainchild of First Baptist Church member John Bozard, who, upon learning the theme of this year’s VBS, volunteered to help build the display.
“He got excited about what we were doing,” said Toni Pipkins, minister to children and families at First Baptist. She said plans were originally in place to put the ark on the stage in the church’s sanctuary, but the project took on a life of its own.
Bozard said he doesn’t know why or how he got involved in building the ark, which has taken several months to plan and construct.
“I was like, ‘Let’s build a big ark,’ and it grew and grew and grew,” he said. Bozard said the completed version is “the facade of an ark” with some three-dimensional elements.
Bozard said he thinks people will be amazed by the finished product.
“If it looks like it does today, it will be shocking. ... The ramp that goes into it is much, much bigger than an automobile,” he said. “We couldn’t start on it too soon. We had to wait until the last minute.”
The ark replica also includes a mural by Patti Clements, First Baptist’s pianist and Bozard’s sister.
“I don’t think they have any idea what this is going to be about,” Bozard said of church members, who have known about the project since the beginning.
Wood for the ark was donated by a church member, as were the materials for wooden ark treasure boxes, which will be this year’s main VBS craft. In addition to donating materials, youth and adults at the church have dedicated their time to ensuring the rising kindergartners through fifth-graders have a good time at VBS by donating time and talents to various vacation Bible school-related preparations.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s really fun,” said Sarah Benton, one of the youth volunteers who has given up time over several weekends to help with the ark.
Benton said some of the children she babysits, who are signed up for the VBS, have been asking questions about the ark.
“They sound real excited,” she said. “They can’t wait for it.”
This is the second year the church has written its own curriculum for VBS, Pipkins said. Last year’s theme centered on creation, and the children wired their own lamps to take home.
“The Bible studies are written here in the church, and then we try to find exciting things to supplement those lessons,” Pipkins said. “Most children don’t have knowledge of Old Testament stories.”
In addition to the ark and ark treasure boxes, VBS students will have a visit from representatives of the Center for Birds of Prey, who will talk to them about birds that have been rescued and bring some for the children to see, and a meteorologist, who will talk to the youngsters about weather and, more specifically, rain. The children will also make thunder tubes.
Pipkins said there’s more to First Baptist’s version of Noah’s Ark than meets the eye — 2-by-4s and other salvageable materials will be donated to the next Edisto Habitat for Humanity house in Orangeburg.
“We’re teaching the children that just as the ark was a safe haven for Noah and his family, the Habitat home is a safe haven for a family,” she said.
Additionally, an offering will be collected throughout the week for the Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, which Pipkins said is an example of a safe haven for children.
“Everything we’re doing is to reinforce the story,” she said. “I don’t think it’s the material as much as it is the passion we put into developing this curriculum. We’re excited about it, and they sense that. ... It makes us a stronger church. We are unified in a cause. That’s the beauty of VBS.”
The Rev. Cary Hilliard, who just took the helm of First Baptist Church two weeks ago, said there’s a level of ownership and enthusiasm in the curriculum, and the children pick up on it from the adults.
“To me, it’s exciting to see the efforts of a congregation in creating a ministry that will hopefully live for years down the road in the hearts of these children,” he said. “This gives children the opportunity to experience the story of Noah’s Ark.”
First Baptist’s VBS will be held Monday through Friday, July 7-11. The ark will be on display through Friday.
T&D Features Editor Wendy Jeff-coat Crider can be reached at wjeffcoat@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5546. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.