Whitmore Park was abuzz every morning last week with about 100 kids having fun while engaged in sports camp, part of the Vacation Bible School (VBS) hosted by Hope Tree Church.
The VBS had the theme of “Blaze a Trail” and was designed to instill Christian faith principles to the children.
Noting that attendance on Friday was 106 kids, Pastor Chris Henry joked, “We are trying to match the outside temperature.”
For the past several summers the church takes advantage of its close proximity to the downtown park – located right across the street – so that children can enjoy flag football, soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball.
The VBS day started with high energy indoor church sessions and fun activities such as cheerleading class, arts and crafts and cooking classes in the church’s Family Center. Indoor sessions were led by Beverly Henry, the pastor’s wife who spent several months preparing for the event.
Before he sent the eager kids out to play, Pastor Henry would lead a prayer like the one on Friday: “Lord we pray today that today’s going to be a special day as we go out there, have a lot of fun and exciting times in sports both I also want them to know who your son is, that Jesus is their Savior and King and Lord.”
Field hockey and basketball were part of the fun on the church campus itself on Second Street across from City Hall.
Most appealing to parents, said Pastor Henry, is that the weeklong event was free when most sports camps cost money. He said the church is blessed with families who have a connection to sports.
“We’ve got a lot of people who come to our church who are very sports minded so that’s why we’re doing the sports camp,” noted Pastor Henry.
Sara Thornberry, a volleyball coach at Modesto High School, helped provide tips to a mostly girls group set up near the gazebo. Ed Cowell, grandfather of soccer sensation Cade Cowell, was busy teaching soccer against the backdrop of nearby freeway traffic. Ed Cowell’s granddaughter Savannah Leifried assisted him in coaching soccer.
Luke Patterson, a Ceres High School baseball player, helped coach T-ball.
Natalie Moring, assistant principal of Hughson High School helped coach cheerleading.
Approximately 20 of the 35 volunteers were teens who helped the coaches throughout the week.
“We like to get our youth involved,” explained Pastor Henry. “Of course the youth love it because it’s like going to camp, only it’s home. They get to hang out with their friends but at the same time it’s teaching them adult skills, how to work with children and even how to lead somebody to Jesus, to be able to share the gospel at a very young age.”
One of the VBS volunteers, church board member Louie Spores said he enjoyed his time with the kids. He said the church has been growing in attendance, crediting the pastor’s heart for families.
“We put a lot of work into it,” Spores said of the VBS program. “A lot of people take the week off work to come the whole week.”
The church changed its name from Valley Christian Church in late 2023 with a new focus to train new ministers and focus on serving foster children, young people transitioning out of substance abuse programs and undergirding parents who chose to homeschool their children.
Free-will offerings taken during VBS will be sent to AG Foster Care, a support agency for foster children groups.
The event concluded with a Sunday celebration that drew about 200. Pastor Henry said it was an “opportunity for me to encourage parents to not stop here. VBS is the first step with the kids learning about Jesus but it’s going to take so much more for their faith walk to increase.”
