It’s Vacation Bible School time.

Throughout the summer, all across the nation, churches decorate, prep, study and pray for high-energy days of Bible stories, crafts, recreation and snacks. All pointing to the reason for the season: Jesus.

One of the first years we were at Fitzpatrick, we had a Treasure Island theme. Being a longtime Belfry Pirate, I jumped in with both feet.

Treasure maps would be a wonderful addition to the decorations, I thought. They needed to be humungous and spectacular. I purchased white sheets and soaked them in tea for a few days. A perfect canvas. After painting on symbols, a path and a compass, I burned the outside edges with a lighter to give them a dated look. In the garage, I burned and blew it out. Burned and blew it out. It took a hot minute.

After they were finished, I knew just where to put them. On our back sanctuary wall there were recessed sections that were perfect for map hanging. They were hung with masking tape and looked great. I was thrilled!

The next morning, the tape had come loose. Both maps were found in the floor.

I looked for something stronger to secure them. Painter’s tape held them in place. For a night. Again, the next day, they were puddled in the floor.

Challenge accepted, I thought. Those maps were spectacular and needed to be seen.

Plundering through the closets, I found duct tape. Yes, this was going to happen! Feeling victorious, I raced back to the sanctuary to hang the fabuloso treasure maps. (I can assure you that I was all by myself. If someone else had been there, they would have stopped me.)

Covering the back and corners of the material with the strong adhesive tape, the maps held firm. It was exhilarating. No wimpy tape was going to hold back our decorations!

Bible school finished out the week and all was well until it was time to un-decorate. After the last child was gone, we started taking down all the decorations. “I’ll get the maps,” I called across the sanctuary.

I grabbed the bottom of the first carefully painted, burned, and hung map and yanked. Hard. It came off all right and brought a layer of paint and Sheetrock with it. I gasped.

We were still new to Fitzpatrick. What would the people say? I was gonna be in sooo much trouble!

I searched for my beloved to confess my sins. When he saw the damage, he said my name in the southern way that adds syllables: Da-wn-nn! Which interpreted means in one single word, “What were you thinking?!”

I felt really bad. I wasn’t sure how to repair Sheetrock but was sure I was about to learn. That’s exactly when our oldest deacon, Dave Woofter (now 86), stepped into the conversation.

Dave had been at Fitz for at least 30 years. He had seen a VBS or two. He had seen kids running around the church, learning about Jesus, drinking Kool-Aid, and eating cheap cookies for decades. He had witnessed kids – and adults – making messes, causing spills and leaving fingerprints on walls. That day, he had seen his new pastor’s wife rip the hide off the lovely wall of the sanctuary. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t bat an eye.

While my beloved was still adding syllables to my name, Dave announced, “Don’t say a word to her. I can fix that.” Dave had saved my bacon. I nearly swooned with relief. I will never, ever forget that moment. I still adore Dave to this day.

VBS is the biggest evangelism tool for churches. Every snack, every craft, every song points to “Jesus loves you, oh yes He does!” We need Him, not just to go to heaven, but for every day of our lives.