Bellingham Integrates Church and School Ministries

Young people at Bellingham (Wash.) Church recently assisted with the Mother's Day service by presenting "Desperate Housewives of the Bible."

Three teen girls, including one Baker View Christian School student, dressed in Bible costumes and mimed selected passages from the Bible.

The students acted out the stories of Jochebed hiding baby Moses in the river, Abigail loading donkeys to go plead for David's forgiveness, and Hannah's pitiful plight in praying and waiting for a son.

"We researched much history from various sources, described the characteristics of each woman, and then brought it down to modern-day desperation — like desperately wanting to protect our kids from drugs, alcohol, explicit media overload and more," says Diane Vyskocil, Bellingham Church head elder and youth group leader.

The faith-building mime was a hit with the congregation, including a Pentecostal guest, who said, "This was the best sermon I've seen." It wasn't long until the church asked the youth to develop a "Father Knows Best" presentation.

Baker View Christian School is expecting a record-breaking 60 elementary students for the coming school year thanks to the church community's integrated approach to ministry between the church, school, daycare center and annual holiday outreach.

Featured in: July 2012