By Linda Wood
Calvary Baptist Tabernacle
Calvary Baptist Tabernacle will host what the church is calling a “kids’ crusade” focused on the evolution vs. creation debate Monday through Friday.
“Evolution Revolution” will be the theme of the church’s vacation Bible school for children in first grade through eighth grade.
A separate program called “Cactus Canyon” will be geared toward children age 3 through kindergarten.
Rick Freeborn, an ordained minister and member of Calvary Baptist Tabernacle, is directing the program and developed the theme.
“Evolution is being indoctrinated into our children’s minds as an absolute fact, which is not true. Creation is being taught as a theory only. In Genesis 1:26, it tells us that, ‘God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness … ‘ ” he said. “We want to concentrate this program on the truth of God’s word as well as have fun. Sort of a revival for children.”
Freeborn argues that under evolutionary theory, mankind’s existence has no real purpose. On the other hand, he says, biblical creation conveys the purpose of a relationship with God built, Christianity teaches, through Jesus Christ.
Though focusing on serious issues, the program will also offer traditional vacation Bible school activities such as games, singing, awards and craft-making, as well as food and refreshments. Freeborn said the gym will be decorated with real plants, a fish pond and “things that will really excite the kids.”
Two or three times during the week, he said, some of the church’s older teens will put on a puppet show to prepare children for the message. And the church will provide free T-shirts with scripture verses and a logo.
“We feel that there is no way the children are going to forget this awesome week,” Freeborn said. “When they are taught in public school, or wherever, that they come from mere chance, we hope they will remember this crusade and, once and for all, be confident that they are only here by God’s creation and God has a divine purpose for their lives.”
The church will take a nightly offering during the program, Freeborn said, with all the proceeds going to the Institute for Creation Research in Dallas, Texas. For more information about the institute, visit its Web site at www.icr.com.
The program will be held 6:30-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, with a hot dog supper on Friday, when parents are invited to stay for the evening to “get a glimpse of what we have been teaching the children” and see crafts and decorations, Freeborn said.
We also want the parents to meet the volunteers and get an idea of what it took to have this crusade take place,” he said. “It has been an effort of love, and we hope the children will get as much out of the crusade as we have preparing for it.
Calvary Baptist Tabernacle is at 3760 Stokes Ferry Road, just south of the McCanless Golf Course. For more information, call the church at 704-645-9328.