"Power Lab" a Dynamo at First Pentecostal

First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Apalachicola brought together test tubes with the New Testament last month, as it relied on a scientific theme to conduct its annual Vacation Bible School extravaganza.

The weeklong program relied on the theme of "Power Lab - Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power" in attracting 220 young people from around the county in what has become the county's premier summer Vacation Bible School experience.

"Don't let anyone tell you you can't have fun in church," preached Terry Tipton, the Bible school coordinator, at the Friday night pandemonium that culminated the programming week.

The school this year centered around a scientific theme, and featured five animated characters, each representing both a force of nature as well as a theme in the youth ministry.

Sparki, a lightbulb, taught the lesson of how Jesus gives the powers to help others, as evidenced by the stories of how the blind man was helped to see.

Dewd, a drop of water, illustrated the lesson of how Jesus gives the power to be brave, as illustrated in the story of how Peter was able to walk on water.

Electra, a lightning bolt, taught the lesson of how Jesus gives the power to tell others about God, through the Holy Spirit.

Max, a battery, showed the youth how Jesus gives the power to live forever, while Fizz, a test tube, showed how Jesus gives the power to be thankful, as witnessed in the story of the lepers.

Like every year, the Bible school combined lessons with hands-on arts and crafts, as the participants became "funologists," ushered around by adult volunteers in lab coats as they all concocted slime, wore goggles, colored the spots on whacky tacky balls, watched how water bottles mixed colors and much more.

There were plenty of prizes all week long as well, with giveaways each night of everything from iPods and t-shirts to water bottles, soccer balls and Nintendo games.

Anna Smith won the .Nintendo DS Lite at the final night's events, with the girls' team winning the offering, which gave Michelle Chambers, Tipton's assistant for the week, the right to push a plate of whipped cream in her boss' face, to the cheers of the kids.