San Juan Mission will mark another milestone in its 14-year tenure with Clanton First United Methodist Church by offering the area’s first Vacation Bible School to the Hispanic community this summer.

Children 3 years old through sixth grade are invited to attend VBS from 5:30–8 p.m. June 17–21 at the San Juan mission location on Second Avenue North in downtown Clanton.

The theme of the weeklong program is “Aventuras Glaciales,” or “Cool Adventures.”

Christi Mitchell, children’s minister at CFUMC, will lead Bible lessons with volunteers and teachers from San Juan Mission and CFUMC four of the five nights. Mitchell said topics of the lessons would focus on the gifts of forgiveness, salvation, joy and hope, with passages of Scripture including Mark 2:1–2, Acts 11:1–18, Acts 8:26–39 and Luke 7:11–17.

Although Mitchell will speak in English as she teaches, the lessons will be displayed in Spanish via PowerPoint.

Spanish-to-English translators will be on hand to provide additional help during the lessons.

Music will be part of each night’s activities.

The fifth night will be the closing program, which families of children in VBS are invited to attend.

German Gomez, pastor of San Juan Mission, and his wife Leticia will be involved with the program as well.

“We’re hoping it will be a yearly thing after this,” Mitchell said. “I would presume that a lot of these children have never been to VBS before. I know a lot of children say that they have their salvation experience at VBS, and I hope the same for these children as for any children.”

Mitchell and staff are preparing for as many as, or more than, 75 children attend one or more of the nights.

Pre-registration is not required. Parents may register children before VBS starts June 17 or any night of the program.

Parents do not have to stay during the program each night but are welcome to do so, Mitchell said.

Children are not required to attend all five nights, but those who attend without prior registration are encouraged to arrive earlier than 5:30 to sign in.

“We’re going to have supper every night,” Mitchell said. “They’ll have crafts and recreation time, too.”

Volunteers and donations of supplies such as snack foods and crafting materials are needed.

Items may be dropped off Monday–Friday at CFUMC’s church office.

Mitchell said she is looking forward to the week and hopes any children who don’t already have a church home would feel comfortable at San Juan Mission and bring their families back to church in the future.

“I’m very excited about it,” Mitchell said.

For more information or to register, call the CFUMC office at (205) 755-0490 or email children@clantonfumc.org.