Vacation Bible School, student camp, and back-to-school prayer. Here’s a look at how First Baptist Church in Mebane spent the summer investing in children, students, and our community.
Key Takeaways:
- See how two Vacation Bible Schools helped children in West Virginia and Mebane discover God’s love through fun, friendship, and faith.
- Learn why Camp Generate is one of the highlights of the year for our student ministry and how it encourages students to grow closer to Christ.
- Join us as we pray for players, coaches, students, teachers, and school staff during our annual back-to-school prayer events.
“Summer activities are a great way to get introduced to a church!” says Kayleigh McDaniel, Director of Children’s Ministry. “It shows the fun and exciting things that are happening.”
And summer always goes by so fast. Before we know it, we’ve got backpacks ready to go and football season kicking off. It’s time for another school year!
Before we turn the page fully to fall, we wanted to look back at a few of the ways God has been at work through our church this summer. From investing in the next generation to serving our neighbors and praying for our community, it’s been a season full of opportunities to share the love of Christ.
West Virginia Vacation Bible School
In June, young and old alike from our church home in Mebane headed to Arnoldsburg, West Virginia, for VBS week. For more than 30 years, we’ve made the trip to the same community, building relationships, and sharing Christ’s love with children and families.
The week is always filled with food, fun, games, Bible lessons, and lots of smiles. It’s also a week of serving side by side, loving on kids, setting an example, and wearing ourselves completely out — in a good way, of course!
It’s one way we continue investing in the next generation. We love helping kids discover God’s love and begin building a foundation of faith that can last a lifetime.
This year, 135 kids showed up on the very first day. And that was just the beginning.
Vacation Bible School in Mebane
In July, kids from the Mebane community packed the house at our New Life campus for VBS 2026 here at home
This year’s theme, Junk Yard Redemption, explored “God’s master plan to remake our broken world.” Through Bible stories, music, games, crafts, and lots of fun, kids discovered that no one is beyond God’s love and that He offers hope for today and for the future.
We believe every child matters, and VBS allows us to invest in the next generation year after year. It’s an opportunity to help kids experience the love of Jesus in a tangible way.
Not to mention being a whole lot of fun! It was a full house full of energy every time we met.
Camp Generate Student Camp
In addition to VBS in West Virginia and here in Mebane, Camp Generate is always on the agenda for our student ministry.
“The best way to get your students connected is through the many activities, trips, and events we do,” says Maddi Smith, FBC’s youth pastor. “Through fun and engagement in the Gospel, we see relationships built.”
Camp Generate is one of our students’ favorite weeks of the summer. As the camp puts it, “A camp can’t really change a life, but a real experience with God can.”Through worship, Bible study, small groups, and time together, students have the opportunity for an experience like that. They also have the chance to have honest conversations about faith.
Away from the distractions of everyday life, they spend time in God’s Word, worship together, build friendships with other believers, and encourage one another. The conversations and lessons from camp don’t typically end when the week is over but continue long after the buses head home.
Back-to-School Prayer for Our Community
As summer comes to a close, we’re also looking forward to a new school year.
“There’s so much more to happen throughout the year,” McDaniel says. “VBS and mission trips may be over, but we’re still diving into God’s Word and discipling the littlest in God’s Kingdom. The summer may be over, but we’re not!”
We believe one of the best things we can do for our community throughout the year is pray. We’d love to have you join us as we start the new school year off with prayer:
- August 16 – We’ll welcome local football teams to church in Mebane for our annual Blessing of the Helmets as we pray for the players, coaches, and their season.
- August 23 – We’ll also celebrate Blessing of the Backpacks, praying for students, teachers, school staff, and administrators as they head back into the classroom for another year.
“Our goal in our kids and student ministry is to feel like a family and grow in our faith together, and we want you and your kids to be a part of it,” Smith says.
Whether you’ve been part of First Baptist for years, you’re looking for a church in Mebane, or you’re simply curious about faith, we’d love to have you join us as we kick off a new season together. Our Be Our Guest page has everything you need to know before your first visit.
