Vacation Bible Schools use new techniques to teach old lesson

After learning the music and hand motions, nearly 20 children from Central United Church of Christ recorded a performance with the Gateway Arch in the background.
After learning the music and hand motions, nearly 20 children from Central United Church of Christ recorded a performance with the Gateway Arch in the background.

Rene Miserez's basement is full of life-sized, adorable animal characters. Furry buffalo, pandas and other cheerful creatures are reminiscent of the eight years passed, when Miserez has led volunteers on long work days to trace, saw, sand and paint plywood sheets to become these story-telling figures.

At Central United Church of Christ, Vacation Bible School (VBS) is often the highlight of the year for children. And it draws a lot of youths from the surrounding neighborhood, who don't otherwise attend church, Miserez said.

The pandas will add a cuteness factor to this year's VBS theme of "Pandamania: Where God is Wild About You."