
FORSYTH — Edna Bragg has planted the trees that shade her garden and at 90 still does her own gardening work.
When she heard that Children’s Evangelism Scholarship needed a host for her Five Day Club Vacation Bible School, she was happy to offer her yard.
“I have a love for Jesus and I want to serve Jesus so little ones know how they can learn to love Jesus too,” she said. “It gives us our permanent home for eternity and that is paradise, and the only way to get there is through Jesus Christ.”
She’s held women’s Bible studies in her home for years and her late husband hosted a couples Bible study night, but this is the first time she’s held a children’s event in her backyard.
“We have a number of kids (in the neighborhood),” she said.
Child Evangelism Fellowship is a global, non-denominational organization founded in 1935. According to their website, they reached over 15 million children in 2021 with the Five Day Club, Christian Youth in Action for teens and college students, and the Good News Club that offers hope. to children in crisis.
“We work with churches,” said Susan Bradshaw, who teaches local vacation Bible schools with her sister, Gail Daughtery. “We help (churches) reach their communities with the gospel, and one of the ways we do that in the summer is with five-day clubs. They meet five days in a row like a backyard Bible school.
Next week they’ll be in Oreana and the week after that in Lincoln, she said. They play games, sing songs, she and Daugherty tell them about missions around the world and share Bible stories.
“It’s just a fun way to give kids something to do, and Christian families can invite their neighbors over, and it’s a fun way for them to share their faith with others,” she said. .
Amanda Wrigley lives across from Bragg, and the women are friends who often get together to study the Bible. Wrigley’s son, Micah, attends the Five Day Club.
“Being around Edna just put Jesus in our hearts, and we love having that because the kids are all close, they’re all Christians, and we just want that to continue,” Wrigley said. “We thought it would be a great idea for the summer with the out-of-school kids.”
A look back at the churches in the Decatur region
People’s Church of God
1983: People’s Church of God “Christmas Windows” children.
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Church of the Living God PGT Temple 2

1994: Choir members representing 14 churches participate in the New Year
Concert of the ecumenical choir of the day before at Temple 2.
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First Presbyterian Church

1987: First Presbyterian Church meets for peace with Reverend Ron Allin, far right.
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First Presbyterian Church

1942: The program of the First Ye Olde Songe Presbyterian Church includes from left to right in the front row, Mrs. William Ridgly, Mrs. LF Wiegand and Mrs. Corwin Johns; back row, EM Lyons, conductor Alan Easterling and LF Wiegand.
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First United Methodist Church

1977: First Boare Head Festival of the United Methodist Church.
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First United Methodist Church

1991: Rehearsal of the United Methodist Church’s first children’s choir front row from left, Tyler Smith, Leah Brown and Cameron Barnett with members of the Asbury and Good News choirs.
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First United Methodist Church

1984: The first attendees of The United Methodist Madrigal Dinner dance and sing along to the ancient songs.
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Grace United Methodist Church

1984: The Madrigal Singers of Grace United Methodist Church front from left, Ken Buckles, Carol Drayton; back row, Donna White and Bill Milligan.
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Grace United Methodist Church

1990: Grace United Methodist Church Adult Choir.
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Grace United Methodist Church

1988: Martha Weigel, director of Grace United Methodist Church’s parent outing program, read a book to children.
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Church of God

1932: The dedication of the Churches of God meeting hall includes 30 ministers and a group from the Church of God.
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Boiling Springs Road Church of God

1931: Church of God officers at elders meeting.
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First Church of God in Christ

1990: Church of God in Christ, left to right, Pastor ME Allen prays with Mary Walker, Jimmy Walker and Paulette Hines.
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First United Congregational Church

1994: United First Congregational Church’s Last Supper with Dave Brown as Jesus.
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Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter