Friday, April 19, 2024

One of the oldest African American churches in Dallas offers an innovative new take on VBS

The original content written for The Rock’s VBS reflected cultural context and best practices from leading social-emotional learning principles designed to help students develop positive relationships and improve their decision-making skills. (Courtesy photo)

On the third Sunday in June (1864) African-American missionaries and Rev. Butler, a Caucasian minister from Richardson, Texas, met under a great elm tree in the White Rock area.

At that gathering, The Rock – Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church was established. The first deacons were John Huffman, Dan Howard, Sam Fowler, William Phifer, Tobe Howard, and Jack Sanders. These men of foresight blazed a trail for hundreds of Pisgahites to travel.

By the year 1888, the first trustees negotiated and purchased the original site for the church at 14000 Preston Road on February 21, 1889. Sometime shortly afterward a long and narrow, like a shotgun, the church was built.

The elders of The Rock shared stories of water being drawn from a well (which remains on the property) and the church members warming themselves next to a pot-bellied stove.

Students had an opportunity to enjoy a few of the “wild” animals up close thanks to a visit from members of the Dallas Zoo to The Rock’s recent VBS. (Courtesy image)

More than 155 years later, The Rock is again at the forefront of ministry innovation. Last week the church hosted a Vacation Bible School Outreach (VBSO) for more than 200 students. The VBSO featured biblical STEM activities, cooking demonstrations and even a visit from the Dallas Zoo.

Latrisha McDuffie Consulting collaborated with the Mt. Pisgah Youth Ministry team lead by Rev. Mark Harty and Rev. Christopher Sudberry. McDuffie wrote and developed a custom curriculum addendum to the LifeWay “Into the Wild” VBS curriculum. The materials developed incorporated cultural references to encourage participation and enhance the context for the students. Also, reflective of Kagen teaching strategies and best practices from the Social Emotional Learning arena.

The Rock – Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church is located at 1020 S. Sherman St., in Richardson. For more information, visit THE ROCK.

 

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