‘Rolling Chapel’ spreads Bible message to schools
Published: June 22, 2009
Updated: June 22, 2009
On any given day, the “Rolling Chapel” can be seen at any one of the elementary schools around Culpeper County.
Held inside a climate-controlled, portable classroom, Children’s Bible Ministries’ program teaches elementary school children biblical stories and encourages verse memorization. Participation is optional, though there are benefits to attending.
As Kenny Burt leads a group of children from the Yowell Elementary School lobby, down the sidewalk and just across the parking lot, they step inside the Rolling Chapel parked just off school property. Signs of faith are abundant inside. On this day, Ricky, Burt’s puppet friend, visits, bringing the story of Easter. The third-graders light up when they see Ricky.
CBM was founded in 1935, came to Virginia in 1937 and began in Culpeper County in 1946. Nonprofit and non-denominational, the ministry is financially supported by a variety of local churches, businesses and individuals. CBM operates in nine states with more than 175 staffers.
Locally, CBM began as an outreach in Page County and now, over 5,000 children attend classes in Culpeper, Madison, Orange, Greene and Page Counties. There are eight bible teachers for the five counties.
Burt and his wife, Laura, are full-time missionaries for CBM, and they teach at Farmington and Yowell elementary schools. Chris Hansen is Bible teacher at Emerald Hill, A.G. Richardson, Pearl Sample and Sycamore Park elementary schools and has a degree in ministry. Burt is amazed about the number of children they reach each year through CBM.
“In the elementary schools,” he says, “80 percent of the kids who participate don’t go to church regularly.”
Classes are held monthly under the supervision of two adults. All staff and volunteers undergo criminal background checks and reference checks. Once enrolled, children remain in the program through fifth grade unless parental permission is withdrawn. CBM summer camp is available for all children, whether they attend Bible class or not. There is opportunity to receive camp discounts through Bible verse
memorization and course completion. Camp is offered this summer in June for children in grades 3-6 and in July for grades 7-12.
The lessons this year have been focusing on faith. Faith, Burt tells the children, is believing, trusting and obeying. Glancing around the trailer one can see signs of faith all over.
“I have a friend who really loves me . . . and Jesus is his name,” the children sing, first in English then in Spanish.
Jeffrey Light, pastor at Novum Baptist Church, has been assisting Burt during the 2008-09 school year, and works on the bible verses with the children. Light got on board after Burt came to Novum and spoke to the congregation about the ministry.
As Burt uses a felt board to tell the story about God and who He is, the third graders asked many questions. But when he shared the Easter story, again using the felt board, there was total silence as Burt took Jesus from the tomb and explained how Jesus was alive and was risen.
“On the 40th day,” Burt explained, “He went back to Heaven.”
The children sat open-mouthed as they absorbed the story.
Third grader Michael Quetch said he doesn’t have a favorite part about “Bible”, adding, “I like every part.”
Amy Wagner covers church news for the Star Exponent. Have a story idea? E-mail her at
Want to know more?
What: Children’s Bible Ministries (CBM)
Optional, monthly bible classes offered through local elementary school. Open to all regular education children grades K-5 without regard to race, religion, or country of origin.
How to register your child: Permission forms are available at the CBM table at each school’s Back to School day and/or downloaded from our website. Forms can also be requested through the teachers.
More information about CBM is available on the website, cbmofvirginia.org
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Reader Reactions
I thought we were all one-of-a-kind. Isn’t that the way God made us? I never said kids should not be able to have this option. Doesn’t matter if I did anyway because it is well settled law, in particular Zorach v. Clausen. Parents have the right to send kids to released time bible study IF the SB allows it. But Zorach is clear as have ALL subsequent rulings that the trailer must be off school property.
You may be right that most people don’t care where the trailer is parked, but the courts do care. And the schools are subject to those rulings
My big picture is the rule of law. What big picture are you thinking of?
Wow, you really are one of a kind. Do you have children in school out of curiosity? I think this is a great option for children to be able to participate in and if they do not want to they don’t have to as well. I, along with most of your fellow citizens probably, could care less where the trailer is parked. That is not the point here at all and I think you are missing the big picture. You really are an arrogant person.
BSmith- “So the trailers are right on school grounds?“ Then that would be against school policy and all court rulings on the matter. Bible study trailers must be off school grounds. How they get around that is saying they are on VDOT ROW. But the ROW is an easement on school property. The School Board owns the property. Look at any tax map. The trailers are on school property. Ask the Rutherford Institute if you don’t believe me.
First off, why would children need to dress? They are not required to dress up to do this. The children attend in whatever clothing they came to school in.
Second, should schools also cut out recess and Physical Education? These are both time when actual book study is not being done so I guess they should throw that out to along with field trips?
Third, they don’t “leave” school to go do this, the trailer is right on school grounds!
Of course government is helping churches to get the word out. Government is the one responsible for getting the kids all together in one place and one time. Try getting all those kids to the trailer without government’s involvement.
Courts have consistently said this practice is constitutional. But it is not done to provide free time. It is done to provide religious instruction. There is no provision to allow kids to leave school for “free time”.
I’m not saying that churches aren’t able to get their message out. This is one of the ways they’re doing just that. I’m saying that not all parents can make it to church with their children for a variety of reasons. And the government is not helping them out. The school system is allowing children a little free time each month, and some choose to use it in this manner. At the high school they have “BDP” (blue devil pride) time. It’s just a break. Kids need a break.
I just think that school is for learning.
When the parents of some of the students don’t want their kids to be at school, I don’t see why the learning should stop for the ones who want their kids to be at school.
So does the 30 minutes include the time it takes for the kids to dress and walk off campus to the trailer and then back to their classrooms? That doesn’t sound like much time.
I know that when I attended this in school the children that didn’t go had 30 minutes of what they called free time where they could read or do other activities in the classroom. I think this is a great program for schools to offer, it is optional so it’s not forcing anyone who doesn’t want to attend. What is your issue?
That doesn’t answer the question about what the other students who don’t attend do.
And what do you mean “the only opportunity”? If that is the case then you’re saying that the churches aren’t able to get their message out so they’re asking government to help them out.
The children left behind do so by choice, just as the children who attend the Rolling Chapel do so by choice. It’s once a month for about 30 minutes. It’s the only opportunity some children have to attend church, an opportunity they appreciate.
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