50+ Year VBS Veteran Says “Push Forward!”

By Sharon Mager

Chesapeake Beach, Md. — Tillie Swanson, mother of Glenn Swanson, pastor of Bayside Baptist Church, Chesapeake Beach, has spent over 50 years as a Vacation Bible School (VBS) student or teacher. She was a VBS trainer for multiple Baptist conventions, including Maryland/Delaware. At 86 years young, she still serves every year.

“I think VBS is the best time of year,” says Tillie. “On Sundays, kids get a short time with their teachers. At VBS, they get more hours of teaching and learning God’s word through Bible study and other activities. It‘s very important to spend that time with them. Children today are smart. They listen, ask questions, and they want to learn. It excites me to see children involved.”

Sharing her salvation experience, Tillie says, “I was eight when I accepted Jesus and have been a Christian ever since. I was raised in a Christian home. My mother was Baptist, my father was Methodist, and I was saved in a Presbyterian church,” she chuckles.

Reflecting on attending VBS as a child, Tillie says, “I remember it was different than what we do today; I remember all the little crafts and index cards that the Bible stories were on. I loved to take them home because I could remember what I learned during the day. Years ago, we made birdhouses and trash cans for crafts, but today, everything is centered around Bible stories. I like that very much.”

Tillie began teaching VBS in the ’60s and enjoyed the personal interaction with the kids. “I liked to have them in small group settings and interact with them. Today, we do the different stations, which is good, and then more personal Bible teaching sessions can be done in classroom settings.”

Tillie has not only taught VBS, but she’s trained workers for many years in various Baptist conventions often working with previous BCM/D Children’s Missionary June Holland. “June and I have been all over the country together,” she said.

Tillie lives in Florida but spends summers in Maryland. “I’m a snowbird,” she says. “I have a dual membership, and when I’m here. I support Glenn and do everything I can to help.”

On Sundays, Tillie serves on the hospitality ministry. Tillie encouraged older adults to stay involved and for churches to tap into those resources. “The elderly sometimes feel like they’re left out. I’m 86 and I have no plans to stop serving until my health stops me. I’ll be doing whatever the Lord wants me to do until I can’t do it anymore.”

“Just have a friendly smile and be a greeter,” she said. At least the elderly can do that. You have to keep pushing. Don’t give up.”

For help with your children’s or Youth Ministry, contact Kris Buckman, 

Sharon Mager serves as a BCM/D communications specialist/editor of BaptistLIFE