A Fairbanks couple has successfully established a “Bible Story Hour” in a library that has stirred controversy for hosting monthly drag queen story hours for children.
The idea to launch a Bible Story Hour predated the arrival of children-focused drag events in the Noel Wien Library, but the latter event added fuel to the fire.
The new Bible group aims to cut through the noise of modern materialism and the fixation on technology to tell the “greatest story.”
“It is an old, old story but far from outdated,” David Halbrook wrote in a description of the new event. “Among the greatest reasons for the longevity of this story is that a child can understand it. This is among the reasons Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me.’ (Matthew 19:14).”
Halbrook’s wife, Starla, submitted an application for the Bible Story Hour, which was approved earlier this month. The first event will be on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. Free and open to the public, it will occur in the library’s Active Learning Lab.
“For one hour, children will hear a story, followed by activities, which will interest them now and challenge them in the future,” Halbrook noted. “It will provide answers to questions that young minds have not yet asked (but soon will).”
Starla and her children will host the event.
“This has been in her heart ever since her first child was born,” David Halbrook noted. “She knew she would teach this story to her children, but she has wanted to share it with others (and she has). This desire grew stronger as she heard of perverted efforts to drag young children into darkness in a variety of ways, including story hours at public venues.”
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According to Halbrooks, the goal is to ignite a “tiny flame” in the hearts of Fairbanks children.
“The greatest story ever begins with darkness that is scattered with the words, ‘Let there be light,’” David Halbrook observed. “If you have seen the darkness, then here’s an opportunity to introduce or reinforce the story of light preserved in Genesis 1, where light, life, and family began.”
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— For more information about the new Bible Story Hour, click here.
14 Comments
I commend this couple. Well done.
FANTASTIC!! LETS GO CHURCH, TAKE THE LEAD AND TAKE BACK WHAT IS RIGHT FULLY YOURS!!!
Before I read this article, I’m like they’re going to deny this Bible story time.
Bless you Halbrook
This is a great idea. Now they jjust need to remove the he trying to be a she in the Children’s Berry Room. He needs not to have access to the kids.
And Sally, you should learn how to read and write before anyone gives you access to children.
First, the library does NOT host Drag Queen Story Hours – they rent the Active Learning Lap out to people, the same way these wonderful people rented it.
Second, I am a conservative Christian. I do not know what Jesus you are worshiping but MY Jesus supped with tax collectors and prostitutes! I do not think he would shy away from spending time with LGBTQ+ people.
I DO KNOW that my Jesus is NOT a proponent of HATE and that he LOVES that person in the Children’s Room who is sharing kindness and acceptance to EVERY PERSON (adult AND child) who enters the library – even to YOU!
You are spewing hate and I am sure MY Jesus would take umbrage with that! “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7). [The meaning is that no one has the moral authority to condemn another person because all people are imperfect and have sinned.]
Haha, ignite a tiny flame? Sounds less like enlightenment and more like preventing spontaneous combustion in the library. Good luck explaining light without getting sidetracked by questions about why the drag queen event was dark. I admire the ambition, though. Turning the library into a fort against the perverted efforts must be thrilling. Just hope the craft supplies dont run out – this sounds like a project where challenging them in the future means theyll need more glue than imagination. Fantastic!! LETS GO CHURCH, TAKE THE LEAD AND TAKE BACK WHAT IS RIGHT FULLY YOURS!!!hẹn giờ online
Praise Jesus! What a victory!
Glad to see the 90% get their chance at reading bible stories with follow up activities for the kids during story hour. Anchorage and the rest of the State libraries could learn a lot from Fairbanks.
Awesome, Thanks Jesus
Im all for a diversity of social expressions. It’s good to give religious folks equity with drag shows and other groups too. It helps us all if we feel the inclusion of all points of view on our communities.
That’s awesome! Way to go, Starla and David!
What library is this? I really want to go to drag queen story hours, the only ones we have in Fairbanks are the drag story hours I put on, and we host mostly kings and are bi monthly.
Neither the drag storytime nor the bible storytime are library programs. As a public institution, the library provides space for community organizations to hold community events. This is the job of the library, and I’m thankful that the Fairbanks library does it well.