Family Vision Library Electrifies

Kids with Practical Knowledge

By Jim Day

The Family Vision Library, located at 516 South Fifth Street in St. Charles, Missouri recently concluded a six-week video and hands-on class for children ages 8 to 18 entitled Introduction to Residential Electricity. The course covered electrical safety, breaker panels and fuse boxes, the difference between amps and volts, how to calculate total power usage in watts, the understanding of Kilowatt hours and basic wiring.

Each of the 40 young people who attended received a solid, practical introduction to the most utilized power source in the world. Energy awareness and conservation were discussed as well as ways to reduce the family’s energy consumption.

On Wednesday, May 14th, Mr. Tom Wilkerson demonstrated how power enters the home through the circuit breaker and then how electricity runs to outlets and light sockets throughout the house. Each student was able to participate in the running of a circuit and when the power was connected to the breaker panel and the light switch was flipped...‘There Was Light’!

Practical skills are valuable to our sons and daughters and this course was not only fun and informative, but practical as well. Each person participated in the functional wiring of a false wall that included a breaker panel, an outlet, light switch and light socket. Students were taught how to evaluate the energy usage of appliances in their homes as well as ways to save their family’s resources by more efficient use of electricity.

An interesting illustration used during the course (which everyone agreed was the most important aspect of the course) was the way they tied in God as an example of electrical power.

God, of course, is our source of physical and spiritual power. Utilizing John 15:5 where Jesus said “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing”, Jesus, in their example, became the electric company because all energy comes from and through Him. In their analogy we are like the branches or the wires that carry the electricity and are supposed to be outlets of His power. They warned however that electricity is hindered by resistors and insulators and that we can also be resistant to the free flowing of the Lord’s power by sin in our lives. Rather than being a ‘resistor’ or ‘insulator’, the class was taught about conductors.

The best conductor of electricity is gold. Gold, of course, has to be refined to remove impurities. When we are tried (refined through trials in our faith walk) we become better conduits for sharing our faith in Jesus just as 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

According to John Thrower, President of the Family Vision Library, the course on home electricity was such a huge success that they’ve decided to offer it again this Fall. The course will be held September 17th through October 22nd on six consecutive Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The only charge to attend will be $5 to cover the cost of the class workbook. John encourages people to sign-up early because, due to space limitations, the course will be limited to the first 50 students who sign-up.

On the heels of their hugely successful electrical class, the Library will be offering a six-week course entitled Introduction to Residential Plumbing July 9th through August 13th. The plumbing course will be held every Wednesday during this six-week period from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the Family Vision Library for ages 8 to 18 and, just like the electrical course, the only charge will be $5 for the class workbook.

Introduction to Residential Plumbing will include such topics as: a basic understanding of the home drainage system; understanding the different types of PVC pipe and what they’re used for; how water values and water lines are constructed and how they work; and how to clear drains such as those in the kitchen and bathroom. One day will be devoted to a hands-on work session when an experienced, professional plumber will be demonstrating how to join two copper pipes together with solder, how to glue PVC pipes together, how to install elbow pipes in a water line and much more. Because space is limited the course will be limited to the first 50 children who sign-up so those wishing to attend should sign-up early.

Although the Family Vision Library is known for its wholesome, family oriented books and resources, they are also are a resource center for home educators as well as practical classes and seminars for the family.

The Family Vision Library is a non-profit, free, public lending library offering conservative Biblical worldview books and resources for the entire family.

For more information about the Family Vision Library, obtain directions, or sign-up for the plumbing and electrical courses call (636) 669-0111. I also encourage you to visit their website at www.thefamilyvision.org.