Visual Aids Workshop

The Early Beginnings

While attending Moody Bible Institute in the 1930’s Thelma was drawn to music and Bible courses, learning about faith, doctrine, melody, harmony and rhythm from some of the greatest teachers. George Schuler, song writer and teacher, was a friend and mentor. He is known for such songs as “Make Me A Blessing”. Shortly after that time came marriage and children. In 1947, her husband was asked to go to Ethiopia to set up a radio station, and in 1948 the whole family, three children at the time, left the USA to go to Ethiopia. The four years the family was there, Thelma was involved with teaching the national ladies in Bible Classes.

The family returned to the states is 1952. The family now included another son. With four small children, her teaching time was mainly on Sundays, working with Children’s Church and teaching Sunday School.

As the family grew, Thelma became involved with Child Evangelism Fellowship. This was the real beginnings to her talents at visualizing songs and verses for use in the clubs. When she began with CEF most of the visuals that were used in the clubs were hand made. Her artistic talents in graphics and organizing visuals in a pleasing “clean look” were readily appreciated and copied.

During this time, Thelma was writing simple Bible Doctrine songs that could be sung to familiar tunes. She knew, from her teaching many years before, children can learn Bible Doctrine. They wanted to learn, but the ideas had to be presented in an interesting way. As songs were written, they were used in her local groups and clubs.

With the encouragement of co-workers and friends, Thelma began to develop her songs. At the age of 62, she began to draw her own illustrations, silk-screen print the completed songs, market them at Child Evangelism Fellowship conventions and Sunday School conventions. They were new, unusual, unfinished (you had to color and bind them) and quite well received. But the songs were only promoted in “her little circle”. As long as she was “pushing” them, they were accepted. For twenty years, Thelma was the sole promoter of her songs. As her health was failing, so were the sales of The Visual Aids Workshop songs.

At her Memorial Service on December 23, 2003, her son told those attending “Now she is singing her songs to the One they were written for”. She really loved her Savior and loved to teach children.

Now The Visual Aids Workshop has moved on to the next generation. With the combined efforts of her children and grandchildren, VAW is now ready to go to the whole world by (1) use of the world wide web, (2) CDs so anyone can see and hear the songs, (3) CDs so anyone can print as many copies as they need, and (4) the songs are already colored so they are ready to use.