The record was set in the auditorium as 276 students - nearly half the student body - voluntarily attended a Bible Club meeting.
Bible Club advisor and high school history teacher Joe Harmon believes that is a school record for attendance to a regular club meeting of any kind.
High school Principal Steve Dobransky noted that just a few years ago, Bible Club membership was less than a couple dozen students.
"Four years ago," Harmon said, "I was asked to take over the role of Fellowship of Christian Athletes advisor. Attendance ranged in the teens every other week. It dawned on me after talking to some of my students that many did not go to FCA meetings because they were not 'athletes.'"
The following summer, the name of the organization was changed to "The Bible Club."
"The first Bible Club meeting was standing room only in my classroom," Harmon said. As attendance grew, meetings were moved to the band room and then to the auditorium.
Harmon said attendance broke 100 at the beginning of the 2007-08 school term, and this past year's club kicked off attendance at the century mark. Since then, students have continually raised the bar for themselves. By late fall, the numbers had doubled.
"Bible Club is an activity that is open to any student to attend during their activity period," Harmon said. "It is stated on the morning announcements, and whoever shows up, shows up."
This year, as numbers grew, fellow teacher Kelly Ripple, has joined Harmon to help supervise. Harmon said the only duties the advisor has is making sure curriculum is appropriate for the school setting, taking attendance and maintaining crowd control. "It's fully the kids' club. We just show up and they do their thing," he said.
The 35-minute gatherings are packed with prayer requests, Christian music, devotionals or object lessons, as well as skits and team-building activities, all sandwiched between an opening and closing prayer led by the club president.
"I think that we get so many students because we are personal," club President Heidi Hepler said. "We relate to where they are at and we try to touch on the struggles that they have to face during high school."
A team of 16 student leaders shoulder the responsibility of organizing and presenting the weekly activities.
Student leader Kayla Martz believes that "the big draw to Bible Club is how we make 'church' fun. It's people their age talking to them, so they believe that we know what their feelings are about the stuff we do. No offense to the elders," she said, "but elders don't really know what kind of things we like to do - and it's our turn to show people how we share our faith in our own way."
According to Harmon, the topics the student leaders focus on tend to be something aimed at teenagers, such as gossip, anger, love or friendship.
"Since its inception," Harmon said, "we have made sure Bible Club is conducted within the realms of federal guidelines concerning religion and school. The Supreme Court has noted that the students do not shed their First Amendment rights at the door: Bible Club allows them to exercise their rights of free religion.
"As the advisor," he said, "I make sure their material is school appropriate and not offensive. They stay away from items that may offend various denominations or would cause problems in school - like evolution."
Still, there is an unseen force that seems to be drawing the students to investigate the club's activities. Some find it as a fun alternative to study hall, some say they come for the socialization, some think "it's just plain fun," and others - a majority, it seems, - say they come to gain knowledge.
Eighth-grader Doug Gundlach also helps with student leadership. He admits that some students may come "to get out of homeroom." But, he adds, "That's OK - if they learn something."
Freshman Joshua Shick said he attends Bible Club "so I can learn about God."
Austin Blose, Brock Shick and Damean Felmlee are among those who enjoy the chance to "hang out" with their peers during the weekly get-togethers.
Others who favor the entertainment side of the club meetings are seniors Sam Evans, Dallas Crissman and Bruce McDaniel.
"I actually come to learn something," Tanner Bish said
Kim Truitt, a ninth-grader, attends the meetings for yet another reason. "I don't normally go to church so this is sort of my church."
Club leader Zachariah Henry says Bible Club, "gives students another chance to get closer to God and to learn more about him at the same time. It also provides a time for fellowship with other Christians because during classes you can't really get that."
The group has planned a community open house from 7-8 p.m. May 3 in the social hall at the First Church of God along Route 861.
"Bible Club has become this juggernaut," Harmon said. "So many in the community ask about it. They (the students) thought it would be cool to show the community what they do each week."
The event will also serve as a school-approved fundraiser. A freewill offering will be taken to benefit the club.
"I am highly impressed with 15- to 17-year-old kids that can get up in front of over 200 of peers and speak, often effortlessly," Harmon said. "I know adults who would cringe at that thought."
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