SCHENECTADY — A thunderstorm raged outside the Church of God on Sunday, but inside the air was filled with the sound of singing and clapping children.

The church at 920 State St. was holding its fourth-annual graduation ceremony for its week-long Bible school.

This year, instructors focused on teaching the children to be “fishers” of men and spread Christianity, according to Bible school director Natalie Caraballo.

“It’s a good thing for the community to get the kids involved,” Caraballo said. “It’s a better place for them to come than to be in the streets.”

About 80 children participated in this year’s Bible school. They came to the church Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. After an opening prayer, they learned lessons from the Bible and then built crafts.

On Saturday, the whole group went to Collins Park in Scotia.

“When you hate your neighbor, you still have to love them no matter what,” 7-year-old Joaneily Valentin said.

Joaneily said she and her 6-year-old sister, Thaisnely, painted picture frames and animals. “You’ve got to love God with all your heart,” Thaisnely added.

A majority of the church’s congregation is Spanish-speaking, Caraballo said. The ceremony on Sunday was bilingual. The main speaker spoke in Spanish and a second church speaker closely followed with an English translation.

“They learn about God, they learn who they are,” said Thaisnely and Joaneily’s mother, Sugeily Iguina.

Iguina said her daughters, who live with her in Schenectady, looked forward to coming to the Bible school because the students were all given a goldfish that they had to feed at the beginning of each class. The students, who ranged in age from 2 to 14, took their goldfish home with them on Sunday.

The church spent about $2,000 on the Bible school and each student paid a tuition of $10, Caraballo said. The Christian church has religious services on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

On Sunday, the children stood up and told about 200 friends and family attending that they learned to have a clean heart so they could serve God and be examples to their neighbors. Church organizers also thanked the parents for trusting them with their children during the Bible school.

The students performed various songs during the event, including one in which they said everyone should tell their neighbors to be fishers of men and spread the word of God. Adults and children clapped and sang along throughout the ceremony.

The crafts that the children created during the week were displayed at the church, including clay plant pots and picture frames made by the older students and foam animal masks made by the younger students.

“Through our good behavior, when we do good things … we are an example,” Caraballo said she told the children.