IS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL REALLY WORTH IT?
Picture this scene with me -
For literally months, planning has been going on behind the scenes to make VBS a great week for the 100+ kids that come to church every morning for 3 hours a day for four days in a row. Weeks before the start of VBS, decorations are being made, the schedule is set, teachers are preparing their lessons, great craft supplies are being purchased and tried out, the lunch menu has been decided and the snacks are being sampled, and the games are being chosen to fit the theme, and dozens of invitations are being given to children and their parents. The week before VBS, staff and volunteers are spending long hours putting up the extravagant decorations that turn a church into a magical medieval castle, last-minute purchases are being made, frantic phone calls to get more volunteers, cookies by the dozens are being baked by just as many households, and teachers are fine-tuning their lessons. Kids are so excited for VBS and seeing their friends they might not have seen all summer. Then, the first day of VBS rolls around. Everything is in place. The church erupts in a cacophony of excited chatter, theme music pouring out of the assembly hall, groups gathering around their leaders, and at last, Vacation Bible School has started. Fast forward 3 days later. Exhausted leaders, teachers, staff, and volunteers drag their feet as they tear down hours of decorations, store away craft supplies, fill up a box of lost and found and clean up a very well-used kitchen. Lessons have been taught, songs have been sung, verses have been quoted, games have been played, and snacks and lunches are gone. Now, it is over. Everyone participating is drained. Has it been worth it? Was it worth the time, the energy, the expense, the hours of clean-up?
You betcha!!!
Maybe we can see why when we consider three other questions: What is the primary goal of VBS? Is that goal really that important? Does VBS accomplish that goal?
Ok. Goal: Why do we have VBS? The answer is simple and so very, very important. The goal of Vacation Bible School is to reach boys and girls—and their families—for Christ. To see children understand plainly the truth of the Gospel, whether for the first time or for seasoned churchgoers, to perhaps have the Gospel finally become a personal decision that clicks deep within. The goal of Vacation Bible School is to have seeds of truth planted, watered, and/or seeing the seeds burst from understanding the real meaning of following Christ. Twelve solid hours of equipping children to understand who Jesus is, what He has done for them, and how to follow Him. While kids are having the most fun of the summer, they are incorporating the message of salvation and discipleship. Families are being reached when Bible papers are taken home, verses are being memorized, and memorable crafts take their place on the refrigerator or counter, and when moms and dads are invited to come and see the daily closing programs. Some families that have never been inside the church before just may come back to see what kind of church puts all that time, energy, and focus on their kids.
This year’s VBS theme is Keepers of the Kingdom. Set in a medieval time with a focus on the armor of God, this VBS is unique, powerful, and timely as it equips kids to fight the battle for truth in an increasingly relativistic culture. As Christians, we are engaged in an epic battle for the hearts and minds of our youth. Every day, they are bombarded with lies about who they are, who their Creator is, and where their salvation comes from. Thankfully, God has given his children armor to wear in this battle between truth and lies, light and darkness, and good and evil. Based on Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 18, kids will learn how they can be part of God's kingdom through salvation in his Son and be equipped with the armor of God to become Keepers of the Kingdom who stand strong in today's battle for truth.
The real challenge isn’t how extravagant the decorations are or how exciting the games might be, the real challenge is twofold: inviting and bringing kids to VBS and volunteering to help equip our kids to stand tall and strong with the power of God. There are places to volunteer in so many ways. Here’s a short list: crew leaders, game helpers, craft organizers, decorators, kitchen helpers, builders, painters, office help, cutters, sewers, riding a bus, sorters, nursery, teachers, helpers with preschoolers, park supervisors, greeters, singers, bakers, sound booth helpers, clean-up crew, prayer warriors, financial givers, and more.
Is Vacation Bible School worth it? Try it out and see for yourself!
VBS Directors and Co-Directors: Shari Coelho, Cathy Sutton, Johnnie Ogden