By God’s grace, Vacation Bible School remains one of the most impactful, available programs for congregations to reach people in their communities with the gospel.
VBS is a fun, immersive experience for students that whisks them away to another world where they can intently focus on God’s truth in life-transforming ways. If your congregation does not have plans to host a Vacation Bible School, it is not too late to consider adding it to your summer schedule.
Thankfully, congregations have many options to consider when it comes to selecting a suitable curriculum that will provide the greatest spiritual return on your investment.
Whether you create your own material, utilize a modified curriculum or go all-in with a whole VBS package, the options are endless when it comes to deciding which resources will work best to reach your community.
As you consider which program to utilize for your Vacation Bible School, here are three questions that should be considered to make the most out of your VBS:
- Is God’s Word the top priority?
Summer schedules are full of fun activities for students. Most communities offer an assortment of events tailored to children that keep their hands and minds engaged, benefitting their growth (and giving parents a break).
VBS, however, is a peculiar opportunity in which the minds and hands of children are engaged for the specific purpose of illuminating their hearts with the Word of God.
In selecting VBS material, it is paramount that God’s Word be front and center, from beginning to end. The biblical thrust of the VBS theme should not be ambiguous, and the theme verse should be readily identified in every resource.
The lessons, songs, activities, skits, games and crafts (and maybe even the snacks) should guide participants into a deeper understanding of God and His overwhelming love for them, as displayed in every page of Scripture.
If we fail to centralize the Word of God in VBS, the event becomes just another summertime activity. For those few precious hours we have the full attention of students, let us make sure we are maximizing our potential for gospel impact.
At VBS, children have the distinct opportunity to learn of God’s love and hide His Word in their hearts. Let’s make sure we’re giving it to them. Select VBS materials that prioritize the truths of Scripture, making it relevant and applicable.
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17 ESV)
- Will I have to provide my own resources?
As tempting as it is to create our own VBS or to modify another curriculum to suit our VBS needs, many churches find it unsustainable year after year. Of course, even a pre-packaged VBS curriculum should be modified out of the box to suit the specific needs of each event, but it is wise to make sure we do not bite off more than we can chew.
No matter which VBS is chosen, we will need to provide some level of our own resources. The question is how much we will need to provide. Since the pandemic, the spirit of volunteerism has hit an all-time low.
Wisdom guides us to purchase a VBS program that will provide as many resources as may be needed. This allows for more time and energy to be focused on recruiting volunteers, decorating the spaces and preparing leaders.
The good news is that many VBS curricula provide as many resources as may be desired. From songs to banners, lessons to crafts, skit scripts to publicity items and accessories to certificates, most complete package VBS kits will provide everything needed for a successful VBS.
The next question to be answered is how much of a VBS program is actually usable. A VBS theme may be spot-on, but the resources provided may not be suitable to your context. For example, many VBS packages come with unique songs that help the participants learn through worship, but the likelihood of children learning all the songs over the course of VBS is quite low.
Make sure you select a curriculum package that provides the most usable resources possible. Shop wisely.
- What is the goal of Vacation Bible School?
How do we estimate the success of Vacation Bible School? VBS success is not determined by the number of attendees, the ability of children to recite verses, the number of volunteers or the quality of the décor, music, games or activities. It is very tempting to walk away from VBS satisfied with any of these indicators.
Obviously, it is exciting when attendance is up, when all the activities are executed flawlessly and when the sacrificial spirit of the volunteers perseveres to the end with no conflicts. All of these can be indicators that the effort was worth it, but the ultimate goal of Vacation Bible School is life transformation.
Whether 500 kids show up or only 5, we must make sure our definition of VBS success is not measured by manmade calculations. We achieve success when lives are transformed by the power of God through His Word. If one child, teenager or adult comes away from VBS with deeper faith in God, all the effort was worth it.
Most available VBS materials can provide us with every kind of resource needed to entertain the masses for hours a day, but if our goal for VBS is ultimately to see faces and hearts enlightened by the good news of Jesus Christ, we must make sure to select the appropriate curriculum that helps us achieve that end.
Vacation Bible School has worked in churches for over 100 years as a program that makes disciples of Jesus Christ. There is no reason to think it will stop working to transform lives, as long as we are willing to put the necessary work into it.
As you consider hosting Vacation Bible School next summer, make sure the questions above are answered adequately to have the greatest spiritual influence possible. There are a host of options for churches to consider. Choose wisely.
Mark Clements is editor in chief at Bogard Press, which helps churches fulfill the Great Commission by publishing sound Sunday School Literature and Bible Curriculum, www.bogardpress.org.
