I was an adult when I became a Christian and didn’t have the Vacation Bible School (VBS) experience as a child.
I knew kids who went to VBS but I was never invited to attend.
Interestingly though, any adult Christian that I know can speak to their childhood VBS memories.
Since I’ve been a Christian I’ve had the privledge of being a part of a great VBS and can see the benefit of investing the time and resources into this great summer event for kids.
Interacting with the kids and watching them learn and grow is an invaluable experience. Something that everyone should experience at least once.
4 Reasons to Host a VBS
1. Impact on the Kids
This summer event not only gives kids something to do but has a significant impact on their future.
According to a Barna research study, 43 percent of Americans who make a commitment to Christ do so before the age of 13, and 64% of born again Christians do so before their 18th birthday.
If these statistics are true, every church should be investing time and resources into impacting our kids for the future.
2. Effect on Volunteers
People who give of their time to be part of a VBS program do so because of the impact it has on their own lives.
Giving our precious time to the kids is a rewarding experience and once you get a taste of it you want to do it more.
The bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and a well run VBS program demonstrates that principle for the volunteer.
3. Impact on the Church
While VBS programs target children to attend, the not so visible impact is on the families of these kids.
Many kids who attend VBS don’t belong to a church and this is an opportunity to expose your church to families in the community.
It is not uncommon for kids to come to Christ and then bring their families along for the ride. Use VBS as a way to expose your church to families in the community.
4. Impact on the Community
Local communities love having planned summer activities for kids. A well run VBS can impact the community by setting the example for organized and safe fun for kids.
This impacts the community because it respects organizations that invest the time and resources into their children.
VBS is Declining
The Barna study also suggests that 68% of churches offered a Vacation Bible School (VBS) in 2012 which is down from 81% in 1997. So why is the number decreasing if the data is clear that reaching children at a young age is important to influencing their commitment to Christ?
The study states that 30% of churches have stopped doing VBS because of a lack of volunteers and 19% because of not enough time. So lets talk about these barriers.
Lack of Volunteers
All churches struggle to find enough volunteers to support their programs and services. To address this, it is important to create a volunteer program that is efficient and effective.
What this means is developing an organized system that creates a great experience for the volunteers. If volunteers feel valued, and that the service they provide is a good use of their time, they will in turn be advocates and help to recruit others to help. The secret is to create a great experience that the volunteer wants to share with their friends!
Not Enough Time
Planning for VBS should begin months before the actual event so that there is ample time to prepare all of the logistical details.
For example, begin the planning process six months before the scheduled VBS and take that time to plan the details so the week of VBS, all you need to do is implement the plan.
We all get caught in a frenzy if we don’t take the time to plan. When the reality is, effective planning is a time saver.
The Barna study data just validates what we all believe that the kids are worth the time and effort that is put into a great VBS.
Check out this over the top Vacation Bible School called JUMP!
We don’t have VBS in our church but the video is so much encouraging for us to venture on VBS.
Thank you Pat.
Hi David. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Use it as an inspiration and start small and grow your VBS! God bless you!
Patricia
Jump Kids VBS Camp @slfc ROCKS!
Yes it does!
There’s another side to this topic. Each church can’t be everything to everyone, particularly those churches that are smaller than 300 members. Why not encourage more collaboration within the Christian community among churches? If the church puts on an exceptional soccer program, it wouldn’t be considered a good use of volunteers and financial resources for a church down the road to start a similar soccer program. That goes the same for VBS. We need to look at churches, not just individuals, as hands, feet, etc. of the body of Christ in which they have different roles in the kingdome. One might be meant to do VBS, another a soccer program, another a food pantry, another a scouting program. There are some activities such as worship service that each church should conduct, but we shouldn’t consider VBS a requirement for a church. Each church should ask God for clarity on which ministries they are uniquely positioned to take on. I hope this makes sense.
Thanks for the information.
I have never thought of VBS as a powerful tool to draw Kids to Christ and win the community for Christ. But reading the article and watching the video I’m inspired to practice it in our ministry as the Holy Spirit leads. Very inspiring and insightful. God bless you.