I know it's only January, and the snow is still deep, at least in the northeast, summer if just around the corner. What do your children's plans include for the summer break- soccer, softball, Scout Camp? It is time to start considering those things, but many churches in your area are at this minute beginning to develop Vacation Bible School curricula.
My wife recently received the Group Pandamania starter kit. We have been part of several Vacation Bible Schools at other churches, so last year we bit the proverbial bullet and approached the Pastor to see if we could have our own VBS. We had hoped, prayed and planned for 100 kids to come to our inaugural VBS session. We used another Group program then, High Seas Expedition. We did not see 100 kids, but 55 different kids came to our church that week. They learned a Bible story, coupled with a short movie, played games, had a snack, all of the typical summer camp sort of stuff.
Tony Kummer's website, Ministry to children.com has reviews of several different VBS programs, we settled on Group because of the success we enjoyed in other churches. There are many fine programs out there, some are free of charge. Take a look, Jesus himself instructed us to "take the little children unto Me."
While the common thought of the "target audience" of a Vacation Bible School is the children of the families who currently attend your services, using VBS as an outreach and missional ministry is very effective. The more times you can get the name of your church out here- in the papers, radio, etc, the better known you will be, and your church will surely be the better for it.
More on VBS later.
Father in heaven, look with favor on your church, as we start to develop a summer program for the kids of our communities. We seek to do your will, and know that part of that is bringing the joy of knowing You to everyone we meet. Help us all to become the ambassadors of Your Kingdom, through our deeds, thoughts and words. In Your Name, we pray. Amen.
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