Normally I post a reflection on how this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) went, but this summer I’m posting ahead of schedule! At my church, we have been preparing to welcome kids this week to our Breaker Rock Beach theme, where we will focus on teaching all our attendees the importance to stand on God’s truth in a world that does not. This year’s theme verse is Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
I do not call myself an expert at hosting a VBS, and I could not pull off this event without loads of help from fellow church members, family, and friends, but I do have extensive experience with VBS myself that I believe qualifies me to write this post about why it is important to have a VBS and why you should send your kids to one.
I attended my church’s VBS every year as a kid up through 6th grade. Once you hit 7th grade, or entered youth group age, you were expected to help out as a volunteer. So, I started my VBS career as a recreation station leader, then a group leader of various different ages each year before teaching 1st-2nd and then 3rd-5th, and then I ended up as the main Bible teacher for PreK-5th Grade. I gained lots of experience in tailoring the lessons to each individual age group. During my time as the Bible teacher, I was asked to take on the role of assistant director and to help lead assembly. I did this for a few years until I was asked to take over as director last year.
Due to schedule changes and volunteers’ ability to help at certain times, our daytime VBS transformed to an evening one. We also still kept a smaller version of the daytime one that was only open to the local daycare we partnered with for years. Pulling a double duty VBS in one week was exhausting for me and several others who generously donated their time to help out with both. I was worried about how it all would go with it being my first year directing the entirety of the event, still having to teach at the Bible station in the morning to the daycare, and hoping I bought enough supplies for the crowd size I had no idea was coming. We offer pre-registration, but still welcome walk-ins who may not have had the chance to register.
While last year was one stressful week, I was amazed at the number of kids, new faces who attended and came to volunteer, and generally what a wonderful time we all had throughout the week. Because of last year’s success, we are following pretty much the same model this year. I am already humbled and thankful for the volunteers who agreed to help out this year!
This year’s VBS begins Sunday evening, and I still don’t have a great idea of who all might show up. Pre-registration numbers are low. But we are praying that whoever and how many come this week, will be open to hearing about God and His Word, learn the truth, and of course, have fun with all the activities that point back to God and His goodness. For me, it’s not about the numbers. It’s about planting a foundation and seeds to young children about who the Creator truly is and why we need Jesus. We hope to reach as many hearts so they too may know and experience the joy of having a relationship with our Savior.
The kids who attend are a mixture of backgrounds too. We have the kids that already attend our church regularly, ones who may have a home church where they are members, ones who may hop around from church to church, ones who have never stepped foot in a church, and the ones where the parents are really just looking for free babysitting a couple hours each night for a week’s duration. No matter if they are already believers or are hearing about Jesus for the first time, we are excited to welcome them, love on them for the week (or longer if they choose to continue to keep coming back to our church), and share about Jesus.
You can never hear about a certain Bible passage too much, sing too much about God, or spend enough time in fellowship with believers.
There are some kids we see each year, and some we see only once and we have no idea where they go after leaving our doors. I urge the parents to not only send their children to Vacation Bible School for a vital week of learning about Jesus, but to find a place of worship each child can attend regularly to continue learning about Jesus. One week a year at VBS is not enough to develop a relationship with Jesus. To truly know Jesus in your heart and to walk with Him daily, one must spend time in God’s Word, at worship with other believers, in fellowship, and in prayer. You only need belief Jesus is your Savior and that He died on the cross for our sins, our shortcomings, that all humans have, but to be a Christ follower doesn’t stop there. When you love someone, you spend time getting to know more and more about them. The same thing happens when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
There is a debate where people challenge the need for attending church on a regular basis. Do you need to attend church to be a believer? No. Belief alone makes a believer, but church is where you can further your personal growth. Proverbs 3:5-6 says to not lean on your own understanding so why do believers isolate themselves in worship and learning about God?
I will never say there is a one right way to worship God as long as you are praying to Him, earnestly listening for His direction and guidance on what to do and where to go. I fully support car jam sessions, praying or singing as loud as you desire. I also support watching sermons online or through Facebook live when you are physically unable to attend service. We each undergo personal convictions. But I will say God never said to skip reading His Word over worldly events. Yep, work and school do follow under that. I think rest and vacation are wonderful. But God didn’t say to take a break from Him. His Word certainly encourages and deems it necessary to learn and learn from other believers. Also, without being around others how can one share God with someone who may not know Him? You definitely cannot assume every single person who attends church already believes in God.
I also know the importance of growing up in a church. Attending Sunday School, listening to preaching, reading the Bible for myself and studying God’s Word regularly, serving where God calls me to go, spending time in fellowship with other believers, and learning from mentors has all been a vital experience to help me on my walk with Jesus. I was fortunate to have parents who made church a priority in my young life, which instilled in me the importance of belonging to a community of believers who can hold me accountable and also love on me. I spent my college years not going to church regularly, and I felt its absence in my life and choices. I did not thrive as well without community worship no matter how much I read my Bible and did my personal devotions on my own. I’ll be completely transparent that I slack off too in attending midweek Bible study, personal devotions, and attending church on Sundays regularly time to time. Summer months provide a huge distraction, but fun events shouldn’t replace worship and instruction of God’s Word. So yes, I’m not writing all this to just step on your toes but mine as well.
Vacation Bible School is a great way to get a child’s foot in the door if they never have heard about Jesus, and it is a great week to help further a child’s knowledge and understanding of who Jesus is, but it can’t be the only way a child hears about Jesus. Only hearing about God while at church isn’t enough either. The teaching starts at home. How can a parent teach and lead a child in the way they should go if they themselves are not receiving teaching through God’s Word, Sunday school discussions, and sermons?
I’m not disillusioned to think there aren’t churches out there who don’t guide members with God’s Word. I do know some churches aren’t as welcoming and Satan found chinks in some of the members, allowing church hurt and bad experiences to seep through like a cancer. This is where discernment and leaning on God’s Word is vital in a believer’s life. It is the job of everyone to be diligent in their walk with Jesus, and to fully know what their child is being taught.
Our church offers commencement at the conclusion of each VBS so parents can meet the teachers/volunteers and other church members while also hearing about what their child learned that week at VBS. I also highly encourage parents to do their own research before bringing their child to a church’s doors, even ours. I’m always happy to answer any questions about what VBS will entail each year, and excited to get to know any new faces.
Beyond the cool decorations, snack/dinner, games, crafts and detailed Biblical teaching this VBS offers, prayer is a huge component, if not the biggest, that makes VBS a success. Without prayer and putting the teaching of God’s Word to young hearts and minds, what is even the point in hosting this outreach program? I have been praying for this year’s VBS as well as the other volunteers and church members. Ultimately, we offer this free event to give children a chance to learn more about Jesus and to give ALL the glory to Christ. We want it to be a fun, safe, and awesome week for all involved, and we pray you will join us in prayer for this as well.
In conclusion, VBS is important for children to attend. You never know how God may reach a child, whether directly through the Bible lesson, or a silly VBS song, a craft, or even a prayer of thankfulness before dinner time. Vacation Bible School does its best to offer a well-rounded experience with stations that engage a child’s attention span. We hope each attendee not only finds Jesus, but also a place where they can grow among other believers if they do not already have one. Our church doors are always open for those looking for a home place of worship.
Mirror, Mirror 