Ridgell's Originals

Our Vacation Bible School at Southern Hills finished up a few weeks ago and I wanted to wait a while before I talked about it.  By almost any measure it was an unqualified success.  Large crowds, lots of visitors, incredible excitement, and widespread participation.  But it took an amazing amount of time, energy, and financing.  Our full-time staff put in lots of work.  Our volunteers were amazing.
But it is still worth asking the question:  was it worth it?  This is just my opinion... but absolutely.  I do not know what our staff will say, or the rest of the elders, or our Children's Ministry team... but I think it was.  And I say that as more than just a casual observer.  We were part of the hundreds of volunteers who put it on.  So was my daughter.  Her kids were there.

So I have been thinking about why VBS still works for us and why I think it is worth the investment of time, energy, and money.

Here are three things we do that I think are worth every church considering.  Three things that I think are major reasons why VBS works for us.

We ask, and expect, most of our members to be involved.  We have teachers, we have performers for the musical (our version of the traditional VBS skits), and we have support staff (registration, security, set-up, clean-up, meals for the workers.  You can work, you can bring cookies or chips, or you can write a check.  But you are expected to do something.  Our staff and elders and wives are heavily involved.  Our members whose kids are long grown get involved.  Our young families are involved.  Our teenagers are involved.  For many, this is their first exposure to teaching Bible.

It is a Family Vacation Bible School.  No dropping off of kids for free babysitting.  We require someone to be with every child attending VBS.  So if you bring your neighbor's kids, you have to have a signed release and stay at the building.  If you visit from another church because you want your child to experience VBS, you have to come also.  We invite friends, neighbors, coworkers, and classmates.  But we invite the whole family.  And they have to stay.  So do all our parents.

Part of this is because that reflects our conviction that families matter.  Part of it is so we can introduce adults to Jesus and our community of faith.

So what do the adults do during VBS?  They go to class just like the kids.  We have an adult class.  Covers the same material as the kids are studying.  Sometimes we use our ministry staff to teach it, sometimes we use our members, and sometimes we bring in guest teachers.

As part of the family emphasis, we are very security conscious.  Background checks, security patrols, bathroom monitors, adult registration.  If you are in our building you better have on the official tee shirt, a costume, or a bracelet indicating you too have registered.  Let's our community know we are a safe place.

Everyone at church is expected to attend.  We expect them to be involved, but we also expect them to be there.  Invite people, help put it on in some way, and show up.  Meet visitors, add to the excitement.  This is because we believe VBS is an intentional ministry, for our own as well as a way to reach outsiders.

And yes, we sing our VBS songs during Sunday assembly.  We show videos of VBS.  We salute our volunteer workers.  We make it a big deal.  Elders and staff make it a big deal.

And we follow up with our visitors.  Thank you packets with information about Southern Hills.  Offers to talk about Jesus.  Invitations to other church community events.

It wasn't always this way.  A few years ago I thought we would drop VBS.  Many of our leaders did not attend, the same small number of workers got burned out, and for some we were a three or four night free baby sitting service.

So we changed expectations, added adult class, and asked everyone to come.

We have attracted families, converted some, and held up Jesus.

So yeah, I am still a big fan of VBS.
 
Maybe some of these ideas will help your VBS too.

To the glory of God.