3 reasons I'm pumped about VBS 2011. . .
1. It’s ALL about Jesus – more specifically, it’s all about how people’s lives were changed when they had an encounter with Jesus. Check out the biblical content for kids here: https://www.lifeway.com/vbs2011/bigapple/
2. Urban ministry is strategic – more than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas. With over 8 million of God’s greatest creations living in New York City, many of whom don’t know Christ, I personally think it is a very strategic place to focus on.
3. Did I mention that it’s all about Jesus?
Looking forward to Big Apple Adventure. Always like to know way ahead so I can plan all year long. This should be a great adventure for the kids. Thanks for all your hard work.
Shirley
Craft Director for Shaw Height Baptist Church in Sumter SC
Dear VBS Team,
I LOVE the theme for next year…wonderful!!! I knew I should have submitted my guess of “inner city” as the theme. May I make a suggestion for future publicity materials and posters? I find it very hard to read the tiny print that the scripture verse and actual theme are written in on the logos. I think these are the most important and should be given more prominence. As always, we look forward to using the Lifeway materials to share the Gospel with the children God sends us. Thank you so much for your dedication and hard work to make VBS a fun place to be!!
Dianne
VBS Director; Victory Baptist Church, Marshall, TX
I am sorry to be the nay-sayer, but I really do not care for the New York City Theme. Maybe if it had been “Any-City” USA I might have cared more for the set up. The motto is good, I like the Scriptures and Daily content and most of all I love that it is “all about Jesus”; just the location that is my stumbling block. I usually have at least three craft ideas the second I learn the theme, but this year the well is dry! We’ll see if any improvement comes with the official crafts but since I usually do not care for them I have my doubts. I;ll just turn it over to God and see what happens.
Vicki,
I totally agree with you unfortunately. I would go a step further and say that an emphasis on cities vs Something in God’s creation as it has in the past is very disheartening. The problem with a theme like this is that the decorations and the crafts will all tend to be designed around the appearance of the city. The very thought of decorating my church like NYC makes me gag. As they said at the top there are eight million souls in NYC and they are desperate for the light of God to pierce their dreary existence in a selfish, materialistic city that indulges all the sins they could ever imagine.
Umm, NYC is the frontlines of an outreach war not an evangelical tool. We need to reach kids with God’s love, NOT rap and idolizing the inner city. I feel that we have dumbed down and become like the world. How can we be set apart and be different if we look just like everyone else?
I am a past director that has directed our VBS for 2 yrs. And I have loved every VBS I directed. Before that my own children came and was a part of enjoying it. I know you work hard trying to make it run well and I know it takes a great deal of work putting it all together. I love this coming yrs theme. The Big Apple Adventure…. I love the Theme song and already learning it. Thank you for taking time to make every year an adventure for Gods Children. Grown-ups love it just the same! 🙂 I Praise God for all your hard work you put into it…My Gods Blessings be with you and everyone who helps to make it special every yr.
Past Director: A Secretary, and Worship Leader, and Children’s Teacher and Music Leader at Feather River Baptist Church; In Olivehurst; CA.
I have served as vbs director at my church for the past 3 years and have worked with Lifeway’s materials for 6. Every year I wonder how they are going to top the year before and each year I realize just how God inspired these themes are. I absolutely love this theme! Last summer I had the opportunity to visit NYC for the first time. It is filled with so many people who need Jesus and many of our children are fascinated by what happens in the big city. I think this will allow children the opportunity to see NYC in a different light and see the need for people to travel there and reach out to the 8 million people who live there. Who knows, we could be teaching a future missionary to NYC each summer and this could be how God is going to call that child up. So give it a chance before you saying you’re not happy with it. I for one can’t wait until we finish Saddle Ridge Ranch so I can start planning for Big Apple Adventure!!!
I am excited about next years VBS theme. My daughter and I had the opportunity to visit NYC just two weeks ago and were super excited when we saw the release of next years theme. As a VBS director I am already envisioning ways to present the lessons through drama (Broadway) or as “breaking news” segments. Just as the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom in a new world, Jesus Christ offers new life, freedom from sin and an eternal home in Heaven. I am sure I will be buying some half price Christmas lights for decorating. Keep up the good work!
I am so excited about VBS! This year’s theme is so awesome and hey the kids get to go to New York City, what an adventure for our children.
As the music director and decoration coordinator I get to have the best time.
Our kids here in good ole Edgewood, Tx love the music, the lessons and all that is done by you at Lifeway to make each and every one of their VBS experiences a life changing time. Keep up the great work and remember “If God be for us who can be against us!”
I’m afraid that we are going to have to shop around for other VBS curriculum next year. Each year the music gets worse and worse. How can a Baptist organization support “Rap” as supposedly good music? How about some good conservative music for a change? The last two years we have actually written and used our own music. I don’t see how we can support this theme at all.
Normally, I would not chime in with an opinion, but after reading the last comment, I must. Honestly, I wasn’t overly thrilled to see the theme, although I’ve always wanted to visit the big city. I’m a country girl, so Saddle Ridge Ranch was right up my alley. I’ve never had so much fun at a VBS, and the kids absolutely loved it!
My comment is about the music. I was lucky enough to attend a local training event at which Jeff Slaughter was present and leading the music for Saddle Ridge Ranch. The whole place was electric; God’s Spirit filled the room as we sang and lifted our hands to Him in praise. It was so much more than a VBS training event — it was a worship service! The same was true in our VBS; children were touched by the music. In fact, we had three accept Christ as their Savior, and it happened not in the Worship Rally, but in the music rotation.
My point is this. I think Jeff is in touch with today’s generation of children, and if he has written the music, I believe God is in it. I’m not a fan of rap, but I’m a fan of music that speaks to children and gives reverence to God. Jeff’s music does that. I’ve only heard the theme song (Have the rest of you heard all the music already?), and it’s not “in your face” hostile rap as I personally view rap in general. In my opinion, it’s catchy and what better message than to encourage children to spread the news of Jesus Christ! That’s what we all need to be doing.
Bible content and music are the two things on which I largely base my choice of the VBS curriculum, whatever the theme. The Bible content for The Big Apple Adventure is outside the “usual” Bible lessons the children hear, and that’s an important factor for me. This is the first year we had used Lifeway in a while because every other Baptist church around us uses it, and it gives the children fewer opportunities to go to more than one VBS.
There’s one thing for sure, no matter which curriculum we all choose, Lifeway has come up with a very different theme. We have to give them credit for their creativity!
May God bless you all in your work with children.
P. S. to Lifeway — Any chance we could hear another of the songs before the training events?
Thanks!
I have to admit that the jury is still out on this one. I do admit that I like it better than I like this years theme when I first found out it was a western theme. I’m black and not too many blacks are western. With that said, I put the Ranch theme to rest and decided to look else where. In January, I looked at the theme again and the more I looked the more I liked. I’m sure it will be the same for next year’s theme.
I did get some strange looks from people at my church when I mentioned the theme but all in all people were excited! I’ve never seen so many black people saying “yee-haw” in my life. They have loved this year’s theme.
We have several people in my church who are from New York and I’m sure they will be excited and hopefully very helpful in providing ideas and getting supplies and gifts for next year.
As I told my VBS teachers, It’s not about the Theme! It’s about the message as next year theme says “It’s about Jesus!”
Hey I Was In Saddle Ridge Ranch I was in E4 I Had a BLAST Wish It Was longer I Had Fun With Mrs. Brenda And Mrs. Mellissa I LOVED Missions But I Can’t W8 For VBS 2011
Love the theme, love the theme song, love teaching kids about Jesus! Can’t wait for the Super Sampler and previews! Thanking God for all the talented, obedient people at Lifeway that put together a solid, biblical VBS every year.
The kids love the music and can remember the words year after year. Our kids loved Saddle Ridge Ranch but of course each year since we have been using Lifeway and Jeff Slaughter, they have loved it.
Well, I am about to conduct my VBS for 2010 and I am ecstatic about what God is going to do. I have the priviledge and honor to be the Children’s Pastor and VBS Director at my Church — Hope Baptist in Jacksonville, Florida. The students I have the opportunity to work with always raves about the themes. The students we have the opportunity and priviledge to minister to are inner-city students who live in a urban neighborhood. The majority of my students had never been to a ranch, saw a horse, or even said ‘yee-haw’ but we had the opportunity to bring this to them. For a kickoff party we brought horses to the inner city and the kicks had a blast. For many of them it was their first time seeing a horse and their first time riding a horse and they have been talking about it all day. I also turned our church into a barn – hay and all and my students are SO excited about taking this grand adventure. We always love theme and look forward to next year. I don’t know about you but I would love to have more ‘rappy’ – up beat music to engage this generation of students and get them singing and excited about Christian Music. We must remember as Christians it is not about the ‘music’, ‘rhythm’, or ‘style’ but about the words which are spoken. So I say lets get some rap, contemporary, r&b, type music and rock this stage 🙂 Waiting in anticipation to learn more about this upcoming year and cant wait to see what God is going to do to make an impact on this generation of students ;}
The thing I love best about this theme is that every day focuses on Jesus. I would love to see this every year.
I look at all of the different publishers when I am shopping around for a VBS theme each year. The first thing I look at is to see if the bible stories focus on Jesus each day. This is very hard to find. I usually have to pick the publisher that talks about Jesus’ ministry the most. Jesus did so many amazing things during His ministry. He did enough to cover years of VBS lessons without ever having to repeat the lessons.
The second thing I look for when shopping around is the music because this is what kids will remember year after year. We are a small country church that sits out in the middle of nowhere. On a good Sunday we have 10 kids at church. We bring in 50 to 60 kids to our VBS and the kids and adults love the music that Jeff Slaughter puts together. Ours kids favorite song that they have loved the past two years is “Yes to VBS”. Some of the adults don’t care for that song, but the kids love it and to me that is all that matters. The music for Boomerang Express and Saddle Ridge Ranch were amazing. I can’t wait to hear all the songs for next year.
I like an original theme. This theme definitely is as well as Boomerang Express was. I get tired of the same old themes, like beach, safari, western, etc… In all reality though, the theme is the least important to me when I am deciding.
We have only used Lifeway for the past two years and I am sure we will use it again next year. I can’t see another publisher topping the bible content and theme idea at least in my mind.
Keep up the good work Lifeway. I love what Jesus is doing through you. God Bless!!!
I’M WITH VICKI AND LAURIE….VERY UNSURE ABOUT THIS THEME. HAVE MANY RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE MUSIC AND THE THEME. BUT ALL ABOUT JESUS SOUNDS GOOD. MOST OF OUR TEACHERS QUESTIONED THE THEME AS WELL. EVEN SUGGESTED WE LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVE THEME.
I KNOW IT WILL GROW ON ME AND I KNOW JEFF USUALLY DOES EXCELLENT MUSIC. BUT THIS SEEMS TOO POP ROCK, PRE TEEN.
I’D LIKE TO ADD I WAS NOT OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS SADDLE RIDGE RANCH BUT IT WAS EXCELLENT. WE HAD A VERY SUCESSFUL VBS AND THE KIDS LOVED THE MUSIC. BUT
MY FAVORITE WAS OUTRIGGER ISLAND. JEFFS MUSIC VIDEO WAS AWESOME. I EVEN SAVED A LOT OF THE SONGS ON MY ITUNES..I STILL LISTEN TO THEM. WE ARE A SMALL CHURCH AND HAD OVER 80 KIDS ENROLLED AND OVER 40 WORKERS EACH NIGHT. I DON’T KNOW HOW BIG CHURCHES DO IT WITH 200 AND 300 KIDS.
We are in the middle of Saddle Ridge Ranch and having a BLAST! When we found out the theme for 2011 our entire teaching staff was super excited!! Most of our kids have never been east of AZ so this is really going to open their eyes to another part of our great country. The message is always the same: Jesus. Period. No matter what the theme around it is, that’s the bottom line. Thank you Lifeway for being creative and relevant. The theme song is awesome. The style is not something I would choose to put on my iTouch but the kids would-that’s the point. It’s not being a conformist to the world, but being “in” it, as we are called to be.
I can’t wait! We are already thinking of ideas for our worship rally and classrooms!
As soon as we’re done at the ranch, we’re heading to NYC!!
I think this is one of the best themes ever! I read the blog comments before I listened to the theme song. I must say I can’t agree with those who don’t like it. I thought it was great! It’s actually one of my favorites.
I think Lifeway blew it on their 2011 VBS theme. Saddle Ridge Ranch wa a wonderful theme. I was very attaptable and easy to work with and the workers as well as the workers just loved it! But The Big Apple is not so easy and from what I’ve read I don’t like it and I hope my church will go with another VBS theme. Sorry to say it but you missed the mark this time!
I love the theme song.
Music has evolved a lot over time. “Rap” is more common now than in the past years.
You can understand the words of the “rap”, and they are EXACTLY what each night is about — a great way to make each night’s lesson sink into the children’s minds.
The song opens with “start spreading the news” and closes with the same words. if only we’d all “start spreading THE NEWS”… in my opinion, a GREAT Bible School for kids!
I’m recommending this VBS to our director!
There are 8 million reasons to LOVE them theme for next year, 2011, VBS,,, everyone deserves to hear about Jesus, Our missionaries do a great job, but they can’t do it alone,,,, we are to go out and tell the good news, if we need to get on their level, then we adapt to that, We have to seek out ways to reach the LOST,,,, as BIG as the city is, and as much as we can say, it will not work, I say, OUR GOD is big and he will bless our efforts,,,, we do respect what others think, but reaching the LOST is our focus and the race can be in any neighborhood, across our planet… Let go and let GOD build, and restore lives, Thank You lifeway, thank you Jeff and most of all, Thank God we serve a SaVior who is forGiving., Best of luck as you plan ahead,,,, I am sure they will help any of us, along the way, as we seek out our to understand the theme, songs, scripture, decor, etc, I love it, and can’t wait, Much love everyone…
Linda from South Carolina,
a VBS FAN for life….
a member of God’s team for LIFE…….
God is good , all the TIME
There are 8 million reasons to LOVE the theme for next year, 2011, VBS,,, everyone deserves to hear about Jesus, Our missionaries do a great job, but they can’t do it alone,,,, we are to go out and tell the good news, if we need to get on their level, then we adapt to that, We have to seek out ways to reach the LOST,,,, as BIG as the city is, and as much as we can say, it will not work, I say, OUR GOD is big and he will bless our efforts,,,, we do respect what others think, but reaching the LOST should be our focus and the race can be in any neighborhood, across our planet… Let go and let GOD build, and restore lives, Thank You lifeway, thank you Jeff and most of all, Thank God we serve a SaVior who is forGiving., Best of luck as you plan ahead,,,, I am sure they will help any of us, along the way, as we seek out to understand the theme, songs, scripture, decor, etc, just go on the web home page, and ask for HELP, we will help you.. I love VBS, I love to see folks come to know our Lord, and we have to try new things, and as the old saying goes, we will not satisfy everyone, but we can agree to seek out and support, those willing to give and love others, I love it, and can’t wait, If you do choose another theme for your VBS, that is ok too, all the work is for Kingdom growth, so share the ABC’s and have FUN,,,,, Much love everyone…
Linda from South Carolina,
a VBS FAN for life….
a member of God’s team for LIFE…….
God is good , all the TIME
I’m not pumped about it. It is almost as if the leadership of LIfeway and the GCRTF were working together on this theme.
New York and RAP music (oxymoron) is NOT what our kids will be doing next summer. We’ll be looking elsewhere.
In response to all of the “rap” comments – really?!? If we’re talking about the theme song, there is absolutely no rap in it at all! There is a “spoken” part, but my goodness, that is far from rap!
To all of the people with such negative comments – seriously, we are supposed to be Christians, and Christians are commanded to “build each other up.” Yes, constructive criticism is proper and needed, but I don’t see much of that here. I see many people who are allowing their personal preferences to cloud their vision of what awesome ministry could take place with a theme such as this! I’ll admit, I wasn’t jumping with joy when I heard about the new theme either, but every year it grows on me, and God does AMAZING things through it when we let Him! And isn’t that what VBS is supposed to be about anyway? It’s about what God wants to do in the lives of these precious children, not about the convenience of the staff.
For those of you who are abandoning LifeWay with such little info available, I ask you to please reconsider. You will be hard-pressed to find another VBS curriculum with the level of Biblical truth and commitment to the spread of the Gospel. Putting something like this together year after year is not an easy task – sweat, tears, and many hours of work and prayer go into something like this, and it is not something that they take lightly. Plus, every theme “gets better” as they begin to “flesh it out” and make more resources available. All we have right now is a logo, tagline and theme song. Why don’t we all just wait to see what else they’ve developed before making a rash decision?
I apologize for the rant, but I am so tired of well-meaning Christians who end up doing more harm than good by being so judgmental over things that won’t matter in two years.
Hear! Hear! Justin
I am excited about the theme. Year after year I see how God has worked in those themes. They are chosen a year in advance and yet something always seems to happen to make it clear that God chose this theme not Lifeway. Our mission is the Great Commission and everything we do should be to meet that mission. I don’t think that it matters the type of music….just the lyrics and it doesn’t matter the theme as long as it is centered on the Bible! Lifeway’s material is the most bible centered material I have seen. Every year the message gets better and better and that is what is important!! This year with the economy and all the happenings in the world so many adults and children are looking for answers and this years material tells them where to find those answers!!! THAT is what is important. The theme just makes it fun and draws the unchurched to you. In a world that is becoming more and more self centered, the 2011 material tells you that it is all about Jesus!!! I have looked at other material but have continued to use Lifeway for 20 years now!!!
I thank you Lifeway for putting so much into it and listening to God’s lead!! I live in a rural area where kids sometimes never leave the state….a trip to New York will be a fun adventure for them!!
I will be new this year to your program materials for VBS. Please let me know about any and all resources, new ideas and/or helpful comments that may come your way or that you will send out.
I’m excited,
Dina
I, like a few others,feel like I’m the ‘odd man out’…..I do not care for the New York theme, so we will probably go with the beach theme for next year even though we’ve had one similar in the past. I do appreciate all your hard work and effort it takes to come up with new ideas every year for such a big event!! you all do a WONDERFUL job of getting it all put together!
I would LOVE to have you consider in the near future a “Back to the Bible” type of theme… make it all the old stuff like Noahs ark,Adam and Eve,Moses,…maybe learn about a different bible character like these every day for the week??? I know the kids would love it.I learned all about these as a kid and they are not taught now like they were then, some kids dont even know who Noah even was! Anyway,just a suggestion! Thanks for your time!!
~Stacey
VBS Director @ Elm Spring Baptist Church,Kingsville,MO
I am excited for this reason. We all have an opportunity to partner with a chuch plant in the heart of NYC…The Gallery Church. The Gallery Church has a vision of planting 100 more churches in the next ten years.
Of course, living in NYC is expensive one big reason church planters have looked elsewhere to start a new work. In order to help them with their expenses we are sendin our VBS offering to The Gallery Church.
I encourage you to think and pray about sending your VBS offering here as well. But before you make a final decision check out the following links. Their pastor Freddy Wyatt would love to talk to you about it.
https://nycmission.com/?page_id=5
https://gallerychurch.com
https://thecityresource.com
Jason Mole
Children’s Pastor
Trinity Baptist Church
Loved this years theme! The music was the best yet! Kids really enjoyed it and that will keep them singing those verses over and over keeping God’s Word planted in their minds! Thanks to Lifeway and Jeff Slaughter!
God blessed me with the opportunity to lead the craft for our 5th/6th grade class this yr. God placed a very special craft on my heart; it was not related to any craft that could be ordered & it was for this older class only. It was a project that would commit His children to be working on all week; bringing photos from home as well as anything else that was a reflection of their own life. During it they were to reflect on how God has worked in their life. It was amazing to watch each day the things they would do & how they started opening up & sharing about their life & how this project God requested to be done, ended in such beauty. I say project God ‘requested’, because God shows us what to do, but we have a choice to listen to what He is leading us to do. Our obedience to what God asks of us is always a choice; & when we choose to give way to fear or defiance to what He is telling us to do; it is our own lives that will never be the same.
This project God so graciously blessed me with, made me even more excited to see where He would guide me for next year.
When I came to pull info for next years VBS because I want to start praying now for God’s guidance in what He wants for the next project….to help keep these older children engaged…as only HE knows who will be there & how to reach them.
When I came across blogs, I was surprised when I read the disheartening comments about the theme – lack of enthusiasm due to not having ideas right away when hearing the theme or about the type of music. I was also a little surprised.
I encourage those disappointed about next years theme to remember. God knows the children He is reaching not us. Only He knows what they are going through, what they feel, what will draw them in & how He wants to lead HIS children to JESUS. This is not about ‘us’ or what ‘we’ like or how ‘we’ want to do it or ‘our’ ideas. These are GOD’s children, WE are God’s children & HE is leading every VBS. If He is ‘not’ leading it; it is because we are doing what ‘we’ want & not what God is guiding us to do. It is about trusting the LORD to reach HIS children & allowing HIM to use ‘us’ as HIS arms, HIS eyes, HIS ears, sharing HIS word. If we are are doing what God tells us to do & making sure ALL our decisions are being prayed about & we are ‘waiting’ for the answers how GOD wants us doing it; not only will you have fun with our next VBS;
but God will inspire YOU & HE will give you the ‘heart’ you need to ‘embrace’ the things you do not care for. God never said we would like every decision made for VBS, however I believe Lifeway looks to the Lord for guidance & GOD has His reasons for guiding them in this direction.
Look for the good things, stretch yourself to embrace this & teach others to accept things God places in our path. How to give everything to Him so we can overcome what we ourselves choose to judge with ‘personal feelings’ (which Satan uses against). Do NOT let Satan rob you of the joy God will ‘always’ bring to ‘every’ VBS.
He has already started to place things on my heart of things that will be a part of our craft project here. I don’t know what God wants me to do, but I will write the things He is starting to reveal & continue to feel truly blessed that He allows me to be apart of ‘anything’ He does.
I feel for those in NYC & I feel for anyone who does not know what it is like to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior or to even know they can have a personal relationship with Him. To trust God for all their decisions. To know all the things they have, that still ‘don’t make them happy’ or feel that ‘peace’ in their heart, is because it is only JESUS that can fill that emptiness they continue to try & fill with everything BUT Him.
No matter how tired you get of how others act or hearing about materialism, selfishness or hatefulness, don’t EVER lose the compassion God asks us to have. To not judge what choices someone else makes; for only GOD sees absolutely EVERY second of someones life. The defensiveness or fear behind words, what someone thinks, feels or motivates their decisions, what they know, don’t know, believe or don’t believe. We do not like when someone passes judgement on us, because they do not understand & whether we think so or not, we owe others the same & to TRUST GOD with the lives HE created. We all know, it is a daily choice to follow God’s word & no matter what we see in ourselves, we continue to fail because we will always have times to justify a choice; to not give something to God & just do what ‘we want’ or to respond by our own ‘feelings’.
I for one am SO excited to see what God has in store, no matter WHAT the theme! For I KNOW it will be amazing & great!!!
GUARD YOUR HEARTS & see what it is that God wants you to learn through preparing for this next VBS. How He will grow you through your lack of excitement over this theme (or what ever you may not like) & how He will use your perseverance of overcoming your negative feelings. To encourage & inspire others, to embrace that which they may not like & show how God leads your life. If you complain about this & turn against it, you can put yourself in front of something really great that God wants to do. Don’t be that roadblock.
God Bless you all & I know God will do amazing things for your next VBS. Enjoy & embrace each & every blessing He is about to put in your path through this preparation & always remember…
it is not only the children whose lives He is after. He also after ours. We may have our salvation, but God is teaching us through every word we speak, circumstance we experience & every life He has us enter. He is growing us to be better servants, to shine brighter & to have our actions bring glory to Him & make people say….how can you love, forgive, have compassion for, accept that, allow, or any other thing people can not understand that we do; that God gives us the strength to do, when we ourselves would handle differently without Him.
To GOD be the glory & praise our beloved Jesus for dying on the cross for each & every one of us, allowing us to be forgiven for what we know we do wrong & for what don’t know we do, what we don’t see & God is still revealing to us each & every day. God Bless VBS 2011 & thank you in advance dear Lord for all that I know you will do.
“Saddle Ridge Ranch” VBS was fannnnnnnntassssssssssstic at our church in June! Everyone ~ kids and adults ~ loved the music! God has so generously gifted Jeff Slaughter as a musician and LifeWay is blessed to have him writing our music and developing the motions that are so loved by the kids! Young souls came to accept Jesus during our VBS this year and that, after all, is what it is all about! I look forward to the 2011 “Big Apple Adventure” because I believe that God inspires the VBS team at LifeWay to produce what He desires each year. I believe that He inspires Jeff Slaughter to write the music. I believe that He will guide me as VBS Director and all the teachers involved with VBS at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Lowell, NC to present the theme and the message of Christ in the way that He desires for the boys and girls, teens and adults who will be attending VBS 2011 at our church. I cannot get so involved in the theme that I lose sight of what VBS is all about. The 2011 scripture, motto, and message have great potential for leading the lost to Christ and for strengthening the already saved individuals. NYC is an important city in our country and God loves the people there, but the Word of God is the most important message in the universe! The message of Christ can be presented in any location! I applaud LifeWay for the quality VBS curriculum and music that they produce! No cartoon characters and cartoon representations of Jesus! No themes that are so earthly “hero centered” that kids concentrate on that instead of the Bible study. I pray that sincere prayer will lead each of us to follow the leading of Jesus as we minister to boys and girls. Thank you, Jeff, and LifeWay VBS Writing Team
We just finished our VBS in Tanzania and with donated VBS materials for 2006!! Artic Egde for hot Dar Es Salaam anyone?. The kids loved it. The point here is that it does not matter where or when if God is the centre of it. For us here we are delighted and have led many children to God. So thank you and to God be the glory!
I think the NYC theme is out of the box, creative, and exciting for kids, I can’t wait! It’s so discouraging to see fellow Christians criticizing a theme based on a stereotype of the city and its people and lifestyles. We’re being a bit judgmental in doing so I think. Thankfully Jesus didn’t decide that the earth’s sinners were too wicked in our ways, loud, crude, and had what the angels perceived to be inappropriate and annoying music 🙂 If you feel it doesn’t “fit” your church, no problem, don’t use it and express it doesn’t feel right for your community. But don’t criticize so strongly. Heavens! It’s the fact that people are being told about Jesus in a way that speaks to and excites today’s kids, regardless of what adults think of the approach or location. 2011’s theme does that well in a cool new way!
I hope that each of you will take the time to stop and pray before you make any decision regarding your church, VBS 2011 and the children you plan to reach. If you have ever met the folks at Lifeway who pray over each year’s theme, you would know that they are strong, devout and devoted Christians. I too was fortunate to attend a training event for VBS 2010 and to have a one on one moment with Jeff Slaughter. He spoke of the music and how he knows when he has the right song that God would have for him to submit to the writers. God fills his heart with so much love, that tears come to his eyes.
May God fill each of your hearts with love and through prayer may you find the VBS material that is what GOD would have you to choose for your church and the families that will attend.
Blessings to you all
Renee
We just finished Saddleridge Ranch and it was AWESOME!!! I am excited about the theme for next year. For those of you who don’t care for next year’s theme, bear in mind that God’s plan is going to go through no matter what we think. The children of this age are mucvh more mature than we were growing up and we need to reach them on their level. Also, God gave men so much intelligence to create what we see in NY. People all over the world need the message of Jesus, so let’s not forget it’s about reaching souls for Jesus!!! The Lord has given Jeff a precious gift; let’s not shoot that gift down. I work with the music rotation with children of black and hispanic backgrounds and those children loved “Tumbleweed”. Now if country western can reach these children, how much more can this theme do? Just be prayerful before you make your decisions.
Our church has used Lifeway materials for as long as I can remember and they have always been excellent. But I have to agree with others that the 2011 theme (at this point anyway) is not impressing me. But I cannot say exactly what it is. I’ve read the other comments and yes, some folks seem too judgemental. I’m thinking of looking at other curriculums but have not made a decision. Something about “Big Apple Adventure” seems off. Not because it’s New York and not just because I don’t care for the music. Can’t put my finger on it. I have no doubt that the folks at Lifeway are godly people who put a lot of time, effort, and prayer into their VBS preparations but that doesn’t mean they never make a mistake. Each church should evaluate their potential VBS material based on it’s content and message – not just who publishes it. Also consider what message you want to send to the children in your community. If Lifeway’s 2011 curriculum meets your needs – GREAT, but if it doesn’t, there are other VBS publisher’s out there with great bible-based materials – find one that works for your church. But I agree that we all, as Christians, should be careful in how we offer our criticisms. And I am hoping that I will feel better about Lifeway’s 2011 theme as I learn more about it over the coming months – they really do a great job producing quality materials and services.
P.S. When I was a child, VBS didn’t have a flashy theme with decorations and pumped up music – and we went to VBS for 2 weeks and loved it! (This is just a reflection- I’m not against themes and music. I really get into decorating every year!)
I would like to add that I wasn’t excited about a western theme…being a suburban girl..but we enjoyed it. I can’t see how anything can come out of New York that would relate to our kids so we’ll have to see. This is the first theme that has our director…”going shopping”! So if we stay with Lifeway I hope we go with Beach blast and create a music rotation or something…I can’t see working in a New York VBS…
I am just as excited about VBS 2011 as I have been almost every year since 1966 when I started working in VBS at Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, Al. I have also directed 1st grade classes in Sunday School since 1975 at WBC. I have had a VBS theme on my mind for several years and my oldest daughter read it and suggested I send it to you. I have it all typed up with lots of suggestions for the theme, but don’t know where I could send it. If at all possible, would you please give me an address where I could send my ideas. Maybe someone could at least look it over and see if it could possibly be a future VBS theme. Thanks so much! May God richly bless you and all the work you do for Him.
Wanda Capps
To everyone who has made comments about 2011 VBS theme:
Jeff does not write these songs – the Holy Spirit inspires these songs. The Lord uses Jeff Slaughter as a mouthpiece, a mere instrument. These songs were written over much weeping, fellowship, and joy in the midst of sorrow. I know because I’m Jeff’s sister. These are not thrown together for kids; they are prayerfully sought out – notes written from the pages of God’s heart to reach the lost and weary. Our mother passed away Christmas Day after a battle with pancreatic cancer. To God be the Glory no matter what. IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS!! Amen!
Well said, Vickie! Your brother inspires us by his relationship with our Lord and the music that our Father produces through the gifts He has given Jeff. May everyone who has responded here be brought to their knees in humble recognition of the power of our LORD and may we all surrender fully to the will of our Father. To God be the glory ~ He never changes ~ He always loves us and desires to grow us closer to Himself! Thank you, Jesus! My prayers are with you and your family as you continue to adjust to the loss of your Mother! I know the feeling and the missing! May the God of comfort be ever with you!
Just wanna say I really am excited about VBS!!! I also want to remind everyone what God’s Word says Ephesians 4:29 do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is good for building others up according to thir needs that it my benefit those who listen. What’s written on here is out in space for all to see for pretty much always. I don’t like alot of things but that does not mean that it is good for those around me and for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ when it is just my opinion to voice it. Lifeway people you do fantastic!!! I have attended many trainings put on by you so I have personal experience with those who are doing the writing and making the decisions – Thank You for following God and NOt the world. Can’t wait to see you at the preview in Fort Worth!!!
As a Christian man, I’m not wild about my sons hopping, pantomining, dancing and acting like little showgirls each year at Bible School, but now this 2011 version glorifying the urban scene and all that represents is more than I can accept. You hear of the feminization of our males. Here it is, every summer, sponsored by the so-called conservative church. And now, we’re going to do it like Broadway? Not.
Really – you really needed to say that on here –
Ephesians 3:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is good for building others up according to their need so that it may benefit those who listen.
I am utterly disgusted and bewildered with the NYC theme. I am not sure why a particular city was needed. I would much rather focus on God made natural beauty – beach, jungle, etc. rather than a graffiti laden back drop. We should, as missionaries, bring the gospel to the sin and shed light in that regard – not bring the sin to the church and glorify a city that is considered a melting pot of religions. I won’t be glorifying NYC with my adolescent class. Instead, I plan to focus on the Word and address the apparent ungodliness in NYC. Remember, the devil creeps in “unawares.”