Share Your Story
Those of us who are on the VBS team love what we do and we believe in the ministry of VBS. Most of us are able to teach every summer in our local church and it is amazing to see how the kids and teachers react to the final product. When you spend a year of your life working on something, you really hope that once it’s done that the kids will have a great time experiencing it, and most of all, that they will learn more about Jesus. We also love to hear stories about other churches’ VBS. We are constantly sharing emails and comments from those of you who write to tell us about your VBS experiences. VBS is an outreach tool that can really impact the church and community. Watching the kids in your church and community have fun learning more about Jesus, and seeing some hear about Him for the first time, is such a joy. VBS is also a great way to get church members involved in a ministry, and often they are able to use their gifts in different ways from decorating, making snacks, crafting, and so forth. So, today I ask you to share your story with us. Tell us about your VBS and how it has impacted you, the kids, your church, or community; or just tell us about a great experience you had. We love hearing about all aspects of VBS!
I live and breathe VBS. This is what I was created to do. This year was a struggle for me, though. I work full time and then have my “second job” as a VBS Director. I was under a lot of stress from my job going into VBS this year and felt like I was under constant spiritual attack. One night, I was saying goodbye to kids as they left and one young man stopped, looked at me and said, “Best day ever”. It made everything I had been going through worth it for that one moment and gave me a new spirit of determination for the rest of the week.
This year was my first time directing VBS for my church. I was scared to death, and honestly didn’t even WANT to direct VBS – but I couldn’t ignore what God was shouting at me in April, lol. So I stepped up to the job. And I must say, I had a blast! It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it. And once the week of VBS rolled around (last week) and I saw the kids from our community coming and enjoying themselves…my spirit and enthusiasm for VBS was renewed. We had 17 kids make decisions (both first time acceptance of salvation and re-commitments) … which is the reason we do VBS, and all the hard work was worth it.
I can’t say whether I feel called to lead next year’s VBS yet or not…. but if I do get that call, I will definitely be less fearful next time!
On Wednesday night, night three of our VBS, our closing worship time was amazing. The night’s theme, of course, was “Connect with Others,” and our VBX leader began by telling us how much it touched her when her class began sharing their testimonies during their Bible Study time. After that, my husband and co-VBS director felt led to open the floor for any who wanted to to share. We had several who did, starting from VBX all the way down to some of our 1st-2nd graders telling us about their relationship with Christ and encouraging any who didn’t not have that relationship to begin one. It was amazing, unforced, completely spirit-led time that proved how much our kids have learned. I have been in adult congregations where people are far more timid about sharing their stories than these kids were. They were truly inspiring!
We finished our VBS with the Musical on Sunday morning at worship time. There are not words to tell you how great the materials were this year. We had our largest enrollment ever: 390. Over 1/2 were unchurched. 20 professions of faith, and two decitions by parents on the Day of the VBS Musical. Our teachers were so excited. There was a big demand for cardboard in our city as we worked on the sets. Some worked over a month. The music was terrific and personally, I think that we should use some of it in Praise and Worship Time on Sunday mornings. Our kids gave over $900 to missions. On Monday after VBS a team headed to Brazil for two weeks of mission work. Some of them had just finished a week of afternoon VBS. By the way that was a great time to have VBS in Central Texas. We kept kids busy and cool, singing, and learning the ABCs of the plan of salvation. A church across the county is doing an evening VBS with all oour stuff. I am hoping that next year we will go bags and baggage to a nursing home for a short VBS. Wouldn’t that be awesome.
When God called me to lead VBS in 2001, someone else was in charge. God kept leading me to prepare and although I kept calling the director to offer my service, she kept saying she’d call me. Finially, I just did what God told me to do. I created class list, possible teachers, decorating idea’s jotted down, etc. A month before our scheduled VBS, the director handed me all the materials–the lady had left the church. Because I was faithful, I was ready to lead it–by the way–I had NEVER lead anything before this. We had 30 kids come to the LORD that year. Since then, every year, I’ve been faithful to lead VBS. It’s given me the confidence that when God tells me something, HE is going to follow through. My lastest ‘quest’ a few years ago, was to write a Christian Romance/Suspense Novel. After writing, editing, and several drafts, my novel A LIGHT INTO THE DARKNESS started production this week and will be out sometime in FEB 2012! A dream (since I was 11) coming true. God truely wants to use us and our gifts. It’s amazing how VBS not only reaches kids, but the adults too.
Can’t wait until next year’s theme! I love the materials, the themes, the music and the MOTIONS. 🙂
Several years ago we gave all the kids one of the ABC Memory Crosses during VBS. Several months after VBS I was at the school talking to a teacher. A boy in the class noticed me then reached into his backpack and pulled out his Memory Cross and began showing it to his friend. What made this experience even more amazing is that this boy does not attend our church except during VBS. Yet VBS and that Memory Cross made such an impact on him that he was still carrying it around months later. I get choked up EVERY time I tell that story!!
This year’s VBS was special to me on two fronts.
As an Association VBS Director, I have the joy of promoting VBS in our churches. Last year there were two churches who, with help from the association (materials and workers), held a VBS that hadn’t had a VBS in some time (in one case EVER and in the other case it had been decades). Both of these churches held a VBS again and this time with virtually no help from us.
The church who hadn’t had a VBS in at least a decade said they wanted to do three days this year instead of one and they still wanted the association to provide workers, but they had a VBS Director who just needed guidance. At our first planning meeting, they had all the volunteers needed except two teachers. I acted as their VBS Director but leading the church’s VBS Director through the process. One day sitting with the pastor he said that they had dwindled down to about six or seven in attendance. But after they held their VBS, people began to come. They are now running between 20 and 30 regular attendees. He believes this is a direct result of VBS. He told me as we had our conversation that next year his people would be the “A team” and we would just be the support if needed. I was thrilled. God had definitely sent them a couple of ladies who were awesome teachers and great with the kids. If we show God we want to be an effective, relevant church, He will send the folks we need to work and we need to reach.
The church that held VBS in 2010 for the first time EVER (and they were established in 1811), following their 2010 VBS was a church with only a sanctuary and restrooms. We gave them the alternative VBS kit left from our Association VBS Clinic. Not long after their one day VBS was over they broke ground on Sunday School rooms and a fellowship hall. These were ready for this year’s VBS. They purchased their own Big Apple Adventure stuff and held VBS without any help from the Association.
At my own church, we were blessed to see 12 salvations and 6 rededications as a result of VBS. The dramas were great. Kids and adults laughed and really responded to the two super heroes and the ongoing story. I loved the humor and the kids did too. It was probably the best feedback on any of the VBS dramas I’ve shown.
My story? It started in 1977 when I prayed the ABC prayer with Mrs. Higgins during VBS. That may be why my mantra/song is “it’s the most won-der-ful time…of the year”. Some will say, “I thought the most wonderful time of the year was Christmas!” To which I reply, “no, it’s VBS!!!” 🙂
Highlights from Big Apple – seeing our Sr. Adult men joining the volunteer team as parking lot security; hearing a child say, “this is the best day of my life!”; watching the teenage boy volunteers enjoy the daily drama videos; seeing the pastor excited about VBS before and during; walkng in on a registration volunteer leading a child to Christ; leading worship rally with my teenage daughter.
Thank you VBS team. What you do all throughout the year opens the door to wonderful things!
I have worked in VBS as a teacher for about 14 years. Last year was the first time I was director. Our church had just suffered a hardship and we had many people leave. Many were hurt emotionally over things. Our VBS experience last year was amazing. We had over 50 members reach out and minister to the children of our neighborhoods and it started a healing process that is still working in our lives. Our God is so amazing! To know that He can use a children’s program to help heal a church from such a pain is amazing! I thank Him for His faithfulness daily.
Let me say upfront that I absolutely love VBS … now. As a child, I did not. But as an adult, who serves as youth and children’s minister and VBS director, I. Love. It. It is a full week to encourage kids to unplug from their daily lives and plug into a place that has been prayed over, prepared and provided just to introduce them to Jesus and what it means to have a relationship with him and to follow him. But this year, I was struggling. I was so close to suggestesd that we not have VBS this year, for several reasons. In short, I was considering something else to try. But after praying and being encouraged by some to stay the course, we did. AND … I am so glad we did. More families brought their kids to VBS this year. I saw several teens serving in VBS (leading worship, recreation, assisting in rotations, serving as our media team, etc.) and realized: many of those teens, who were giving their time and talents to leading VBS, came to our church through VBS as children. A returning college student gave up a week of paid work (that she needed for college) to serve in VBS. What a blessing the students were to our children and adult workers, too! And what a legacy for VBS … bringing children in, introducing them to Jesus and His Church, and then providing a place for them to serve as they mature … wow. A sidenote. Just last week, my three-year-old niece is still listening to and doing the BIG APPLE DANCE as she calls it. And she is still listening to Saddle Ridge Ranch from last year … And the VBS legacy and purpose goes on …
A team of 5 people from my church, First Baptist Church, Americus, GA and one person from Preston Baptist Church, Preston GA had the unique opportunity of leading Big Apple Adventure VBS in Nepal at an International Christian school. The schoolw as made up of children from all over the world. The one thing they shared in common was that their parents were working in Kathmandu, Nepal. Most of them were MK’s from a various mission organizations. Only God could send 6 people from south GA to Nepal to do VBS, in English, with children from Korea, England, Ireland, Australia, USA, and many more.
We also had the opportunity to do a one-day backyard Bible club with 35 children from the slum area of Kathmandu, using the “Worless Book”. For many of these children it was the first time they ever heard the gospel message. What an awesome God we serve.
VBS 2011…..The little boy who had never seen a Bible much less touched one….. A 9 year old attended our VBS….the teacher was stunned to realize the boy had never touched or read from a Bible. She was really taken back……America…..never seen or touched a Bible. When asked to read from it the child was thrilled to do so…….
New York Bag lady……Marilyn Sulak dressed up like a New York homeless person and pushed a cart around out campus here at FBC Rincon. Our adults did not recognize her. The kids all worried about her….many offered to give their snacks to her………others wanted to bring her food from home….very touching…Kids have Hearts….
I believe that VBS is one of the best ways to reach children and adults with the gospel. I have been our church VBS director for more than 10 years (can’t really remember much longer). I have always worked with VBS. I do crafts for the association VBS. I won’t the children to make lasting crafts that hold lasting memories. I am over 50 and still have some of the crafts I made as a child in VBS and remember the verse and story line that goes with it. That is what I try to have the children we come in contact with to experience God, not just a theme.
I love VBS. The children get so excited when they know that VBS is going to happen at church. I love to see the excitement on their faces. They learn so much. They love to sing and dance to all the songs. I have been the VBS director for 4 years. I start in January to get ready for VBS in July. We had two children saved this year at our VBS. We decorated the stairway downstairs to look like the NY subway entrance. We had a big sign down stairs with a red carpet to look like broadway with Christmas lights.
VBS 2011 Big Apple Adventure was a tremendous success at our church. In a town of 3,300 people, we averaged about 115 kids each day and had 10 professions of faith. Four of those were baptized within 3 weeks. There were several children that attended VBS that told us they would love to come to church, but didn’t have a way. We arranged transportation and they have been attending ever since. They are even planning to join Awana this year! We also provided Bibles for several children who didn’t have one. This is a very worthwhile ministry. It is lifechanging….not only for the children who attend, but for anyone and everyone who volunteers to be part of it.
Big Apple VBS was tremendous. Leading missions in the PV Baptist Church was more than expected. The room was usually crowded. On Wednesdaay night we gave the ABC’s of knowing CHrist. The children were interested but no one came to make a decision. The next night one of our team leaders told of a young lady in the missions class that went home and told her grandmother that she wanted to accept Christ. She remembered from the class all the things that she needed to do to give her heart to Christ. Yes, the angels were also singing! VBS was great!
Vbs has always been a blessing to me! The excitement of past teachers but the new ones I really enjoy watching them ready! In 2010 six weeks before VBS I lost my dad,But had to stay focus to be ready for the little children that were coming maybe to hear about Jesus for the first time That year we had eighteen except Jesus in thier hearts What a Blessing! This year 2011 I was pitching for our church league in May took a line drive to my face it ripped off the left side of my nose, had six fracture to the cheek bones, The hospital Dr. and plactic surgeon said it would take 8 weeks or longer I looked up and said I have vbs in eight weeks, as I laid there I said Lord I need you to heal me so that I may do your work! Went back to the Dr. he opens the door and the first thing he says is wow you heal fast.. With the lord on your side what would you expect.. VBS was a success we had eight except Jesus. Thank you for your many Blessings you have given us!!
In the middle of planning our Big Apple Adventure, our church got a call to send a VBS team to Costa Rica to conduct VBS at the language institute. So last December, 10 of us loaded up and headed down. We taught MKs for 10 days! It as a indescribable blessing!
Upon returning, I switched back to planning Big Apple Adventure 😉
God has been so faithful to provide what we need as far as workers, supplies, and precious children!! We had the miracle of the pony beads and magnetic strips this year.
It’s such an encouragement every year to see experienced volunteers serving alongside new teachers. There is absolutely no better time to view the church working together as one body! (Romans 12:4-5). All the parts coming together and serving: Sr. Adult men working (and I mean it’s work…so hot!) in the parking lot, young mothers rocking babies in the nursery, college students leading recreation, high school students leading worship…oh what a precious time!
VBS really is THE Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!
We had a great experience with the Big Apple Adventure in our home church in Phoenix, Az. It doesn’t get much better than seven kids accepting Jesus and awaiting baptism.
The added bonus for me is using the material with my own grandchildren in Canada. For the third summer, I pack up all the Bible stories, crafts, missions and music and use it with
our family during a month long stay. The children just presented a 45 minute long program
for their parents and the oriental children staying in their home. Due to an ESL program our family participates in, children from several oriental countries have the opportunity to hear and learn God’s word! Thanks to each of you who helped put this material together…
especially, Jeff Slaughter….he is the best! Each year I enjoy his music more!
Calvary Chapel Puerto Rico does VBS every summer and its the one activity EVERYBODY looks forward to all year long. It just brings everybody together: adults, teens, kids…well…EVERYBODY. Not only is it fun, but it’s our opportunity to put our God given talents to work. The BIG APPLE ADVENTURE theme was awesome! BUT…at our church kids get a kick watching the adults act out a DRAMA…so… since the program didn’t have a full play of characters…I WROTE ONE! The Holy Spirit truly guided this process. Time square was the setting and the story was about a young girl named Sally who arrives in New York with dreams of making it on Broadway. But, as God works in mysterious ways…Sally soon discovers that life isn’t so easy in the city. With the help of some very colorful “new yorkers”, Bud the doorman, Addler the construction worker, Sgt. Tony and Indira the hot dog vendor, Sally soon finds out God has other plans for her… Sally will connect with faith, trust, love and others as her life is transformed. On the third day, Sally came to Christ, just as our kids. It was wonderful to see how the kids cheered Sally on dying for the next day to come and see what would happen next. Being that it was New York, the land of musicals, we used the VBS songs as part of the script. Our worship team portrayed city people and would break into chorus line for songs. It was amazing! We had so many kids…especially girls…come up to Sally and tell her that they wanted to be just like her. One of the mothers even wrote to us on facebook letting us know that her daughter had said: When I grow up I want to be just like Sally…I’m going to go to Broadway and sing for the Lord. Through the process, as expected, we met many difficulties, but only God could glorify himself in such a marvelous way. As I researched scriptures and the daily themes, I was so blessed. The Lord spoke to my heart and brought me to know him even more. My favorite song was “I will”. I truly look forward to going wherever he tells me to go and spread his word. Writing was just one way he showed me how to do it. Now I want to write about Him more and more! I would love to share the script with others so if anybody is interested, just contact me at [email protected] and I’ll send the script. I just want to touch others lives as it did at our church. God Bless!
I have been the VBS director in our church 15 years straight years and was the director for several years a long time ago. I go to a small church with about 50 in attendance most Sundays. My grandsons who live in the same town always go to our VBS. They attend a methodist church on Sunday and on Wed. attend Awanas at a baptist church. anyway, The year we had Boomerang Express, my oldest grandson was saved at age 11. This year his brother was saved during VBS. He is 11 also. My other 3 grandsons live in Ohio I was talking to their Moma on the phone one day and she mentioned they were on their way to VBS. I asked where. She said St. Joe’s where they attend now. St. Joseph’s is a catholic church and yes, they chose The Big Apple from Lifeway to use. The boys loved the songs and so did Moma. I loved getting to hear them sing them. I was thrilled that they had experienced the Big Apple there just as we did here in Tennesee.
Gary O’Neal, pastor of Cypress Baptist Church in Union Baptist Association, had a dream and that was to have Vacation Bible School (VBS) at his church. It had been 16 years since his church had hosted VBS. With a congregation that averages approximately 10 each week, there just were not enough workers.
Through Mission Spectacular, this pastor thought for sure that his dream was going to come true. A mission team from Pennsylvania was scheduled to conduct VBS the first week of June. However, with all the snow that Pennsylvania had experienced during the winter, school was scheduled to stay in session until the middle of June, thus causing the mission team to have to cancel. This left Cypress Baptist Church with a broken dream.
Because I am the Associational VBS Director for our association in Illinois, our Director of Missions asked me to get a team together to help this church. After several phone calls, a VBS team was formed with volunteers from Vienna First Baptist, Karnak Baptist Church, Joppa Baptist Church and County Line Baptist.
On June 27th, Pastor O’Neal’s dream came true when the church once again hosted VBS with 18 children and 25 workers present the first night. The average attendance for the week was 33. By the end of the week, 24 children had passed through their doors; workers “connected” with the children in the community and seeds were sown.