11 Things (And More) I Have Learned

Back in December as I was preparing for a January meeting with VBS leaders from all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico, and decided to share 11 things I have learned during my 11 years as Lifeway’s VBS Ministry Specialist. I have been sharing those 11 points with you here since January 11.
The challenge was not creating a list of topics, but settling on only 11. After several days of editing the list I arrived at, and wrote individual posts, on the following:

1. VBS must have a clear purpose
2. VBS must proclaim the gospel
3. VBS must be evangelistic
4. VBS must leave the walls
5. VBS must reach the family
6. VBS must not be complacent
7. VBS must provide training
8. VBS is transformational
9. You must continue learning
10. You are highly contagious
11. The pastor must lead

None of these points are new or surprising, and instead of something I learned they are actually points that have been reaffirmed over and over. They are the points I spoke about the most as I talked with VBS leaders and lead training sessions.
As I wrote earlier, keeping the list to 11 points was the challenge. Following are 15 additional things I learned during my 11 years as your VBS ministry partner:

1. Only a small percentage of the community will ever attend a traditional VBS on a church campus. We must continue looking for opportunities to take the gospel to the community and world.
2. There is great power in the repetitiveness of a three-hour per day, five-day VBS. As churches decrease the number of hours and the number of days there has been a decrease in the number of professions of faith.
3. Morning VBS appears to be more successful than evening VBS at reaching unchurched kids and families.
4. The biggest challenge of VBS continues to be continuing connections/relationships created during the week of VBS.
5. VBS can jump start a declining/dying congregation.
6. A congregation that abandons VBS sends the message that it is no longer interested in reaching kids and families.
7. A VBS director or pastor can not do it alone. He must build a VBS team.
8. Every association of churches has at least one VBS groupie who would be willing to take the lead in coaching and inspiring other churches.
9. VBS can change the world – one kid at a time.
10. VBS is Kingdom work.
11. Themes are like wrapping paper on a box. What is on the inside is much more important than the wrapping. There are many fun themes produced each year that have no evangelistic substance.
12. The one essential of VBS is God’s Word.
13. Preparation is essential for a transformational event. VBS takes work.
14. Word of mouth is still the best way to promote VBS. Create a great experience and word of mouth will be your most successful source of advertising.