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VBS: It’s Worth It

by: Landry Holmes
Managing Director | LifeWay Kids Publishing

My earliest memory of VBS is a brief, visual snapshot. As a preschooler, I’m standing outside Second Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas, with my dad, the associate pastor. I’m too young to go inside when the other children soon will begin marching into the worship center, so my dad gives me a VBS attendance pin before attending to his duties as the VBS Director. That’s it. That’s all I remember, but the memory is forever imprinted in my mind. Another memory was captured on actual film when, as a 16-year-old, I carried my glass beehive to VBS and talked to a group of children about God’s busy, buzzing creatures.

What’s your VBS story? Are you among the 60% of adults who attended VBS while growing up? What memories do you have? New research from LifeWay that will be released on January 1st, 2019 reports that 9 out of 10 American adults who attended VBS while growing up report having positive memories of those experiences. What’s more—the perception of VBS is overwhelming positive even among those who never attended themselves. There really isn’t a stigma against. It’s something the vast majority of Americans have experience with, it’s something they view as positive overall, and it’s got the brand recognition a Fortune 500 company would pay big bucks to achieve. That’s great news for churches! When we do VBS, we don’t have to explain to our community what it is or why people should come. We don’t have to convince people it’s going to be fun for kids. We don’t have to sell people on its merits. We’re sitting in a really good place!

Are you still wondering why your church should host VBS? Are you asking if it’s worth it to continue VBS in your church and in your community? After all, aren’t there other good things—maybe even better things—that we can do as local churches to reach our communities?  Let’s start with the problem, first, then answer that question.

The problem is that we are in a two-fold crisis. First, our churches are in a crisis of evangelism. As a whole, we are not doing a good job of reaching our communities with the gospel. Forty-eight percent of us are not inviting unchurched people to visit our church, and 61% of us are not sharing how to become a Christian.

Second, we are in a crisis of loneliness. Our kids have never known the world without the internet or smartphones. “They are on their phones, tablets, and gaming devices,” states Jana Magruder, Director of LifeWay Kids. “They are photographing their food, their friends, themselves (hello selfies), and posting everything going on in their lives without actually living real-life experiences. They are more concerned about followers and likes than true relationships. They text or Snapchat more than they call on the phone or see each other in person. They watch Netflix or YouTube videos more than they participate in events and experiences, with real people and social relationships.”

What does all this time on digital devices make kids—and the adults around them? Lonely. Research tells us that kids and teens who have Christian friendships at church have healthier spiritual lives as adults. VBS can provide the opportunity to meet and develop friendships through fun and real-life experiences. Similarly, kids and teens who connect with godly men and women at church have healthier spiritual lives into adulthood. God did not create us to be lonely—he made us to live in community. There are very few times in the rhythm of church calendars that provide a whole week of human and multi-generational interaction for the sake of the kingdom of God.

The crisis that we as churches and individuals find ourselves in today is not new. The crisis of evangelism is rooted in history. Jonah resisted and got on a boat rather than journey to Nineveh. People needed to hear God’s redemptive plan, yet Jesus Himself declared, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).

Neither is the reality of individual loneliness only a contemporary crisis. Elijah felt isolated on Mount Horeb. Jesus experienced ultimate loneliness when He cried out His last words on the cross. However, because of Jesus’ horrific moment of complete and absolute loneliness, you and I do not have to be alone, ever. Crisis averted.

So, if the dual crisis of evangelism and loneliness is the problem, what is the solution? VBS began in a moment of crisis, not so different from the one we face today—churches needed to spread the gospel, and individuals longed for meaningful community. Enter Virginia Hawes, a godly woman who noticed the problem in a section of New York City’s East Side and began searching for a solution. In 1898, Virginia Hawes opened what has become known as the most prominent precursor of today’s VBS, in a beer parlor. “We felt that the Bible is not taught in homes as it used to be, nor as it should be, and it is not taught in the public schools. So we opened … a school in which we made the Bible our only text book,” Hawes said.

By 1934, approximately 700 Bible schools reached as many as 100,000 children. And those numbers continued to grow—through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the turbulent 60’s—to today. I truly believe that God desires to continue to use VBS as a tool of the church to reach babies through adults with the gospel. And, I’m convinced that the solution to loneliness is found in the Jesus taught in VBS, and the community Jesus provides through the church.

VBS is worth it—all the effort, all the expense, all the hours, all the tears. Why? Because VBS is the one week that mobilizes the entire church to reach the community with the gospel, while simultaneously providing a unique discipleship experience for the individual child and volunteer. The 2017 numbers reported to LifeWay by churches attest to the fact that VBS is worth it:

  • 21,376 churches reported a VBS
  • 2,494,059 people enrolled in VBS
  • 65,301 salvation decisions from VBS
  • 835 decisions made for vocational ministry at VBS
  • 160,926 prospects discovered through VBS
  • $7,012,010 given to missions during VBS

I’m excited to tell you that in January 2019 a new book will be available from the LifeWay VBS team. It’s called “It’s Worth It” and it will look, not only at the latest research and trends, but also at why VBS is still one of the most effective tools we have as kids ministry leaders. It’s the perfect resource for pastors and practitioners alike. It offers a counterpoint to the VBS skeptic and encouragement to the beleaguered VBS leader. It helps us take a realistic view of the current cultural landscape and as a result to double down on our efforts to reach kids and families through a time-tested, proven effective strategy.

So what about you and your church? For over 120 years, God has used VBS to impact the eternity of millions of people, all over the globe. If we stop using VBS as a tool for evangelism and discipleship, where will our churches be 10, 20, 30 years from now? Knowing that 22 percent of children who participate in VBS do not attend any church, what will take the place of VBS to reach kids and families for the sake of the gospel? VBS is not a program to save, it’s a ministry tool with a future. My prayer is that when faced with the question, “Is VBS worth it?” we’ll all clearly hear, “Yes, it’s worth it, because eternity is worth it.”

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Bring a Young Leader with You to VBS Preview

Let me introduce you to three friends—Emily, Maggie, and Bradley. Each of them love Jesus. Each of them love VBS. Each of them are serving in key leadership roles in VBS at their church. And each of them is a teenager. Yes, that’s right they’re teens, serving as integral members of their church’s VBS team. Bradley is even beginning his 4th straight year as his church’s VBS DIRECTOR and he’s not even 20 yet!

I met each of these incredible young leaders at one of our national VBS training events called VBS Preview. They represent a growing number of young leaders who’ve grown up in VBS and who are now ready to take on the mantle of leadership and service. In fact, if you take a moment, I’ll bet you can think of at least one Emily or Maggie or Bradley in your church who is ready to learn and eager to serve.

Research conducted in 2007 and 2016 indicates that children & teens who regularly served in church while growing up are more spiritually healthy and less likely to drop out of church once they reach young adulthood than their peers who did not serve in church. The more teens see themselves as an integral part of the body of Christ, the more likely they are to stay connected, and to keep serving.

This presents us with an incredible opportunity. We have the potential to actually impact the future by offering teens opportunities to serve today. Of course, this requires work on our part to make sure teens are well equipped, well trained, and able to take on the responsibility of sharing the gospel with kids. But, it is an opportunity we cannot afford to pass up!

VBS is an easy “first serve” for students. It’s a natural fit! Often, serving in VBS is viewed as a type of rite of passage. Kids grow up going to VBS as participants, and then once they age out of it they begin to serve in VBS. Many teens have a deep love for VBS and are happy to have a way to still be involved. Teenagers bring energy and enthusiasm to VBS and are often the key in helping preteens stay engaged. An older teen guy can make anything seem cool to a fifth or sixth grade boy!

Teenagers are capable of so much more than just being “helpers” at VBS! They crave real responsibility and thrive when the bar is set high. In my experience, people will almost always rise to whatever expectation is set for them. Teens are hungry for meaningful work and ready to tackle any challenge we can throw at them—even the “non-glamorous” aspects of VBS.

Teenagers are like sponges ready to soak up the wisdom and experience of the leaders with whom they are paired. Many are eager to learn anything we will teach them. By serving alongside seasoned leaders as equals, not just as “helpers,” students can learn to serve with excellence and develop new skills that will allow them to serve in children’s ministry—or wherever God calls them to serve—for the rest of their lives. I truly believe that we all benefit when we take the time to invest in, equip, and mentor young leaders.

This year at our VBS Preview events, we’re offering a special track just for student leaders (ages 16-22) and a special discounted rate to help you equip the young leaders in your church for success in VBS. I want to challenge you to identify the Emilys, the Maggies, and the Bradleys in your church and bring them with you to VBS Preview. Not only will you reap the benefit of having well equipped, well trained leaders on your team, but you’ll also be helping to develop young adults into the servant leaders God is calling them to be!

To take advantage of the discount student leader rate, or to reserve your spot at VBS Preview, visit our event registration page here: https://www.lifeway.com/en/events/vbs-preview

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It’s Special! It’s Wild!

When VBS cranks up at churches this summer, three groups of learners will be especially ready to have amazing encounters with Jesus. Kids, students, and adults with developmental special needs will be excited to experience the message of this year’s Bible verse: “These words are written so we can know Jesus is God’s Son” (John 20:31, paraphrased).

The VBS 2019 Special Friends Leader Guide (005804828, $11.99) can help your church tailor the Bible Study portion of VBS to the individual learning styles and specific developmental abilities of participants. The leader guide is divided into three sections.

For starters, the Administrative Guide helps you choose among three types of approaches when planning VBS for people with special needs.

  • The Inclusion option relies on one-on-one teachers to assist learners in a typically-graded class.
  • The Self-Contained setting adapts VBS for individuals or small groups. The leader guide offers a list of resources leaders may use to supplement Bible study with music and worship, missions, snacks, recreation, and crafts experiences within the Special Friends classroom.
  • A Combination Approach allows learners to spend a portion of their day in a self-contained setting (perhaps for Bible study), but participate with peer groups in rotations for crafts, music, missions, and recreation.

The Administrative Guide also details the options of printing visuals from the CD-ROM (included in the leader guide) or purchasing separate VBS leader packs.

Two sets of teaching plans are provided in the leader guide; both follow the scope and sequence of the 2019 mainline VBS.

  • The “Teaching Plans for Kids” sessions are designed in a pick-and-choose format similar to Bible Studies For Life: Special Buddies. Accommodations may be made to allow kids to work at their own pace, even if it means multiple supervised activities are happening at the same time.
  • The “Teaching Plans for Students/Adults” are designed in a linear format, with bonus activities to be used as needed to meet the needs of individuals, small groups, or the group as a whole.

The best part of a Special Friends VBS is its versatility. Any activity in any teaching plan may be adapted and used with any learner in any age group setting. Grab the leader guide, start praying for and about the unique individuals who will attend, and make plans to help kids, students, and adults learn more about Jesus, God’s Son.

Joy Fisher is Content Editor of the Bible Studies For Life: Special Buddies curriculum, designed for children in grades 1-6 who have developmental disabilities. Her 20-year-old son, Sam, has Down syndrome and is a huge fan of VBS.

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6 Tips for Guiding Behavior

by: Klista Storts
Content Editor | LifeWay VBS

VBS brings kids. Church kids. Neighborhood kids. Grandkids. Big kids. Little kids. Lots of kids! And each one brings energy, activity, and lots of personality.

All of this in one place can mean behavior problems. Of course, to see a genuine change in a child’s behavior, there has to be a change of heart, so our first order of business as teachers is to help kids see their need for Christ. But while you’re working on leading them to that heart change, what else can you do?

In addition to a change of heart in a child, there must be a change of heart in the teacher. A child can begin to understand Christ’s love for him and he sees that love through you. Here are a few helpful tips to help you on your way:

  • State expectations. Some of your kids don’t know “church” behavior. And even those who do won’t know what you expect if you don’t tell them.
  • Be consistent. Once you’ve stated your expectations and any consequences, be consistent. Don’t let your mood change your rules.
  • Be flexible. Even though consistency is important, remember that VBS brings all sorts of excitement. Sometimes even the best plans have to change. Watch your kids closely. If what you’re doing isn’t keeping their attention, change things up a bit.
  • Focus on good behavior. A child who is seeking attention will continue whatever behavior is noticed most. When a child is sharing, being a friend, following directions, and the like, let him know you appreciate it.
  • Get to know your kids. Know their likes and dislikes. Watch to see when they’re most engaged. If you have a child who is really active, know that he’s not going to do well just sitting at a table and doing pencil work. Find a more active way to teach your point. Match your teaching styles to their learning styles.
  • Give choices. Some kids feel a need to have control—they may not be able to have it anywhere else but here. So give choices when you can. Not every activity is going to “click” with a child. Try to have more than one learning experience available at a time so that kids can choose what works best for them.

Above all, model Christ’s love for children – all of them. Jesus did not say, “Let the good children come to me.” For a child to begin to understand Christ’s unconditional love, they need to see it in you.

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The Art of Bible Storytelling

by Gordon Brown
Graphic Designer | LifeWay VBS

One of the most rewarding things in my life is sharing the gospel with kids. Telling Bible stories is another. I’m guessing the same is true in your life. Since we have been commissioned to share the Good News, and entrusted to tell these life transforming Bible stories, shouldn’t we strive to be as engaging as possible when doing so?

In an article entitled, “The Art of Bible Storytelling,” Brian Dembowczyk has put together a few tips that will help us do just that. While the tips Brian shares in this article are geared toward storytelling to adults, many of them can apply to storytelling for kids. At the very least, if you’re like me, you will be inspired to look for ways to improve your storytelling skills.

My prayer is that you and I, to the best of our abilities, will tell kids the story of Jesus in a way that brings about a hunger in their hearts for more! Telling a child about Jesus—what greater thing can we possibly do with our time and God-given talents?

———-

THE ART OF BIBLE STORYTELLING (featured on Adult VBS CD-ROM)

We’ve all been there. Perhaps it was a lecture. Or a conversation on a plane. Perhaps it was even … gulp … at church. That’s right. I’m talking about listening to a real bore. You know, the person who made you struggle to stay engaged—perhaps even to stay awake. Go back to one of those times in your mind and try to relive that experience. Really try to remember everything you can about it.

Now, what was it about that person that was so boring? For some, it might simply be they were talking about something boring. But for many others it wasn’t the subject at all—it was how they were talking—Monotone. Expressionless. Passionless. Not everyone is a natural or trained storyteller, so we want to provide you with some tips on how to tell the story in as engaging of a way as possible—to help you with the art of storytelling. As you know, story is critical to the gospel and we want you to be able to tell the amazing story of Jesus in powerful ways that draw your audience in. Here are a few tips to get you started.

PREPARING TO TELL THE STORY

Telling compelling stories begins long before you sit or stand in front of your kids. It begins when you first rub shoulders with the Bible story and prepare to tell it. Here are six steps to guide solid, meaningful preparation.

  • Read the story. Begin by reading the story several times. Once you are able to outline the story from the top of your head, you are ready to move on to the next step.
  • Know the story. Read the chapters around the story to get a better feel for the big picture of what is going on.
  • Know the point of the story. By this point, you have a solid grasp of the details—the “what”—of the story. Now it is time to go the next step and know the “why” of the story. Spend some time praying and asking God to help you understand the point of what you are reading. What are you learning about God? About Jesus? About the gospel?
  • Finalize the story. Decide if you need to add more details to the story, remove some, use a word or phrase from your preferred Bible translation, or make changes to fit your time and storytelling style better. Stay as close to the Bible text as possible. It might be tempting to add details for added color and storytelling interest, but the more we add, the more obscure we make God’s Word.
  • Read, record, and listen to the story. Record yourself reading the story out loud. Then listen to it. Don’t worry as much about your storytelling technique at this point. What you want to listen for is flow. Does the story make sense? Did you leave anything out? Is there anything that is not needed? Is it too long? Make any necessary edits and repeat this process until you have your final script.
  • Memorize the story. OK. Now things are getting serious. I know that this idea strikes fear into the hearts of many of you who just read this—me included. But if you want to be the best storyteller you can be, you really need to memorize the story. Once you have that Bible story memorized, you are ready to go to the next step and begin thinking about how you will tell it in an engaging fashion.

CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE TO TELL THE STORY

A good story should immerse the audience fully into the story. As we are developing ourselves as Bible storytellers, we want to keep that goal in mind. We want our audience to engage fully with the Bible stories we are telling them so they get the most out of them. Here are four tips to help you do just that:

  • Develop different storytelling styles. There are different styles you can employ depending on your resources, talents, and space. For example using props and sound effects; dramatic conversation where you engage in a monologue or dialogue; simple drawings to enhance the story; and so forth.
  • Consider the story. Developing several different Bible storytelling styles will not only help you engage in different ways, it will also give you some flexibility for telling each Bible story. As you are preparing to tell a story, think through the different styles and consider which would work the best.
  • Get the most out of your space. No matter what style you use, be sure to maximize your space. We mentioned moving around on the stage or in the room where you tell the story, but don’t limit yourself to that. Try to use the entire room when you can.
  • Involve your audience when possible. One last tip to consider is to involve your audience as much as you can. They might act out a story, provide the sound effects, draw the pictures, and so forth.

USING YOUR BODY TO TELL THE STORY

Setting an engaging atmosphere goes a long way in the nonverbal part of the story, but we also have to consider how we can use our bodies as we tell the story. Let’s examine three aspects of this: posture, eye contact, and movement.

  • Posture. If standing, avoid slouching or shifting your weight side-to-side from foot to foot. Don’t sway back and forth as you talk. If sitting, try leaning forward slightly with your hands on your knees.
  • Eye Contact. Smiling warms the audience up, making eye contact cues them to pay attention, and scanning the room pulls everyone into the story. But there are times when you may want to take a different approach—such as when you want to make a dramatic entrance to begin the story. As you are telling the story, continue to scan the room and make eye contact with different people. But don’t forget to use your eyes as another storytelling prop when you can.
  • Movement. The rule of thumb is once again pretty simple: generally stay stationary. However, as we have already seen, movement is important. Short agitated movements accentuate intense moments in the story. On the other hand, slow and deliberate movements emphasize important points, especially when matched with your vocal pattern. Be strategic in the gestures you use.

 

USING YOUR VOICE TO TELL THE STORY

At last, we get to what people think of first when it comes to storytelling: using your voice to tell the story. With a few tips and a little practice, you will be able to use your voice to effectively tell the Bible story.

  • Voice Basics. It won’t matter what you do with your voice if the audience can’t hear you, so be sure to speak up. The people on the back row should be able to hear you fine. Try to keep your manner and voice natural and informal. Be sure to speak clearly and enunciate. A common struggle for many people when it comes to public speaking is speaking too quickly, so be careful not to rush through the story.
  • Use your voice as an instrument. Know or make an educated guess as to how each person was feeling in the story you are sharing. Were they afraid? Convey that in your voice. Angry? Happy? Confused? Amazed? Use your voice to communicate those emotions. Use volume likewise. As we said before, the general rule of thumb is to speak naturally so that you can be heard, but there is a time for you to lower your volume.
  • Change your pace. There are times when you will want to speed up, or slow down, for effect based on the flow of the story.
  • Use pauses and silence. The ultimate slowing of pace is a pause or stop—a highly effective tool if used correctly. However avoid overusing silence. When used sparingly silence gives meaning and impact to important points.
  • Use tone and contrast for emphasis. As you look over the story, look for what words and phrases you want to emphasize, then plan on using tone, pace, inflection, or some other way to make them pop. The power of contrast is another useful tool in your storytelling toolbox.

So there you have it! Nothing really revolutionary, but hopefully this article has gotten you motivated and given you a foundation to build your storytelling skills upon.

This article is adapted from a series of blogs on “The Art of Bible Storytelling” by Brian Dembowczyk, which first appeared onwww.gospelproject.com in the Fall of 2016. Brian is Managing Editor of The Gospel Project and author of Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry and Cornerstones: 200 Questions for Teaching Truth. Before coming to LifeWay, Brian served in churches in Florida, Kentucky, and Maryland for 17 years. Brian lives in Murfreesboro, TN, with his wife, Tara, and three children, Joshua, Hannah, and Caleb.

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