VBS 2006 Introduction
2006 Vacation Bible School Review
Lynda Freeman editor 'Round About the Church Copyright © Lynda Freeman Last Updated March 12, 2006 Web Page by Lynda Freeman Send an e-mail to Lynda at Lynda@roundaboutthechurch.com
Vacation Bible School! Once again it is that time of year! I'm pleased to be able to present our yearly VBS review - and from the number of emails I've been receiving, many of you have been waiting for it to be completed!
There are some wonderful VBS resources available this year with a wider variety to setting than last year! If you are looking for a VBS that will call children to Jesus and challenge them to live their faith you will not be disappointed with this year's resources! If you are looking for a VBS children will truly enjoy, once again, you will not be disappointed! I am very happy to see a better standard of quality reflected in the VBS resources this year - quality in the way the lessons are presented in an active, creative and engaging manner as well as quality in creativity of setting, music, games and crafts!
As you consider which VBS resource to select remember, vbs resources are wonderful tools to use at other times in your ministry year. Consider utilizing vbs for summer Sundays and Wednesdays! You might use vbs resources at your family camp or for special family fun days in the summer or throughout the year. The Group's Bethlehem Village would make a wonderful resource to utilize as a special event at Christmas or for the month of December in your mid-week ministry. Remember! Always consider purchasing the music, craft books and puppets from each publisher as vbs provides the perfect opportunity to find these tools at great prices!
A word to the publishers - I'm so pleased to see a strong focus on connecting games, music, crafts and snacks with the Bible lesson/point! I'm also pleased to see the quality and creativity put into the development of your VBS. Those of you who have added the daily application activity - I'm so happy to see this has finally been added to your materials. For years I have asked you to include a daily application activity - some of you thought your mission project was your daily application activity, but once we cleared up the difference between a mission project and a daily application activity, you added the daily application activity! Daily application activities are crucial to a truly effective and engaging VBS. If you have not added these to your curriculum, please add it next year. I'm also delighted to see such well thought out materials to help churches determine the goal for their VBS! Some of you do a truly quality job of helping churches think through what they want to accomplish with their VBS. If you do not have goal info in your director's manual, please add it next year!
I'd also like to ask you, as publishers, to take a stand on a controversial issue - the age of the volunteers churches allow to minister in their children's ministries. Most insurers are asking churches, unfortunately for good reason, to set a minimum age for their volunteers and while they would prefer that age be 18, they will go along with 16. I realize many churches rely on their teens to lead their children's ministries, but for the safety of the children, they really do need to set a minimum age of 16 for their volunteers. This is tremendously difficult for churches to do and when publishers include ideas in their curriculum on ways to involve children as young as 12 it makes it more difficult for churches to take this necessary step. I understand there can be benefits to teens when they serve in children's ministry - I personally began serving in my church when I was just 10 years old, but the safety issues outweigh these benefits and churches need to set a minimum age of 16 for their volunteers. Publishers, instead of encouraging churches to use teens as small group leaders, why not provide some creative ways teens can serve without coming into contact with the children - maybe they can fix the snacks, or decorations, organize craft supplies, etc. Minimum age of volunteers is another difficult step for churches to take, publishers, lets encourage them to do so.
One last word, I would like to strongly encourage churches to order your VBS materials from your local Christian Bookstore. I know publishers sell their materials direct, but it is important to support your local Christian Bookstore. Publishers used to sell most of their curriculum through bookstores, but with the internet, many of them have begun aggressively marketing to churches and this damages local Christian Bookstores. Show your support for your local Christian Bookstore and order your VBS, as well as your regular curriculum, from your store rather than the publisher. I would really like to see publishers value the bookstores by refusing to "steal" their customers and return to the days of selling through the bookstores.
At any rate, I hope you find the reviews helpful as you decide which resources to utilize in your ministry this year!
Lynda Freeman
editor
'round about the church
Augsburg Fortress - All Aboard the Gospel Express
Cook Communications Ministries - Time-Stone Travelers
Concordia Publishing House - Treasure Cove
Gospel Light - SonTreasure Island
Group Publishing - Holy Land Adventure - Bethlehem Village
Regular Baptist Press - Set Sail
Standard Publishing - Trading Places