Does Anyone Really Benefit from a Vacation Bible School (VBS)?

The answer is definitely YES.

YES for the children, YES for the Volunteers, YES for the congregation and YES for the community.

The CHILDREN: (new to the church)

• They get a chance to learn the church is a friendly place, not just a building on the corner or down the street.

• They get to know the church is real people, just like them, most of them have problems just like their problems,

• Above all, they get to experience the love of Jesus Christ

• They share their happy experiences with those at home and encourage participation of the family.

• Summer is a great time for VBS – no competing activities

 The CHILDREN: (regular church attending)

• They have the joy of welcoming new children to the Good News.

• They have the opportunity, no, the responsibility to include other children new to the church.

• They can share, by example what the love of Jesus Christ has meant to them.

The VOLUNTEERS

• They become part of the Great Commission

• They get to share their love of Jesus with all the others, children and volunteers, at the VBS.

• They have the chance to serve the Lord in so many new ways in VBS.

• They also serve by example to others in the church, children and adults alike.

The CONGREGATION

• They have the chance to see the love of God in action.

• They can see there are many ways to serve the Lord besides occupying a place in the pew each Sunday.

• They can see the vitality that comes to a congregation by participating in mission activities.

• They can see there is no age limit, no physical limit, no financial requirements or limitations to be part of the VBS program.

• VBS allows a continuing Christian educational opportunity for the children

• Being Christian is a full-time dedication to service to our Lord.

I am sure that there are more benefits to conducting a VBS. The more you participate, the more benefits that will become evident to you.

So, if all this is true, why doesn’t every church conduct a VBS program? Here are some typical answers. Perhaps you can think of more reasons to add to the list.

• It is something new so it “rocks the boat.”

• Can’t afford it.’

• No one will step forward to organize and lead saying, “Here am I, Use me!”

• Fear of failure, not enough people will volunteer, not enough children will show up.

• Lack of materials, lessons and activities to use

• _____________________________

Each of these stumbling blocks can be overcome. Find a strategy to overcome each stumbling block and then remove them one by one.

Is your church one that stops advancing on the road to Christ because they hit a stumbling block?

Or are you part of a church that looks at the stumbling as progress and prays to God for continuing encouragement and direction.

“If you don’t stumble, you are immobile, just standing still. Stumbling should not be an excuse to stop. It is proof that you are moving on the road to your goal and success. ” Warren Jaycox

 

Next week: Who is the surrogate Jesus?