Saturday, 19. July 2008, 13:33:00
Ministry, Children, Church, Vacation Bible School
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I just completed a week of Vacation Bible School at my church. For the first time in recent years, I was home in time to be able to attend. VBS at my church is usually from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm for 1 week in July. Some churches have it in the morning form 9 to 12. Most churches whether they have it in the morning or evening will do it from 1 week to a month.
The ministry of VBS is one of the greatest opportunities Christians have for reaching those living in the surrounding church neighborhoods. Children generally are the primary targets, but many churches include a class for adults. It continues to be one of the most productive special events in terms of both finding and leading people to the Lord Jesus Christ. I have seen entire families come to accept Jesus Christ as Savior through VBS. Check out the VBS at your church or at a church in your neighborhood.
I read last year that some churches are no longer having VBS due to unavailability of teachers. I also think it is due to the ever growing cost of materials per pupil. At my former church in Philly, I was an assistant/co-director for many years of a two week program. I understand about the cost of VBS curriculum materials. Church budgets for VBS stay the same or even get smaller as the price for the material packets increase. We did have to charge a one time fee of $ 5.00 per family for children that used our van transportation. I have experienced by this time, parents jump at the opportunity to send their children somewhere secure and beneficial in the evenings, whether it is in the city like Philly or a suburban borough like Lansdale.
Some of the cost cutting measures taken by churches are its church members creating the theme and materials for the bible classes and crafts instead of buying the costly packets per pupil. One creative edible craft that was done at my church for the early elementary grades was a partially hollowed out cupcake, a round cookie, chocolate and peanut butter icing and colored coconut shavings assembled to create an empty tomb which signified the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, because I was able to be at VBS this year, my Sunday school teacher asked me to assist in the class of early elementary children which numbered 16. The teacher became very sick. So from Wednesday on, I was teaching the class. Go here to my post last year on this subject to get to the link about VBS decline/importance. Go here to read about protecting VBS from the Christian Law Association.
Sunday, 2. September 2007, 23:57:00
Faith, Work, Culture, Retirement
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Here is something to ponder during this Labor Day weekend. Retirement is a culture thing primarily in the US. The retirement concept of not having to work an every day job after turning 65 years of age and sitting back and taking it easy is something Christians should not consider. Instead of retirement, we should embrace re-assignment. The Lord is not finished with us when we turn 65. He still has work for us. We should be praying about where and how the Lord can use us in our twilight years. We must be willing to go and do whatever the Lord has for us after our so-called retirement to continue to build up the body of Christ. Read Titus 2:2-4 and Psalm 92:13-14.
This re-assignment vs. retirement was brought up in a message on Christian twilight years from a missionary at my church. It is not too late to be used on the mission field. This had me remembering a woman at my former church in Philly, who in her 70s spent a summer on the mission field in Nova Scotia, Canada sharing Christ with children through Vacation Bible Schools. The world maybe finished with you even before you turn 65, but the Lord will still keep you busy.
Tuesday, 3. July 2007, 06:45:00
Ministry, Children, Church, Vacation Bible School
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Churches offering Vacation Bible Schools are declining. There has been about a 15% drop. The main reason given is the lack of teachers. VBS is still offered at Southern Baptists, mainline congregations, churches with large adult populations, and black congregations. This summer outreach ministry could be offered from a week to a month. It could be offered during the day or in the evening. You can read it here.
VBS has always been considered a very important outreach at the churches I have attended. I was the assistant director of VBS at my former church for many years. The parents in the church neighborhood sent their children to the two week mid July Bible School, which was held in the evening from 6-8:30 PM. The children were taught bible lessons and music, made crafts, and given snacks. Most of these children came from families that did not attend church. Usually by that time in July, parents love the idea of sending their children somewhere safe and constructive for a few hours in the evening. Some children made decisions to accept Christ as Savior. This attracted their parents to attend church. We had several families over the years attend the church as a result of VBS. While in church attendance, the parents came to see their need for Jesus Christ to save them from their sins. Thus you can see why VBS is an important ministry.
I can identify with the lack of teachers reason, because currently I cannot participate in my current church’s VBS due to my job. My work day ends when my church’s VBS begins at 6:00 PM; and that is if all the children at the center are picked up on time. Check out the VBS at your church or one in your neighborhood if you are not working into the evening. Most Vacation Bible Schools do have an adult class too.
