We have such an awesome VBS at our church. It's like a big production every year and the kids REALLY have fun and learn valuable Bible lessons. It's not just juice and cookies anymore. It's great music, videos, puppet shows, skits, outside relays, games and jumping houses. It's so much fun that the parents end up staying to participate too! How important is VBS to your family?
[question posted by perrytx]
responses and comments:
I have so many wonderful memories about vacation bible school. Every year I looked forward to going. We would go for 2 weeks in the summer. My son is grown now, so he is to old to go. When he was young I didn't live close to a church that had it for him to go. He missed out. [Polly1]
When my children were younger they loved vacation bible school. They even went twice in a summer sometimes. (to different churches in town). Now they are older and don't go. They work in the summer so they don't get to help with it as often as they would like to either. I think VBS is great for kids! [crazynurse]
When I was a child we always went to Vacation Bible School. The church we go to now has a weekend of youth conference each summer and we also have young womens camp for a week each summer. [villageanne]
When I was growing up my church was very somber, full of doom and gloom. Only at Christmas did they lighten up a little. It would have been great to have had such a great place to go. [whiteheather39]
Since i don't have any kids just yet, but if someday God will bless us one i would love to take my kids to a Bible School in order for them to learn more about the Bible "Word of God" and also they will get to know more Christian friends. I think they will love to be with their christian friends because first of all, they will infuenced them good things inside the school and they could share to them about what they have learned from the Bible. Thanks and God bless! [adlemi82]
When I was a child I never knew of Vacation Bible Schools, or anything to do with Church, for that matter. When my children were young I do not believe there were any around. For a number of years now I have been heavily involved in preparations, writing materials and programs and conducting VBS (we call them Holiday Clubs) all over Queensland and NSW. We supply a complete program, either half day or full day, including games, activities, puppets, dramas, challenges, singing, stunts, a worthwhile craft item, and of course a Bible lesson presented in a memorable way, after which the clubbers work through a manual which also contains puzzle pages for them to complete at home. The whole program is well organised and highly disciplined, but loads and loads and loads of fun. We conclude with a BBQ on the last night to which all the families and friends are invited. The evening program includes features from the week's program and a Gospel message. A Holiday Club is welcomed by working parents and results in many children being added to the Sunday School and/or the weekly children's program, and parents being introduced to the Church. [cloudwatcher]
Well, I should have known you'd be involved in VBS (Holiday Club), didn't know you'd actually write and organize them! Wow, girl, you never cease to amaze me! We also have a family night our last night where the parents come and see what the kids have been doing all week. We have a hamburger dinner afterwards. Fun Fun! [perrytx]
VBS is important for kids to go to. As the only go to church on wednesday nights as it is. Last summer the kids wasn't able to go as a result of being out of state with their aunt for a week. But luckily the church her daughter went to had VBS going on. [rusty2rusty]
Our church also has great VBS and kids come from all over the county to attend. Afraid mine are all too old but last year I took one of my grandsons "Bob the Builder" was the theme. Andrew loved it and for weeks after asked when he could go again. [byfaithonly]
no, they have all been involved in summer sports, baseball, soccer, track, etc. they were all involved in those things. we did take them to church when we could make it. They were brought up with religion, and now after all the time and money we spent on their summer fun-as i look back-i wish i would have saved some of that money. But, its good to keep your children involved in anything including family and religion-it keeps you closer, and you know where your kids are! [lpetges]
I take my grandkids, if they are in town, and help on evenings when I can. It was at night last year, and I watched the little ones in the nursery whose parents were doing the major work. We will have to see what this year holds, however. We usually have between two and three hundred kids participate. It takes a lot of adults to put on a big VBS. [GardenGerty]
We all work in VBS so we're there every night. The kids really enjoy it. We have worked in VBS ever since our kids were small and have enjoyed every minute of it. It is tiring and by the end of the week, I was bushed. I was in charge of crafts. The last couple of years, one of our missionaries came in to have VBS for the whole family -- moms, dads, grandkids, etc. You would not believe how much fun the adults had, much less the kids!! I am actually looking forward to it again. [goodson]
Oh yes, our parents have so much fun too! They love watching the church members dress in costume and act in funny skits! [perrytx]
We don't have the production that your church has, but we go every summer any way! I almost always volunteer and my children of course then go. What is really important to me is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught, because I want my children to have every opportunity to hear that Christ loves them, died for them and rose from the dead. [imadriscoll]
Absolutely! That is the whole goal-- make those Bible stories something the kids will remember. One year our theme was toys. There were some broken toys and only the toymaker could fix them. Who better to fix a broken toy than the man who made it? It was such a good lesson. [perrytx]
We also have a great Vacation Bible school at our church. We invite the neighbor kids and anyone kids who want to come. The kids have a great time and learn alot too. They have songs they learn to sing and do crafts and also do things outdoors. On Sunday we have a sort of graduation where the kids get a diploma and get to sing the songs they have learned all week. My kids Love VBS [marriedman111399]
i ever go to the bible vacation school but now i am not have a children yet but i do if i have a children in the next time i would take my children go to the bible vacation school because i think thats important to build our children attitude. [binong]
It is extremely bad, and if i was religious i would say wicked, to subject children to mind-bending religion in any guise. Dress it up with games and cookies if you like but you have no idea what potential damage you are doing. [islander7]
Islander I'd like you to meet one boy we had at one of our camps. He came from a mining town and was known by the whole community as a trouble maker and vandal. At first he was a troublemaker at camp. He wouldn't cooperate with anything but we showed him love. Then suddenly, after one lesson he changed. He was quiet. Next morning, as a leader left the dorm for an early morning prayer meeting, he noticed a weird shape in the bed. It was the boy, under the blankets, with a torch, learning his memory verses and catching up with the lessons. When leaders visited that mining town a few months after the camp, the whole town, and especially his teachers, wanted to know what we had done to "Sam" (not his name) and wanted their unruly boys to attend our next camp. That was two years ago. Sam is a well respected boy in that mining town. He is a model citizen and has ministered to many of the unruly boys in the town. Sam thanks us for what we did to help him change his life around, but he knows it is thanks to GOD and GOD alone that he is a new creation in Christ. [cloudwatcher]
I have not gotten in the practice of taking my kids to VBS yet. Ours is more geared for kids Kindergarden and older. With mine being only 5 (in preschool) and 2 1/2 - it's a bit hard for them to get anything out of it. Summer is so overly busy for us anyways - that we usually take Wednesday nights off. [MakDomMom]
Very! We have a five-year old in a church pre-school, and the timing of VBS is great because we get a little break from school and then we get to go back and really enjoy what is--you are absolutely right--a really big production. You want your kids to be exposed to something positive and beneficial like VBS, and we wouldn't miss it! [murrdog]
Not at all and when I was a kid and my mother tried to get me involved in such things it was sort of against my will and made me grumpy because I was not into arts and crafts and singing jesus songs...they told me I HAD TO make an ark out of popcicle sticks and such and I did not want to [ArsonCuff]
I've never been able to because we only have one vehicle. Every year I've been bummed about that, but my dh has promised this summer to try and work around VBS, hoping and praying he's able to! Kids really want to attend. I feel like my kiddos miss out on so much since we're home without a vehicle everyday! I've been throwing myself a pitty party lately. Need to get over it, but's it's been hard. [wsue1023]
Our church doesn't have a VBS. I have sent my kids to them in the past at another church, but since I'm working now - I don't have a way to get them there. They usually go to the babysitters. When her church has them, my kids went to theirs. [mjgarcia]
Hey PTX :D I used to love VBS when I was a kid & my son had fun during the summertime VBS as well-I think it's a great way to incorporate Biblical lessons into fun summer activities +'s 4 U :) [meme0907]
This is the first year our church is doing VBS in probably 15 years! We're doing LifeWay's "Game Day" theme. I'm really nervous as I am in charge of music and arts and crafts. I never attended VBS as a child but am looking forwarded to really participating in this one and watching my two little girls as they enjoy it! I think my hubby might even join in to help referee the games! [In_a_Crafting_Daze]