Vacation Bible School can be very consuming of time, resources (people and financial), and energy. A lot of effort goes into a short blast of ministry. VBS … Is it worth it?
Suggestions to Help Make VBS Worth It
You’ll need to look at your particular situation to answer that question. Here, however, are some suggestions that will maximize your effort.
1) View prayer as critical.
2) Have a clear purpose and diligently pursue it.
3) Plan well enough in advance.
4) Choose your curriculum wisely.
5) Recruit and strategically.
6) Train and equip staff adequately
7) Take time to follow-up.
Check out the Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual for input on each of these suggestions. If followed, it could very well tip the scale on whether or not VBS is worth it for you because you go beyond simply having a nice program that is an end in itself and stresses out its workers. It becomes something God is in and is able to bless that leads to an even greater purpose and that people find rewarding.
Appreciate your emphasis on prayer. Seems too often we run the treadmill of what we’ve done in the past rather than checkin if God wants us to do it again.
For sure, we need to pray first and then do. As you said, we often do VBS (and many other ministry efforts) because “we’ve always done it that way” and then we pray for God’s blessing after we’ve made our plans. The post referenced Proverbs 3:5-6, quoting only verse 5 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Notice what comes next in verse 6 — “in ALL your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” ALL means before, during, and after we do something.
As one who got saved at VBS – I thank God that someone took the time to have it at our church where I heard the Gospel and responded!
Praise God!
Our church does ever year VBS and never people to help but all these member do is complain after VBS . how much money is spend in VBS but its alway a success at the end bring children to christ.
VBS I have been the director for two years and disappoint.
Yes, Ostolia Garcia, VBS does take a lot of time and resources. It’s definitely a commitment which is why it is so important to invest much prayer into the decision and process. If sure this is a ministry God wants you to do, then it is also helpful to cast the vision with the congregation prior, stressing how God can, and has, used VBS, to bring children to a saving knowledge of Himself. Through the week, keep that purpose in focus. After VBS share the outcomes.