In this
post I would like to share some ideas for conducting VBS for the benefit of
those who are new in children's ministry.
The VBS is usually conducted for 6 - 7 days. Regular VBS Classes is conducted on the first five or six days and the last day reserved for VBS retreat. Depending on the availability of holidays for students and teachers and resources, VBS could be conducted anywhere between 5 - 10 days. Any month when long leave is available (Summer break, Quarterly break, Christmas break etc.) depending on the country and also when the children have least academic burden is ideal for conducting VBS, so that they can fully benefit from it.
Conducting
VBS sessions for 3 - 4 hours in the morning is better, if time, space and
adequate transport facilities are available, so that all the events could be
conducted without rushing through. However in countries where
morning session is not feasible, VBS could be conducted successfully in the
evening also. VBS enrollment forms could be distributed ahead to make advance
preparations. VBS is the best opportunity to invite unchurched children to the
Church.
The VBS theme could be selected by the Church
leaders based on the vision of the Church, yearly promise verse or as led by
the Holy Spirit. After the main VBS theme is finalized, sub-themes for each of
the days should be selected. This would help in preparing the meditation
sessions and daily lessons for the VBS. A verse from the Bible that best
explains the main VBS theme is selected as the theme verse for the VBS and is
prominently displayed.
THEME: BE
DISCIPLES - MAKE DISCIPLES
THEME VERSE: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
THEME SONG: There were twelve disciples Jesus called to help him................
DAILY THEMES
DAY -1: Jesus Calls His Disciples
Lesson for Primary class (6 - 7 years): Jesus calls Simon Peter
Memory Verse: Matthew 4: 19
Lesson for Super-senior class (16 - 17 years): Nicodemus visits Jesus
Memory Verse: I John 3:9
DAY -2: Disciples Obey Jesus' Teachings
Lesson for Primary Class (6 - 7 Years): The Wise and the Foolish Builders
Memory Verse: John 8:31
Lesson for Super-senior class (16 - 17 years): The Parable of the Rich Fool
Memory Verse: I Timothy 6:17 -19
DAY -3: Disciples Imitate Christ
Lesson for Primary Class (6 - 7 Years): Paul and Silas in Prison
Memory Verse: John 14:12a
Lesson for Super-senior class (16 - 17 years): Stephen Forgives His Persecutors
Memory Verse: I Peter 2:12
DAY -4: Disciples bear the fruit of the Spirit
Lesson for Primary Class (6 - 7 Years): What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
Memory Verse: John 15:8
Lesson for Super-senior class (16 - 17 years): The Fruit of the Spirit - The Nine Visible Attributes of a Christian Life
Memory Verse: John 15:16
DAY -5: The Disciples share their Faith
Lesson for Primary Class (6 - 7 Years): Philip and the Minister of Candace
Memory Verse: Psalm 119:46
Lesson for Super-senior class (16 - 17 years): Apostle Peter & Cornelius - Good News for the Gentiles
Memory Verse: Acts 15:8,9
Note: Similar lessons are prepared for all the age groups Kinder (4 -5 years), Primary ( 6 -7 years), Sub-junior (8 -9 years), Junior (10 -11 years), Intermediate (12 -13 years), Senior (14 -15 years), Superseniors (16 - 17 years).
A song that best explains the
theme could be made into a theme song. There is no need to create or write new
songs for VBS, already existing songs that are related to the theme could be
very well used. It is a recent trend to specially compose VBS songs using
catchy phrases and trendy words. But these songs are rarely used after VBS
days. So it would be a waste of time and energy to forcefully compose songs for
a theme, if these songs are not birthed under the influence of the Holy
Spirit.
VBS WORKBOOKS / MATERIALS
VBS workbooks could be prepared with the following information
- VBS Theme / Theme verse
/ Theme song
- VBS dates / Year
- List 15 - 20 songs
related to the theme for the song session
- Theme for the day with
lessons, memory verse and space to attach their crafts if possible (Eg:
Day 1: Theme for the Day, Lesson, Memory Verse, Craft; then Day 2 and so
on...)
- Few empty sheets for
taking notes
- Name of the Church /
Organisation conducting VBS with contact details
If resources are not available
for preparing workbooks, VBS could be conducted smoothly with printed
worksheets also, but these should be planned and prepared in advance.
- Starting
Prayer
- 30 minutes
- Common Song Session for all the children together (first 15 minutes action songs
concentrating on junior classes and below; last 15 minutes worship songs
concentrating on senior classes; the theme song is taught on the first day
and every day the song session could start with the theme song)
- 30
minutes - Meditation on the Theme for the day. During
this session the children are divided into two groups: First group -
Junior and below (11 years and below); Second group - Intermediate and
above (12 years and above). The theme of the day is introduced to the
children during this session, with a small meditation session conducted
separately for these two groups. For the younger children puppet shows and
other visual aides could be used to explain the theme for the day. For
older children this could be an interactive session with worksheets and questionnaires.
- 40
minutes - Classes For VBS classes the children are divided into different classes
based on their age and pre-prepared lessons are taught. This session could
include a lesson based on a Bible story according to the theme of the day,
memory verse and crafts. If the
number of children exceeded 8 then the class was split into two.
- Last
20 minutes - Missionary Story This
is usually conducted as a serial story, where the life history of a
missionary is split and shared for the entire length of VBS days. The
story could be told orally with the help of charts and pictures or it
could be videos also.
(Depending
on the time available, the sessions could be made longer. Puppet shows, balloon
craft, Bible quiz and fun games etc. could also be conducted every day; The
transition between each event will also be smooth and not in a hurry)
VBS retreat
is normally conducted on the last day of the VBS. Special programmes including
Puppet shows, Fun games and Bible quiz are conducted on that day. Children could be taken
for outings on this day and programmes could be conducted there. Sufficient parent volunteers or other volunteers
from the Church should be available if children are taken outside the Church
premises for retreat.
For craft, worksheets pictures and coloring pages that are already available on the internet could be used. The craft time would be smooth, if the basic work is done ahead with the help of volunteers, so that the children just have to do the assembling work. The children can be encouraged to bring their own art and craft supplies, the teachers may have few extra supplies for children who are unable to bring.
VBS TEACHERS:
For
teaching VBS classes, instead of using regular Sunday School teachers, brothers
and sisters from the Church who are interested in teaching children and who are
otherwise unable to be a part of Sunday School could be used. This elicits the
interest of children, so that they don't view the VBS as another routine Sunday
School Class. The individuals chosen to teach VBS should be given training on
how to conduct these classes. It would be better if there is an additional
teacher in all the junior classes to help with the crafts work.
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Sunday
Schools and VBS would be better off without exams and memory verse test. The
model of Secular schools should not be followed in Sunday schools. Conducting
exams and giving prizes to few children would defeat the purpose of VBS
to include and encourage "all" the children. Not getting first mark
or not getting prizes in VBS should not discourage a child from the Kingdom of
God. So every effort by the children to learn the word of God and attend the
VBS could be encouraged with certificates or gifts. It is better to get
families from the Church to sponsor the gifts. Christian books are great gifts
for children, even if other gifts are given it is always advisable to add a
book along with it.
Healthy
take away snacks usually preferred by children could be given. Prior
information should be obtained about any food allergy in the VBS enrolment
form.
If
transport is arranged from the Church, only reliable and responsible
individuals should be used. Children should be sent only with parental consent.
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