An Unlikely Spot for Apologetics: The Value of Vacation Bible School
If I close my eyes and think about it, the sights and smells come flooding back. The slightly warm gym in the morning, with the ever-growing sound of my friends and other kids filing in to start the morning. I felt angst as I tried to remember that extra verse from memory at check-in time. I can remember the energetic songs we sang, followed by the buckets and buckets of pennies we brought in for an old-school boys vs. girls battle to raise the most money for missionaries that week. Oh, the memories of the off-brand cookies consumed with a different color lemonade each day after game time are also there. The stories of Bible characters, missionaries, and preachers are something that I have carried with me even thirty years later. Yes, Vacation Bible School was a sweet part of growing up, and at this moment, you might be tempted to ask, other than your nostalgia, why are we talking about this? After all, this is Impact, a cultural engagement ministry; what could Vacation Bible School possibly have to do with engaging the culture? To answer, let me lay out a few thoughts on the apologetic value of Vacation Bible School:
Worldview Grounded in Scripture
One of the best parts of Vacation Bible School for the kids who come is the exposure to the Bible in various ways. From songs to crafts to lessons to games and yes, even skits, kids are exposed to a variety of messages and passages of Scripture in just a short few days. We know that the discipleship of kids should happen primarily in the home, but what Vacation Bible School does is help kids see the relevancy of the Bible to their everyday life. Kids need to know how the Bible can help them in all life situations, and the variety of ways the Bible is put into practice at Vacation Bible School.
A Wonderful Outreach Opportunity
Vacation Bible School also gives kids unique opportunities to invite their friends to come along and experience God’s Word together. As adults, we often feel pressured to invite people to church, and we should. Vacation Bible School offers the unique opportunity to extend an invitation to those who usually wouldn’t be able to come on a Sunday for various reasons. It is also a “non-traditional” service. Those who might feel uncomfortable coming on a Sunday would be interested in coming along for a day or two. I cannot even begin to tell you the number of kids from the neighborhood or the Little League team that went to Vacation Bible School for a day or two simply because they were invited.
Community
Vacation Bible School is a unique opportunity for the church to demonstrate how the church has community. Consider the variety of young and old volunteers for the week. They show how a church cares for the visiting people and members. They show how they understand the’ benefit of kids to a church’s life. They also show how the church is where we worship God and have fun together during that worship. For church members, Vacation Bible School provides an opportunity to serve together in times and places they would not normally serve, creating new friendships and community.
Get Involved
What a wonderful blessing Vacation Bible School is! How can you participate?
Pray that the kids attending will have hearts that will be open to the message of the Gospel.
Pray for kids to grow in their relationship with God.
Pray for the volunteers to have the energy they need for the week.
Pray for the leaders who are orchestrating teams and events throughout the week.
Pray for the safety of all the people participating.
If you are in Springfield, MO, or the surrounding area next week, we would love to have your kids attend our Vacation Bible School. To learn more, visit crosswaybc.org/vbs .If you are around, say hello, and maybe we can share a cookie!