VBS Give-Away - One Kingdom Chronicles Kit from Answers in Genesis

I'm very happy today to share another VBS give-away with you . . . this time from Answers in Genesis! They are making one of their VBS starter kits available for me to give away! AIG has this to say about their VBS; "As Answers in Genesis says, “This great VBS shows kids how God's Word connects to every area of their life! And it helps them to see the Bible is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago, so they will know its amazing message of salvation is true! With The Kingdom Chronicles, your brave knights and fair maidens will be equipped to put on the full armor of God so they can stand strong in the battle for truth. Prepare for a royally fun time!" 

VBS Give-Away - Mission Project Pack from Standard Publishing!

I'm very happy today to announce another special VBS give-away . . . this time from Standard Publishing! They have made available their Mission Project Pack which they describe as: "Includes everything you need to get kids involved in serving kids in Mexico. Create a Serving Hands wall with colorful hands and posters. Then follow the instructions in the leader's guide to help your VBS kids and team to make a difference in the lives of orphans living in Mexico. Includes 16-page leader's guide, 6 posters (19" x 27"), and pack of 50 colorful Serving Hands."

VBS Give-Away - Two Free One-Year Subscriptions to Christian Games & Crafts!

It has been a busy month with thirteen VBS reviews, cost break-downs, side-by-side comparison chart and VBS posts . . . so what could be a better way to end a month focused on VBS than with VBS give-aways?!! I've already announced two of these give-aways; a free VBS down-load from NextGen4Christ and VBS music from Group, so today I'm happy to let you know about another VBS give-away . . . two free one-year subscriptions from Christian Games & Crafts!

VBS 2013 - Side-by-Side Comparison Chart - Update!

I've updated the side-by-side VBS Comparison chart for 2013 with the info on the kits I posted about last week. I will have one more update after I receive Go Fish's kit and Group's 3-day kit . . . and will update when I get a complete Orange kit as well!

Please feel free to download and print as many of the charts as you need to help you as you make your VBS choices for 2013!

VBS Give-Away - Music From Group Publishing!

If you plan to use either of Group's VBS resources this year, then you will likely be happy to hear about this give-away . . . even if you are not planning to use Group's VBS, the opportunity to get some of their music for free is still likely "good news"!

I Have Four Winners!

I'm happy to announce Tammy Debrick, Debbie Ketchum, Karol and Andy are the winners of the new Go Fish CD - Kids Music (you'll find my review at this link)! Thank you Tammy, Debbie, Karol and Andy for reading About the Children's Department (please message me your address by February 3, 2013 so I can send them to you) and thank you Go Fish for sending one for me to review and for making additional copies available for me to give away!

Go Fish - Gotta Move - Scope, Sequence, & Music!

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to share Go Fish's 2013 VBS - Gotta Move - with you . . . and will be doing so as soon as it is available for me to review. In the mean time, I thought I'd share their scope and sequence with you and one of the songs from their VBS - their music is my Top Pick for VBS Music again this year. So first of all, the scope and sequence . . . 

VBS 2013 - Growing in the Son - Christian Games & Crafts

I'm happy to share with you another VBS resource - one you may not be familiar with, but one which is certainly worth taking a look at to see if it may be a good "fit" for your ministry - Growing in the Son by Christian Games & Crafts which is FREE with your $60.00 yearly subscription to Christian Games and Crafts!

Book Review - Etched . . . Upon My Heart

Some of you may recognize the name, Jim Kelly. He was a NFL Hall of Famer and the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. What you may not know is he and his wife Jill had a son who was diagnosed with a fatal disease called Krabbe Leukodystrophy when he was only an infant. Jill wrote this book, Etched . . . Upon My Heart and in it she shared her journey to discover what love is and Who it Is. I'm happy to share this book with you today.

2013 VBS - Athens by Group Publishing

I've reviewed my Top Ten VBS resources for 2013, but I'm happy for the opportunity to share additional resources which are well worth taking a look at to see how and where they might "fit" in your ministry. Today let's take a look at Athens from Group Publishing! With this resource you get to take children from your church and community back to Bible times as they "experience" life in Ancient Athens!

2013 Vacation Bible School Side-by-Side Comparison Chart

For the past two weeks I've been reviewing my Top Ten VBS resources for 2013, so today I'm happy to post my 2013 Vacation Bible School Side-by-Side Comparison Chart. Just follow this link and you'll find the Top Ten VBS kits lined up so you can see what resources/features each of them offer along with the scope and sequence and cost for each one.

Please feel free to download and print as many copies as you need of this chart and then take them with you to VBS reviews and use them as you sit down with your VBS leadership team to decide on the kits you will use in your ministry this year.

So - What is Next in My VBS Reviews?

Friday I announced my Top Pick for VBS 2013 with Standard's God's Backyard Bible Camp, so what is next? Tomorrow, on Monday, I'll be posting my 2013 Side-by-Side VBS Comparison Chart and I have four more VBS resources to share with you as well. Plus, the following week I'll be announcing several VBS give-aways for music, kits and more! So, please continue to stop by and read About the Children's Department!

VBS 2013 - the Dollars & Cents of VBS - Part 2

Today I'm happy to share the Dollar and Cents of VBS, part 2 for the five VBS resources I reviewed this week. Once again, I'm happy to see in many of the director's materials some fun ideas of ways to raise money for VBS, but again, when so many people are unemployed and living pay check to pay check, there just may not be additional dollars for them to give to VBS.

Obviously a starter kit is the first place to begin when purchasing VBS materials and from there you'll need to determine what - if any - student materials you will utilize. As far as student materials, I like the idea of being able to give children something each day which will remind them of the Bible lesson. I especially like the objects/cards which can be clipped or pinned to a backpack as these things make great reminders! I also like the idea of being able to give children their own copy of the music - of course these things take money and your budget just might not have room for them. So, what will it cost and how can you move ahead with VBS on a budget?

Top Pick VBS 2013 - #1 - God's Backyard Bible Camp - by Standard Publishing

I'm delighted to announce my Top Pick for VBS 2013 is  God's Backyard Bible Club by Standard Publishing! I've been reviewing VBS resources for 16 years. Over the years I've watched as publishers moved from a traditional/class-room format to the learning center/rotation format - it was a huge change when this happened. This year with Standard's VBS the "world" of VBS is about to experience another huge "change" with their commitment to and focus on engaging children in serving Jesus by serving others! 

I LOVE how they have devoted one station to service projects - this is something I would LOVE to see all the publishers do. Far too often stations are "wasted" with silly videos or more games when they could be used to help engage children intentionally in activities which allow them to actually live what they are learning! Standard not only "hits the nail squarely on the head" with God's Backyard Bible Camp, but they have "raised the bar" by presenting a VBS resource which will change, once again, the way we look at VBS! Combine this with the opportunity to choose from two amazing VBS resources - Under the Sun or Under the Stars - and great music from Yancy, well, you have two VBS resources which will impact and change lives!

2013 Top Three VBS Countdown - #2 - Kingdom Chronicles by Answers in Genesis

I'm happy to announce the VBS which is my runner-up this year - Kingdom Chronicles from Answers in Genesis! With a strong and solid emphasis on challenging children to trust the truth of God's Word, Kingdom Chronicles is a resource well worth taking a close look at to see if it is a good "fit" for your ministry!

2013 Top Three VBS Countdown - #3 - Tell It on the Mountain - Concordia

Today we're looking at the VBS in 3rd place in my reviews for 2013 - Tell It on the Mountain from Concordia Publishing House! Concordia combined a great outdoor setting with a look at Bible mountains where God met His people for Tell it on the Mountain!

2013 Top Five VBS Countdown - #4 - Colossal Coaster World - by LifeWay

Today I'm happy to share the VBS which placed 4th in my Top Ten Countdown for VBS 2013 - Colossal Coaster World from LifeWay! Take a look and consider if Colossal Coaster World is a good "fit" for your children's ministry!

2013 Top Five VBS Countdown - #5 - Everywhere Fun Fair by Cokesbury!

Today as I begin my Top Five VBS Count-down for 2013 I'm happy to share with you the VBS which is #5 - Everywhere Fun Fair from Cokesbury. This is a VBS curriculum filled with resources which will help you engage the children in your church and community in reaching out to their neighbors - at home and around the world. Everywhere Fun Fair is well worth taking a good look at it to see if it might be a good "fit" for your ministry -

Kid's Music - Go Fish - I'm Giving Some Away!

As you may remember, my top pick for VBS music 2013 is Go Fish, so today I'm delighted for the opportunity to share their new CD with you - which has several of their VBS songs on it . . . and give some away!

Go Fish's new CD - Kids Music - has 10 songs on it . . . all of which are sure to get kids dancing, singing and thinking about their walk with God! Check these songs . . . 

VBS 2013 - the Dollars & Cents of VBS

While there certainly are excellent and compelling reasons for churches to plan and present a Vacation Bible School to the children in their churches and communities, the realities of the Dollars and Cents can impact if a church is able to do so. If your church chooses to go ahead with VBS for Summer 2013, the Dollar and Cents of it all can again come into play as you determine which resources you will use. 

I once had someone from a publisher tell me if a church really cared about the children in their ministry, they would spend whatever they had to, to have the best curriculum possible. I disagree. While I absolutely believe churches care about the children in their ministries, budgets are a very real and difficult reality. In this economy with so many people out of work our churches are struggling to meet their budgets. VBS can be expensive and yet, it is a very important - and in many cases the only - outreach of the year for many churches.

Today I'm going to take a look at the Dollars and Cents for the five VBS resources I reviewed this week. I'm happy to see in many of the director's materials some fun ideas of ways to raise money for VBS, but again, when so many people are unemployed and living pay check to pay check, there just may not be additional dollars for them to give to VBS.

Obviously a starter kit is the first place to begin when purchasing VBS materials and from there you'll need to determine what - if any - student materials you will utilize. As far as student materials, I like the idea of being able to give children something each day which will remind them of the Bible lesson. I especially like the objects/cards which can be clipped or pinned to a backpack as these things make great reminders! I also like the idea of being able to give children their own copy of the music - of course these things take money and your budget just might not have room for them. So, what will it cost and how can you move ahead with VBS on a budget?

2013 Top Ten VBS Countdown - #6 - SonWest Roundup from Gospel Light

Today's review marks the end of the first week of the Top Ten VBS Countdown for 2013. Tomorrow I'll share the "Dollars & Cents" for the VBS resources reviewed this week. Today's VBS is in 6th place and received my ribbon for Top Pick for VBS SETTING 2013 . . .  SonWest Roundup from Gospel Light!

VBS 2013 -2013 Top Ten VBS Countdown - #7 - Investigation Destination - by Regular Baptist Press

The next VBS in my Top Ten Countdown for 2013 is Investigation Destination from Regular Baptist Press in 7th place! RBP did a great job with the content and substance of this VBS resource - if  you are not familiar with their materials and have never taken a close look at them in the past, this year is a great year to make a change and consider if Investigation Destination is a good "fit" for your children's ministry!

I Have a Winner!

I'm happy to announce Ellen Bratzel is the winner of Animal Tales from the Bible: Four Favorite Stories About Jesus (You'll find the review at this link) Thank you Ellen for reading About the Children's Department (please message me your address by January 16, 2013 so I can have it sent to you) and thank you Zonderkidz for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

2013 Top Ten VBS Countdown - #8 - Go Big from David C Cook

Go Big! VBS is a downloadable resource from Cook and is in 8th place in my 2013 Top Ten VBS Countdown. I'd personally love to see churches use this resource in June and then towards the end of July or in August hold their regular VBS - what a great way to get into your communities and then pull the children and families you contacted in the communities back to your church! Working along with a VBS this could be an amazing outreach!

VBS Crafts

Crafts have long been a part of VBS and publishers provide craft directions which use everyday types of supplies and/or craft kits for you to use in your VBS. Some of these are excellent ideas and are priced affordably; others, not so much. When it comes to crafts I encourage you to look at the ideas and resources in your curriculum and then take a look at sites like Oriental Trading to see if you can find ideas which might be a better "fit" for your church. 

When I think about VBS crafts, I like to have children make things which they will want to keep so when they see them, they can be reminded of the lessons they learned. I also like to have them make things they can give away to share the message of the lessons they are learning. It is for these reasons I like the wide variety of craft supplies and kits you can find on Oriental's website and how many of them are priced very affordably. They sent me a few ideas to share with you . . . 

2013 Top Ten VBS Countdown - #10 - Kingdom Rock - Group

Today as I begin my Top Ten VBS Count-down for 2013 I'm happy to share with you the VBS which is #10 - Kingdom Rock from Group Publishing. Kingdom Rock is great fun, but most importantly, has solid Bible teaching and learning!

Top Ten VBS Reviews for 2013 Begin Tomorrow!

Yes, tomorrow is the day I begin to release my VBS reviews for 2013 with my Top Ten, four additional VBS reviews - most of these were not available in time to make my Top Ten, so definitely plan to take a good look at these resources as they are excellent - and my side-by-side comparison chart. It will be a busy three weeks!

If you are wondering which VBS resources I'm reviewing this year, I'm going to list them here in ALPHABETICAL order - please keep in mind, this DOES NOT necessarily reflect the order of my Top Ten. You will find VBS reviews over the coming three weeks for the following VBS resources -

Only Two Days Until My Top Ten VBS for 2013 Countdown - How Do I Determine My Top Pick?

I will be reviewing 14 VBS kits this year I'm sure all of them will be Biblically sound resources with well developed themes and engaging settings! Regardless of which kits you select to utilize in your ministry, you can be confident of finding quality resources.

Just Three Days to Go Until My 2013 VBS Reviews!

In just three days - on January 7, 2013 I will begin to release my 2013 VBS reviews with my Top Ten VBS resources for 2013! Each day, Monday - Friday I'll release one review as we count down to the announcement of my Top Pick for VBS 2013 on January 18, 2013! Each Saturday - January 12th and 19th - I'll post my Dollars & Cents of VBS for the five kits I reviewed in the previous five days. The week of January 21st I'll post additional reviews of resources which did not make my Top Ten, but are excellent VBS resources - some just were not available for me to review until later in January - had they been available, who knows - they may have made my Top Ten!

VBS Settings? Setting Top Pick for 2013 . . .

My 2013 VBS reviews begin to post in just four days! This year the VBS resources allow you to take the children in your ministry to ancient Athens, to a castle setting, out West, on a secret mission, to a carnival or even to your own backyard! I have to say, all the publishers did a great job of providing resources and ideas to help you create a setting which can become a great "place" for children to learn how to know and walk with Jesus!

Free "Snowy" Lesson for Children . . . Whiter Than Snow! re-run

I live in Michigan and in a typical year, we have no shortage of snow in January. This year there is snow, but it is a bit on the "sparse" side of things. I've never been a big "fan" of the cold, white stuff, but since it is the time of year for snow - at least here in Michigan, I'm re-posting a short object lesson you could use with the children in your ministry!

2012′s Blessings?

Can you believe it? 2012 is part of the history books. As 2013 begins it can be very easy to be so focused on the things we are planning for 2013 we forget to take time to thank God for the many blessings – big and small – He sent our way in 2012. So, as 2013 begins, let’s take some time to remember the blessings we experienced personally and in our ministries throughout 2012. Consider the following -

What Would Your "Ideal" VBS Look Like?

My 2013 VBS reviews begin in less than a week. I'm very happy to say the resources I've reviewed this year are very well written with solid Bible lessons which will engage children so they understand their need for Jesus and how to grow in their walk with Him! These resources will be able to be used in your church in a variety of settings all year long!

A Look Back at VBS 2012 . . .

Next week my 2013 Top Ten VBS Countdown begins, but before you start evaluating the 2013 resources, take a moment to stop and think about your 2012 VBS. Ask yourself the following questions . . . 

Look Forward to 2013!

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but I am all for setting goals. As you look at 2013, consider the following questions -

• What are some of the goals you have for your own walk with God? 
• What are some of your goals you have for your family? 
• What are some of your goals for your ministry?

Take some time today to consider these questions because they all connect. The relationship you have with God will determine and greatly effect the relationship with your family which will effect the relationship with your ministry. Consider making this your prayer for 2013 -