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!

Tell It on the Mountain

Concordia Publishing House

http://vbs.cph.org/2013/index.asp

1. God is with us! - On Mount Sinai: God is with His people - Exodus 19 - 20
2. Our God is the one true God! - O Mount Carmel: God shows He is the one true God! - I Kings 18
3. Jesus is God's Son! - On the Mount of Transfiguration: Jesus is God's Son! - Luke 9
4. Jesus is our Savior! - On Golgotha Jesus saves us all - Mark 15-16
5. Jesus Christ is Lord! - On a mountain: Jesus says, "Go to all!" - Matthew 28

Setting – Mountain top Bible accounts where God meets His people!

Message – Kids will learn about the One true God and hear His message of grace! They will learn of salvation through Jesus - this is a message to shout to the entire world! Children will learn who God Is and how He works in their lives!

Focus – Evangelism and Bible Content

Strengths –

• Tell It on the Mountain has a strong evangelistic emphasis
• Excellent, creative and engaging lessons which do a tremendous job of getting children to open their Bibles and read during the lessons!
• I especially love the "Knot2B4GOTN Bible Challenge" station – LOVE the Daily Challenges for the children and the focus on remembering God's Word!
• I found the options for crafts to be creative, varied, affordable and fun!
• Strong focus on the Bible and getting the kids into it!
• Director’s book is easy to understand and covers almost everything you need to know as you plan, prepare and present your VBS
• Love the "Daily Encouragement" ideas which connect with each day's point . . . you can use these with your volunteers during VBS!
• Excellent and complete safety info - all publishers should include the info Concordia does!
• I love the student CD which also includes a DVD of the songs - I'd like to see more children of different races on the DVD and NO teens.

Last year I said, "While most of the lessons provide ideas to engage the children in the teaching of the Bible lesson, I’d really like to see this more developed with more involvement of the kids and less “lecture” by the teachers." I'm very happy to see the excellent, creative lessons Concordia has this year which engage children actively in the teaching of the Bible lesson! I'm also very impressed with the way Concordia had children do this by opening their Bibles and reading during the teaching of the lesson!

I also said, "Daily “live – it” activities to help kids take what they learned out of the church and live it in their everyday lives, every day." This year they have excellent Daily Challenges for kids to go do!

Last year I said, "Information on how to involve special needs kids in your VBS" and this year there are ideas to do this throughout the curriculum!

Would like to see –

• More enthusiasm in the open/closing – object lessons, science projects, stunts – something to capture the kid’s attention and get them thinking!
• More craft ideas - especially inexpensive ideas which do not require craft kits.
• Activities to involve the children in serving their communities

Concordia says, “Get ready for a mountain top experience! At Concordia’s 2013 VBS, children will gather their gear and set out on an expedition to learn about our One True God. Shout it from the peak’s summit—with Him, it’s possible to scale any “mountain” ahead. ” If you are looking for a VBS with a strong evangelistic focus and a theme which is thoroughly woven through each part of the day, take a good look at Tell It on the Mountain!

Please be sure to check back tomorrow for the next VBS review in my Top Ten Countdown for 2012!