Why Should We Continue With VBS?

This time of year, it isn't uncommon to find at least one person questioning whether we

should invest time, people and resources in VBS; I would like to add my, "two cents" to this question by saying, it depends.

What does it depend on? Consider the following . . .

• Has VBS given your church the opportunity to lead children to Jesus?
• Has VBS given your church the opportunity to help children who already have made the choice to follow Jesus, to know Him more?
• Has VBS given your church the opportunity to reach new families . . . whether it is one new family or a hundred?
• Has VBS given your church the opportunity to involve church members in using the gifts, talents and abilities God has given them?

If you answer any of these questions with, "Yes!", then I say, Yes! Absolutely continue to offer VBS to the children in your church and community!

So, what if you answer, "no" to these questions? Again, I say, it depends.

What does it depend on? Consider the following . . .

• Is it possible you need to take a closer look at how you promote your VBS and who you are inviting?
• Is it possible you need to gather a group of people who are committed to praying for your VBS; the children and families who it touches?
• Is it possible you need to re-evaluate what curriculum you are using? (See my 2014 VBS reviews and comparison chart at this link)I
• Is it possible there might be something else you could do which would be more effective for your church?

If you answered any of these questions with, "yes" or "maybe", them it is possible VBS could still be an effective outreach for your church; you just need to make some changes.

For many, if not most, churches, VBS is their main evangelistic outreach of the year. For some it is their only evangelistic outreach for the year. If we just "stop offering VBS", what are we going to replace it with? Do not be quick to dismiss VBS just because it may not be accomplishing what you want it to accomplish at your church as other churches may find it is an extremely successful use of their time, people and resources.

If you do not have an idea for what you are going to "replace" VBS with, then see what you can do to "fix" your VBS ministry and give it another "go"! Every year around the world, there are children who are reached for Jesus and families which are impacted for the first time by their local church due to the ministry of VBS, so for these reasons, I say, keep VBS or find a way to make it work!

What do you do to help your VBS be effective? IF you have stopped offering VBS, what have you replaced it with?