VBS 2015 Top Five - Cross Culture VBS - Thailand Trek

 For quite a few years now, Group has given churches three options when it comes to VBS resources. This year they are adding another option . . . a Cross Culture VBS . . . beginning with Thailand Trek! With this resource you get to take children and families from your church to another culture in a different location somewhere in our world, so they may "experience" life in this place and see God in the faces of Christian children from Thailand!

Cross Culture VBS - Thailand Trek

Group Publishing

http://www.group.com/vbs

1. God is real - Psalm 90:2 - Only God could create the world - Genesis 1
2. God is love - I John 4:9 - Jesus is born to show God's love - Luke 2:1-20
3. God is forgiving - I John 4:10 - Jesus died to forgive our sins - Luke 23 
4. God is forever - Daniel 6:26 - Jesus promised us an eternal home - John 14:1-3
5. Celebration!

Setting – The land of Thailand

Message – "You'll immerse kids in one of earth's most unique cultures, sharing the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Thailand - and helping everyone discover God's eternal love for the world."

Focus – Evangelism, Application, Content

Strengths –

• I LOVE the informative and interesting Staff Devotions - the "Did you Know?" portion is excellent and a terrific resource for volunteers and the "Why it Matters" portion has info every volunteer needs!
• I love the creative and engaging Bible lessons - excellent job of engaging children in activity and discussion throughout each lesson!
• I love the focus on Who God is and what He has done!
• Excellent information about the differences between Buddhism and Christianity.
• I am really happy to see Group included "Huddle & Prayer" time for the leaders before they begin the activities with their small groups. It is powerful for children and families to see their leaders pray for them before they begin!
• I LOVE how Thailand Trek provides time in the Opening Celebration for children to share their "God Sightings" from the day before - excellent!
• KID-VID Stories - are excellent and give children an opportunity to "meet" children from Thailand!
• I found the options for crafts to be unique, interesting and fun!
• I LOVE the mission project for Operation Kid-to-Kid which provides Bibles for children in Thailand
• I love the Openings/Closings - full of energy, excitement and engagement of children! LOVE the science project object lessons - EXCELLENT!!!

Would like to see –

• Ideas to help kids serve in their own communities.
• I was hoping I'd see teachers and children reading from the Bible during the Bible lessons and would love to see this next year
• A more affordable “basic” kit option for churches on a very tight budget
• While on a whole there were children singing in the DVD, there are teens who tend to "over-exaggerate" their smiles and motions and end up looking out of place and "fake". I'd like to see Group just have children and/or families on the DVD and stop using older singers.

Group says, "Kids meet God in unforgettable Bible-learning experiences. Thailand Trek is a Bible-based, faith-igniting program your kids will love. At this Cross Culture VBS, children don't just hear about God's love; they see it, touch it, sing it, taste it and put it into action - everyday!"

I found Thailand Trek to have all the "comforts" of Group with its design and format, but a unique "flavor" with the way it takes children "cross culture" and gives them the opportunity to become familiar with life in Thailand. If you are looking for a VBS with a solid and strong focus on God's Word and Missions, definitely take a good look at Thailand Trek! If you are looking for a VBS which is just something different, definitely take a good look at Thailand Trek!