VBS 2016 Review - Submerged - LifeWay - And Jump Start Kit Give-Away!

Today I'm happy to share another of my Top Ten VBS resources for 2016; this time it is, Submerged: Finding Truth Below the Surface from LifeWay! Take a look and consider if Submerged is a good "fit" for your Children's Ministry!

Submerged

LifeWay

http://blog.lifeway.com/vbs/

1. Jesus knows who I really am - Luke 19 - Jesus saw Zacchaeus
2. Jesus knows my worth - John 4 - Jesus saw the Woman at the Well 
3. Jesus knows I need a Savior - John 3 & 19 - Jesus saw Nicodemus
4. Jesus knows my purpose - John 9 - Jesus saw a blind man
5. Jesus loves and accepts me - Mark 10 - Jesus saw the children

Setting – The, "mysterious fathoms of the deep sea."

Message/Theme – Children will, "discover Jesus saw people differently. He didn't just see what was on the outside; He saw people for who they were on the inside - down deep."

Focus – Evangelism, Content and Application
Strengths –

• LOVE the "Deeper Dive" and "Today's Point" for each lesson in the teacher's info.
• I LOVE the "Takin' It Home CD" - what a terrific idea - sure to build excitement and more importantly, connect what children are doing at VBS with their own families!
• As I would expect, Submerged has a strong evangelistic emphasis, excellent local mission project and solid Bible teaching.
• Excellent resources for taking your VBS out of your church and into your community with Backyard Kid's Club!
• Excellent focus on VBS and prayer - info on how to develop your prayer strategies and prayer team and I the "Finish It" portion of the daily lessons which involves children in praying!
• Excellent resources for children with special needs!
• I especially am happy to find excellent information on how to reach VBS families after VBS is over! I really love the “Connect in one hour” plan – great way to involve everyone in VBS in having a part with the follow up!
• I found the options for crafts to be affordable, creative and fun; plus the craft book has a nice variety of craft options made with items you gather - some of these are excellent!
• Love the Missions station! 

Would like to see –

• While some of the age levels and some of the days lessons do have children opening their Bibles during the teaching of the lesson, others do not do this at all. I'd really like to see LifeWay do this for all ages.
• The opening and close included in the starter kits. They are in the Worship Rally resource, which is purchased on its own.
• I'd like to see a complete kit - preschool, elementary, director's information and opening/close all in one kit. With them spread out the price really adds up.

LifeWay says, "Children will learn to see themselves and others as Jesus sees them, and realize everyone needs a Savior - even those who look like they have it all together. They will discover a relationship with Jesus Christ changes everything! Come join us! All you have to do is dive in!"

I found Submerged to be well written to engage children with a focus on evangelism with solid Bible teaching. This VBS is an excellent resource - great for back-yard Bible clubs, Teen mission outreach opportunities and would be a lot of fun on Sundays in the Summer! Take a good look at Submerged to see how it might be a good "fit" for your ministry!

I am happy to say, LifeWay is making available two of their Jump Start kits which are, "packed with all the essentials you need to start planning for Submerged", for me to give away (USA only)! If you are over the age of 18 and would like to be included in the drawing for one of the Jump Start kits - which will be on January 26, 2016, please comment below to let me know your favorite way to dive into God's Word - for me it is praying Scripture back to God!

In addition if you have followed on Google Friend Connect, followed by liking on facebook with the tab in the "Find us on Facebook" box ON THE BLOG or at this link (not just liking the post) and/or have followed About the Children's Department by email you will receive one entry for each of these which you have done. Plus, if you "share" this post, you'll receive another entry (please let me know if you share). This will help me be able to draw names from among people who would like to win one of the Jump Start kits and it gives you several ways to enter the give-away! Thank you for reading About the Children's Department and for sharing it with the people you know!