My 2018 VBS Wrap-Up

For all the many years I've been writing VBS reviews, I always wrapped up my reviews with a side-by-side comparison chart and by choosing my Top Pick of VBS for the year. This year I am not doing those things.

I have reviewed nine VBS resources for 2018. In each review I included the scope, focus and theme along with the things I really liked as well as those components I'd like to have found in the resources.

When I first began reviewing VBS all those many years ago, there was significant differences between the different VBS resources. This is no longer the case. While there are still a few VBS resources which could stand (in my opinion) to include components they do not have, the majority are resources I would happily use.

Having said this, I thought this year I'd write about how I would use the 2018 VBS resources. So, if I were going to use . . . 

• Camp Moose on the Loose from Regular Baptist Press; I'd use it in combination with the VBS resources from Concordia Publishing House and Cokesbury on Sundays in the Summer, or use each lesson twice for a combined 30 weeks of lessons in my mid-week ministry all year. Camp Moose on the Loose is extremely well written; I love the ways they creatively engage children during the teaching of the Bible event - it is absolutely a resource I would use. (You will find my review at this link.)
• Splash Canyon from Concordia Publishing House; as I just mentioned I'd use it in combination with the VBS resources from Regular Baptist Press and Cokesbury on Sundays in the Summer, or use each lesson twice for a combined 30 weeks of lessons in my mid-week ministry all year. Splash Canyon is extremely well written; I love how they wrote their lessons to effectively engage children and think their "Bible Challenge Station" is amazing - it is absolutely a resource I would use. (You will find my review at this link.)
• Rolling River Rampage from Cokesbury; as I just mentioned I'd use it in combination with the VBS resources from Regular Baptist Press and Concordia Publishing House on Sundays in the Summer, or use each lesson twice for a combined 30 weeks of lessons in my mid-week ministry all year. Splash Canyon is extremely well written; I love how they wrote their lessons to effectively engage children and think their "Bible Challenge Station" is amazing - it is absolutely a resource I would use. (You will find my review at this link.)
• Shipwrecked from Group Publishing; I would probably choose Shipwrecked for my VBS. Shipwrecked is extremely well written; I LOVE the way the Bible Discovery station opens the Bible, shows the children where their adventure is found in the Bible and stresses how it is true. There is so much creativity and engagement of the children along with and centered around the teaching of God's Word - it is absolutely a resource I would use. (You will find my review at this link.)
• Babylon from Group Publishing; I would use this VBS for special Family Days through the Summer - or even spread throughout the year - maybe two in the summer and one each quarter throughout the year. Babylon is extremely well written; I love how it is written to involve and engage families learning together. As I would expect with Group, there is so much creativity and engagement of the children along with and centered around the teaching of God's Word - it is absolutely a resource I would use. (You will find my review at this link.)
• 24/7 Jesus Makes a Way Everyday from Abingdon Press; I would use this VBS for a special Family event in the Summer - and I'd find a small urban church to join together with to present this VBS in their church - or a nearby park. 24/7 is extremely well written; there is strong Bible content, it engages children and families, and has a solid focus on understanding and living what the children learn - it is without a doubt a resource I would use in my church and teamed with another church. (You will find my review at this link.)
• Game On! by Lifeway; I would use this VBS for Sundays throughout the Summer - especially if I used RBP's, CP's and Cokesbury's VBS resources for mid-week throughout the year. Game On! is extremely well written; there is strong Bible content, it has a solid focus on prayer, understanding and living what the children learn - I would use this in my church. (You will find my review at this link.)
• Time Lab by Answers in Genesis; I would use this VBS for a special Children's event - maybe during Spring Break. If you made a day or two event and used this resource it would be something children would remember for sure! Time Lab did a great job with engaging Bible lessons; there is strong Bible content, I like the focus on apologetics and helping children understand and live what they learned with the "Go and Do" portion each day - I would use this in my church. (You will find my review at this link.)
• faith Lab from Kidmin Science; this is another resource I would use for a special Children's event - maybe during Spring Break or spread it throughout the year and make each lesson a special family day event. faith Lab did a great job with engaging children in science projects to capture their attention and help them remember the Bible; there is strong Bible content, I like the science projects - and the children will love them - I would use this in my church. (You will find my review at this link.)

So, here you have it. My 2018 VBS reviews and how I would use them. Please choose more than one VBS to use in your ministry - you will be glad you did!