This summer I did something I never thought I would or could do. I’ve had many opportunities to be involved in youth, college, and women’s ministry, but there is one big area of church life I’ve never ventured into – Vacation Bible School! The thought of working with kids has always made me really nervous. Last summer I was asked to help, but Annabeth was only four months old and I wasn’t ready to be a part of something so involved. God gave me a passion to pray for my friends who were teaching and I realized what an incredible mission field we had inside our own church. I secretly hoped I would have another chance to say yes. Sure enough, this year I was asked to help in the kindergarten classroom that several of my close friends were helping in. It was a definite yes!
As soon as I said yes, the insecurities and worry set in. Do I really know how to relate to school age children? How am I going to get myself and the kids ready and make it to the church on time five days in a row? What is my role going to be? What if I’m terrible at it? My fleshly mind and the mind of Christ were at war in my head. I resolved that it was going to be an incredible lesson in living beyond myself! Amen?
It ended up being a great week. Praise the Lord! I did not know how we were going to get everything accomplished, but we saw Him do it! Our kids were wonderful and the other teachers amazed me. I’m so thankful God made me get out of my comfort zone and serve at VBS. Our church did LifeWay’s “Saddle Ridge Ranch” and it was great. Being a horse girl at heart, the theme wasn’t that much of a stretch for me. I was in charge of the “dramatic play” rotation, so I got to pretend to camp out and roast marshmallows, paint “gold nuggets,” act out a Bible story, and decorate post cards. It really was a lot of fun. Although I want to give every school teacher a big hug and say God bless you!
These are my Top 10 VBS Memories:
1. My friend My-An wearing a costume to teach about the feeding of the 5,000.
2. When the kids took a package of dried fish from My-An’s lesson and made it our class mascot. They insisted on carrying it to recreation, music, and crafts that day.
3. Being the Minister of Squeeze Cheese during snack time.
4. Feeling like it was 5 p.m. every day when I got in my car.
5. Walking 21 six-year-olds from the gym up to the third floor. C-R-A-Z-Y!
6. Trying to make myself do the motions during music. Ha! That was so hard for me! Also, hearing from the music teachers how enthusiastic Jackson was when his class was in there.
7. Enjoying the relative independence of kids a little older than my own.
8. Sneaking off to the break room for a Dr. Pepper.
9. Sweet little snaggletooth mouths saying their memory verses.
10. Seeing the body of Christ work together to create an amazing week for these kids. I was in awe of what God can do with all of our different spiritual gifts and talents.
Were you and/or your kids involved in VBS this summer? If you have a story or a Top 10 list to share, please do!
We proclaimed him, admonishing and teaching our kids with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end we labored, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully worked in us! (From Col. 1:28-29.)
My kids and I were blessed beyond belief to experience our first VBS in Europe this year. I have been involved with VBS for 15 years and it’s one of our favorite summer highlights. This year we moved to Europe two weeks before VBS started here. We were blessed by a team from HOUSTON, no less (Woodridge Baptist Church) to come lead the VBS for our church here in Hungary. It was WAY different from our VBS in America but it was Saddleridge Ranch and we loved every minute of it. I usually lead worship but this year I helped with snack and that was fun. We are thankful that God provided us the opportunity to have a VBS here when we didn’t know if we would get to experience VBS this year because of our move – HE is good ALL the time!!!!!
We did the same VBS last week! Although your lessons may have been way more powerful then mine…I got tell you, mine have given me a new appreciation for my coffee. I blogged on it here:
http://housemefromthewind1.blogspot.com/2010/07/conflicted.html
This was my 4th year as VBS director at our church. Each year, I have seen God work in mighty way in my life as well as in others during this week.
My Top 10:
1. Seeing a lady in our church who is in her 80’s and has cancer in several places show up before 8 to get the teacher snack area ready and then stay to make sure all the teachers get some snacks.
2. Listening to around 200 kids sing praises to our Lord.
3. Saying the pledge of allegience to the American flag, Christian flag, and Bible.
4. Giving all the preschoolers high-5’s as they leave the worship rally.
5. Watching our Children’s ministers (a married couple) to a skit during the worship rally that has the kids sitting on the edge of their seats.
6. Going through the snack area and listening to the kids talk to each other.
7. Having a 70 year old teaching music to 1st and 2nd graders…priceless
8. The youth helpers who do preschool recreation
9. Adults of all ages who say this was a great week and put me down to help again next year.
10. Salvation day and getting to talk one-on-one with the kids who have just asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior…that is the greatest part about VBS week!
Amanda,
We did Saddle Ridge Ranch too! I was not able to be actively involved with ours this year…but we did stop by and take an afternoon to make some dipped pretzel firefly snacks!! My favorite memory is of our pastor who had a group of 2nd graders….very much out of his comofort zone! At snack time that day he said “Okay-Rule number 1-I am the boss you are not….” It just made me giggle. As his youngest just completed her freshmen year of college I had to reflect on how long it had been since he’d had to deal with 2nd graders! 🙂
Amanda-thanks for serving and stepping out for the little people of your church! God was surely smiling down on you and all the other volunteers that make that huge undertaking possible!
Love you,
Andrea
1st VBS at our new church…
My hubby and I were called to Eden Baptist in March this year and I was so blessed to be a part of VBS we also did Saddle Ridge Ranch. I was a part of the Music team
What a blessing! Here is what I will remember
1.the Kids but being a kid of 50 that is not new
2.new friends
3.the kids
4.watching the way God move
5.the kids
6.how clumby I am whew!
7. how cool it is when one of the kids who is not part of our church wave at me when they see me in the store or on the street God is good!
8. did i say the kids yet?
9. still have “don’t be a tumble weed” song in my head
10.yesterday I had like 12 kids run up to me to give me a squeeze. I am not worthy!
I’m the programing coordinator for kids 4 years old through the 4th grade at my church and this Summer was our 2nd summer (in a while) to put on VBS. We too did Saddle Ridge Ranch. Here are my top 10 favs about the week:
10. Seeing our church body come together to share Jesus with all the kids that walked in our doors.
9. Having the opportunity to teach the lesson to the children as they rotated through my Lesson Area.
8. Being greated by smiling faces every morning for a week.
7. Getting unsolisited hugs.
6. Watching the kids in music area as they sang our theme song and whichever song went along with each day (Tumbleweed was my favorite).
5. Watching our youth love on little kids all week.
4. Watching our little kids form realtionships with our youth.
3. Watching the kids learn their A.B.C.’s.
2. Seeing how excited they were when we announced that we’d be offering “Saddle Ridge Ranch” each Thursday through the end of the summer.
And my top favorite thing about VBS:
1. Watching 3 of my friend’s kids accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I still get cold chills just thinking about it!
This year we also did Saddle Ridge and it was my 2nd year teaching the preteens. We had a blast. For a mother of 3 boys, teaching 11 preteen girls was definetly a stretch. Now I know why God has not blessed me with a little girl. I have never been so grateful for my boys. Don’t get me wrong the girls were wonderful. It just really reminded me how it felt to be a 12 yr old girl (scary). The miracle was, that 7 of our 11 accepted Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. Praise God! It of course was all worth the blood, sweat,and tears. It was also alot of fun. I am looking forward to next year. Like Beth and her Fresh berries, I am hooked. There is no high like the MOST HIGH!
We started our VBS last night (High Seas by Group). We are part of a small church, so it takes pretty much everyone to staff it. There have been many distractions this year in getting prepared, but we had a great turnout last night and the kids had a wonderful time.
We have some very talented men doing our Bible story and they truly make the Bible come to life for these kids. I am so thankful for all of our workers, but them especially.
My church also did Saddle Ridge Ranch this past week. VBS is by far my favorite time of the year. It is so great to see so many people come and help out. I was blessed with the opportunity to lead the 3rd graders through the different rotations. My favorite moment of the week was in the music rotation on the 4th day, the kids were playing a matching game and they had to match different famous cowboys.Jesus was also included, when they were nearing the end of the game one child choose the image of Jesus and said, ” There is no one that can match Jesus, He is the only on that even matters !!” I was just blown away!!!
Fun! I taught the Bible lesson for preschoolers at Saddle Ridge ranch at our church VBS a couple weeks ago. I led 2 Beth studies at our church last year and wondered how I’d make the switch back to teaching preschoolers too! I jokingly asked the lady in charge of our VBS how the preschoolers would feel about doing a Beth Moore study when she asked me if I would teach the preschool Bible lesson. I discovered that when God calls you to a ministry He shows up and helped me and inspired me!
We start our VBS tonight. I’m so excited and can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do with and through these children.
In missions class one day this year, a friend shared about a volunteer mission trip in which they handed out tracts and Bibles in a place that it was illegal to do so. I learned NEVER to ask first graders “Are there any questions?” when one little girl raised her hand and said:
Was God mad at them for breaking the law?
(Actually…how awesome for a small child to be paying such close attention and thinking so deeply, but oh my, was I not prepared for that!)
I took 6 year old girls to all the rotations of our VBS. We have ours in the evening and had thunderstorms each night and some flooding. The children had an amazing time and were so upset that we missed crafts due to the weather one night. Our hardworking teachers managed to let them catch up the next night. I am always so blessed by the children and the relationships I form with them. This is especially good for those of us whose children are grown and we don’t have as many opportunities to interact with the younger ones. They are so eager to learn and are little sponges soaking up the stories of the Bible and memorizing His word. If you have an opportunity to serve in VBS jump at the chance and God will bless you as you serve Him.
I love your honesty Amanda about learning all the hand motions of the songs. My children could learn the words and motions so easily while I struggled to do both!!
After being a veteran VBS director for years, I had the chance to mentor a young woman through her first VBS experience. We did Group’s Egypt…Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace. Our church meets in a renovated theater downtown and it was perfect! 55 kids and lots of adults=heaven on earth!
God also moved me to lead a group of Senior Adults who have never done a VBS at their sweet Anglican chapel. This time I’ll be doing Group’s High Seas Expedition. I really don’t know why God would lead me to a place where there are literally 3 children who attend. But, I just couldn’t resist these Seniors who want to reach out to the children in their community.
This is all quite a stretch for a die-hard Southern Baptist like me…just provin’ how incredible God is!!
Ps…we have MYO for frozen yogurt and I, too am addicted.
Blessings,
Lynda
Our church’s VBS theme this year was Joseph’s journey in Egypt, from prisoner to prince.
To make a memorable impact on the congregation and encourage anyone and everyone to get involved, my husband who does the church announcements, decided to use a person who most people probably thought to be the least likely to get involved. And with good reason. She has had chronic health problems and in the last four years she’s been in and out of hospitals, at times with serious life threatening situations. Although she speaks some English it is not her native tongue, and it limits her conversations. Her petite stature of 4’9″ and frail 75yr. old frame doesn’t exactly command authority or attention but yet my husband (also Drama minister) used my mom to prove the point that everyone can contribute something to a cause.
My mom dressed up in an Egyptian costume, wig make up and all. While my husband stood in front of the congregation making the announcement for the upcoming VBS program, my mom came out and “walked like an Egyptian” across the gymnasium floor. Nobody saw that coming. The congregation just lost it! There was such a roar of joyful laughter and applause. It was a hit. They got the point. She did her small part beautifully!
We just finished our week of VBS as well! This year, my husband and I were the “directors” of the VBS committee at our church. Wow! I could go on and on and on, but I’ll try to limit myself to the top 10 (in no particular order). We used Group’s Egypt curriculum and studied the life of Joseph
1. Every year, my favorite part of VBS is watching our whole congregation get involved in some way. Yesterday, our pastor had everyone who participated in some way, come to the front of our church, and there were only about 15 people left in the pews! This was our church’s 62nd year of VBS and its always a WHOLE church project! If you only knew what heartache our church has been thru in the last 8 or 9 years, you would marvel with me.
2. My other favorite part of VBS is our Scripture memory celebration. Each year, we challenge the kids & adults to memorize a selected passage (more than just the usual 5 verses the curriculum suggests) This year, we challenged them to memorize portions of Psalm 103:1-13. And over HALF of the participants did it and got their t-shirt prize! That means about 62 kids and adults have now engraved God’s Word on their hearts!
3. My best friend’s son, who has epilepsy & other learning challenges, worked diligently to recite his 6 assigned verses to me, JUST so that he could get a t-shirt and give it to his friend from school who has severe learning disabilities! I bawled.
4. The singing and dancing! Our worship team rocked! And Yes, we’re Mennonites and we dance… during VBS!
5. Our offering project – this year we collected health kit supplies to be sent around the world to refugee children. We collected enough supplies to make up about 200 health kits! I LOVE seeing the children get so jazzed about helping other kids in need!
6. The community outreach – currently in our congregation, we have about 15 children who regularly attend. But we had almost 100 kids come to VBS! God has been soooo faithful to let us keep shining His light in our community! It was also terrific this year to have friends from outside our congregation come and volunteer as staff.
7. Ok, I’ve gone on long enough, this is it… God took my paltry efforts, self-doubt and little faith and turned it into more than I could’ve asked or imagined! I LOVE it when He does that!
If you’re interested, here is a link to the video recap of our week (my husband is the guy jumping off the stage as he recited the Scripture memory passage =) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_afTnCFFkPE
The VBS at my church was the same week as yours!
Ours was called “Hero Headquarters.” My job was to do a skit as “Water Woman” and then walk around in a dog suit and be “Super Cooper.”
My top ten of the week:
1. Hearing from all the preschoolers how much “Super Cooper” sounded just like “Water Woman”
2. Trying to sign autographs on napkins with a paw.
3. Sneaking into the kitchen to take my head off and get a snack.
4. Giving hugs.
5. Giving high fives with rubber gloves on- it makes a cool noise.
6. Getting to stick my face in a bowl of whipped cream for the “mega-challenge-simulator”
7. Reassuring some very distressed kids that I was truly not needed to go fend off a bad guy somewhere.
8. Trying to turn the pages of a book without thumbs.
9. Talking to kids that I knew from teaching Sunday School who had no idea who I was.
10. All of the very heartfelt scribble pictures I was given.
I LOVE VBS! I have volunteered for that last 6 years … first year my son was 9, daughter 5 when we joined our church … they adored VBS then and now as both of them serve w/me … my 15 year old son was a shepherd to a group of 1st graders and they were crazy about him. My favorite line was when he told me “you know Mom, kids just don’t listen!”. Amen Blake, Amen!! My daughter who is now 12 helped with the 4 year olds … she was wiped out by Thursday as she read their favorite book approximately 9xs daily! Had to laugh at your #4 top ten … exactly what the 3 of us felt toward the end of the week, but boy were we sad when Friday rolled around. We all got so attached to those kids and to see their joy in the LORD!
Thanks for your blog … love it!
We also went to Saddle Ridge Ranch and this was my first year to teach. I had 21 third graders that completely stole my heart. Here’s my top 10:
1. Watching our pastor, in cowboy costume, get his cardio work out in every night doing the motions to Saddle Ridge Ranch song. Whew! Made me tired just watching!
2. Watching the little ones faces as they smelled/ate smores for the first time. Kids today have missed out on some major simplicites of life.
3.Getting a picture drawn by one of my kiddos that said, “to the best teacher in the world.” That was huge.
4.Listening to my own two boys sing the VBS songs over and over for the next 4 weeks AFTER VBS was over.
5.Watching my classroom helper sweep in and take care of business without even having to ask her. She could read my mind almost! A perfect match!
6.Watching my third graders singing how to “cast their cares on the Lord.” I hope they will remember that truth on down the road.
7.Watching our Sunday school director “ride in” on one of the blow up horses to promote VBS the week before. Too funny!
8.Getting hugs almost every night from kids that probably never got to go to church and watching their faces as they said “Bye! See ya tomorrow Miss Amy!”
9.Getting to show a video of my nephew, who’s family is serving as IMB missionaries in Botswana, and listen to all the kids questions about mission work. I think it became real to them to see a kid their age across the ocean serving Jesus.
10.After asking the same boy several times to be quiet and pay attention and thinking he was not getting anything out of Bible study…he knew most all of the answers to the review questions! I was determined to do what God called me to do and leave the results up to Him. That was worth it all to me!
Hi, Amanda
I absolutely love working in VBS!! When I was convicted to join my current church, that was one drawback–in that our VBS is during the day, the first week in June. I’m not permitted to take off the first week of the month because of the heavy work-load at the bank at which I work. Usually, by the 5th or 6th of the month, we are over the busiest part. When they were getting workers for VBS this year, June 7-14, I immediately said yes, put down a week of vacation from work and am so thankful. We did Saddle Ridge Ranch and it was so awesome. I was saved during VBS (44 years ago tomorrow) so it means a lot to me. I was in charge of a third grade class.
This past Sunday, one of the girls I taught made a profession of faith, saying she was saved in VBS. What a blessing to be a part of it. Will I serve next year? Absolutely–whereever God wants me to serve.
Sharon
Pontotoc, MS
VBS:):) VBS is tiring, but rewarding:) I didn’t get to help this year. I have been like you, not sure about if I would be able to handle helping out with it, but once you do, it is a complete blessing:) Now, since I’m a new parent, my church has me on a rotation with the preschoolers. I was picked to watch the almost two year-olds on Sunday. They are such cute kiddles, God gives you a love for them:):)
katiegfromtennessee
At VBS last week, our preschool teacher had been involved in an accident and could not be there that night. I taught the Bible lesson for her, and explained to the kids that their teacher was sick and we prayed for her.
After the prayer, one of our 4 year olds piped up,”I will make her some soup.” “That’s nice,” I replied. She then added,” But I don’t know how to make soup!” I love a child’s honesty and compassion!
Saddle Ridge Ranch, Fox Hill Road Baptist Church, Hampton, VA
July 11-15
Top ten:
1.Seeing a reluctant teenager show up every night and on our Sun. final family day he said “I’ll see you next Sun.”
2.Watching 30+ kids sing the songs,on stage,in front of parents
3.Raising funds for two kids to attend sports camp and to help a family adopt an orphan in Ca. (The adults raised $96, the kids raised $96)
4.Hearing the volunteers say how much fun they had working with the kids
5.Meeting a fourth grader that “wasn’t sure if she could make it every night” but she did (greeting me with hugs)…and her grandparents may be joining the church soon
6.Hearing a gentleman deacon,yell the “Say Yes to VBS” song and see his enthusiasm when leading the song!
7.Seeing the kids doing the lasso twirl overhead as a wave when we saw each other
8.Kids bringing friends to church and having a good amount of adults in study all week!
9.Family Day Sun…complete with cook-out and pony rides!
10.Making a rolling cart into a wagon with a friend :p
VBS/Sunday School Director,
Eron
I just had to share what the biggest blessing was for me. Our little church is using the Saddle Ridge Ranch curriculum as our Wednesday night teaching for the kids. I’m usually in the Women’s Bible Study, but the regular teacher was on vacation, so I was asked to substitute. My job was to run the DVD, lead a song and tell the Bible Story. This week’s story was feeding the 5,000. We have an older group and a younger group, so I adjusted the story accordingly. As the little kids came and sat down, I asked them if they were ready to hear a story about a miracle. Of course, they nodded. And then I asked if they knew who performed the miracle – they waited expectantly – and I answered in my most excited storytelling voice – Jesus! Their eyes were big as saucers and one little boy, 3-year-old Cruz, couldn’t contain himself. He immediately piped in and asked me with great excitement himself, “Do you know Jesus?” When I assured him I did and about Him living in my heart and making a place for me in heaven, he looked satisfied that I could tell this story. But he didn’t stop there – he asked each of the other children in the group (except his older brother, because he already knew that brother knows Jesus)know Jesus. That mission complete, we could start the story. I was reminded again – the beauty of the simple, but oh so profound message we are to share with all the world, everyone we meet, every chance we get. It was just priceless!
I have had the same experience this year too! I have always shied away from helping with the little ones. I never had a problem working with youth, ladies ministry, etc. There was something about the children that made me nervous. We had our VBS last week and what a blessing. I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone, and let God use me. So, I can appreciate how you feel, sista! Congratulations!
Due to health reasons, I have not done VBS for about 12 years. So I was excited to sign up to be a “Ranger” for a class of 20 5th graders! The first day was so awesome!! I could really get into this. 11 yr. olds are pretty cool! Old enough to not need so much “help”, but young enough to not have “attitudes” yet.
But then, at 9:35 am on the 2nd day, I injured my knee while trying to catch up to the front of my group who were heading to a wrong door. Needless to say, I missed the rest of Bible school.
I was very discouraged. Maybe next year?
I had the privilege of *sending* my kids to VBS this summer, two different weeks at two different churches. (I was exempt from volunteering this summer since I have an infant on my hip at all times, aka “my little shadow.”) Both programs were superb, and I’m overwhelmingly impressed by how well they were run. Thanks to everyone who served in their local VBS programs this summer. You planted seeds in the hearts of countless children, and what you may not see as directly is the ways you ministered to the kids’ families. Those CDs you send home DO get played over and over, the kids DO repeat their verses and songs over and over, and the gospel goes forth in the homes long after the week is over.
We did Saddle Ridge Ranch too! This was my 3rd year helping with a Kindergarten class. My two friends and I are quite the team from year to year. I really think Kindergarten is the perfect age!
My husband gets to lead the drama section at our church VBS every year. He is perfect for it. (He has long curly dark hair and a beard, so he looks the part with no trouble) he loves working with all the kids.
Must admit that I’m kinda jealous (I work 40 hours a week and can’t take the time off) but I’m glad that he gets to participate. And our daughter (22 months old) will grow up seeing how important it is to serve God and the community this way.
Deirdre
We did Saddle Ridge Ranch, also! Loved it! One of the best parts was that the kids brought over $400 in offerings to help us sponsor a child in Haiti. Awesome!! Added bonus…We had a contest with the offering and my team won! My co-director had to walk in some horse “stuff”. lol
THE best part was when one of the boys came running in one night and told us, “You know those ABC’s? Well, I did them. All of them.” 😀 That’s what its all about.
We had the best VBS ever. After 12 years of being involved (4 of which I got the privilege of being the children’s director at the time) I had never experienced such a peaceful week of morning and night VBS. Over the past few years I have gotten better about sitting back and letting God do all the work. This year, I gave Him more and I watched in awe as He united over 50 volunteers to work with over 200 kids. It was evident that He did it all. I spent my time troubleshooting all day. When someone came to me with a problem or a decision, I usually said, “Lord, show me what to do.” (sometimes out loud). I was amazed at the wisdom he gave me to deal with each situation calmly and with confidence in Christ. Many others commented on the spiritual impact the week had on them. God surely was at work despite me. After all, doesn’t He love those children and volunteers more than I do. It was an honor to serve the Lord. It has changed me to be ever more dependent on my Lord for the current and future ministry opportunities He has for me. I have learned so much. He is so good and I love Him so much.
We also did Saddleridge Ranch! Top Ten…..
1. Seeing my Baptist pastor line dance to Tumbleweed and Saddle Ridge Ranch…..
2. Singing Tumbleweed song and watching all the KIDS dance!
3. Hearing a young girl pray to receive Christ and having the very overwhelming sense of “One day THIS girl will be fighting for her marriage (as all of us do at some point) with the firm foundation of Jesus Christ!”
4. Hearing volunteers say, “I can’t wait to do this again next year!”
5. Seeing a boy accept Christ who was adopted the same week I adopted my son. The kids I knew as babies are growing up and giving their lives to Christ!!!
6. Watching preschoolers “pudding paint”.
7. Baptisms on Family Night!!! WAY COOL! (even though there was a dead roach floating on the girls side…… NOT ONE GIRL SQUEELED!)
8. Amazed that God is allowing me to be a part of such a ministry.
9. Seeing volunteers who didn’t think they would be able to serve……. discovering they loved it!
10. Jesus Jesus Jesus!!!!
I LOVED the theme for VBS this year. The whole motto of “Need answers? Ask God!” How awesome is that? This is my second year of teaching 1st and 2nd graders, and I am so blessed and so honored. I can’t begin to list how much we gained, but I wanted to share that my own son was in my class this year. I wasn’t sure how it would be, but he blew me away. He learned all 5 verses, and his faith is so strong, I am so grateful to see Jesus when I look at him. I also had one of our youth as a helper, and I suddenly find myself moving into the role of a mentor (of sorts). This is a new phase for me, but I wouldn’t miss it for anything!
I was surprised how engaging it was. Be sure to look through the completed ones…tabs on the left of the screen.DonnaPerugini recently posted..Stickman LIVES! Draw Stickman and Watch Him Move