By Derek Luptak, Associate Pastor, Grace Church – Show Low, AZ

Distance Student at The Master’s Institute Seminary

Here at Grace Church in Show Low, AZ, when we do VBS, we go all out. We know that summer can be a hectic season and very often events like VBS can be just another thing to get through, but there is something about seeing the good news of Jesus Christ break into a child’s life that makes it worth it all. When Amanda (my wife) came on staff as Family Ministry Coordinator 4 years ago, we both sensed a calling to make VBS a major event in our church year. We believe that having fun with children as they learn about God’s love for them is an enormous opportunity for the Kingdom in our community. One thing we’ve learned is that children want to come to Jesus and it’s up to us to not hinder them from coming. The crowning moment of this year’s VBS was an interaction I had with a 3^rd grader who exclaimed excitedly, “Learning about God is so much fun!”  I told him that he was right, and it never stops being fun, even when you reach old age (mid-thirties) like me. Looking back on our VBS week, knowing that at least one child’s heart was opened to the joy of knowing God, I can only thank God for having a part in it.

Over the years, we have learned a lot about putting on a VBS week that kids want to come to. First, we decorate the entire church, so that the whole congregation gets a chance to get excited and support it with prayer and donations. During the week, you will need the strength of others’ intercession. It will be exhausting and there will be spiritual attacks from the enemy, but it is well worth it.

This year, our theme was Treasure Quest – inspired by Indiana Jones and other adventure movies. Our sanctuary was transformed into a treasure cave, complete with stalactites. The Narthex was converted into a jungle and waterfall. Our children’s wing was another series of caves and our fellowship hall became a puppet theater where the youth group put on puppet shows for the kids, helping them learn the daily lessons and bible verses. I spray-painted some ordinary garden sculptures metallic gold and they became the treasure. Each “artifact” was used as a visual representation of a day’s theme: golden armor, a golden serpent, a golden lantern and a golden cross. We have learned that if we write our own curriculum, we can save a LOT of money that could be better spent in other places. At the end of the day, we set up an inflatable waterslide and a member of the congregation who is an ice-cream truck driver comes by.

A vibrant VBS comes from finding volunteers who are willing to share their gifts and talents with the kids. Last year we had 5 different members of the congregation come by and share their creativity. There was a painter, a personal trainer, a dance instructor and a chef. They all came by and taught the kids that God created them and we all have creative gifts to share. The kids learned to paint, exercise, dance and make a perfect French omelet. But they also learned that God was an artist who created each one of them and put His signature in their hearts. At the end of the week, we simply invite the children to come to Jesus, give their lives to Him and become part of His family. No fear, guilt or manipulation. The kids respond overwhelmingly every year. We don’t have to cajole them to come to Christ, just as He said, we only need to get out of their way.

We have also found that VBS is a great week to partner with other churches in the community. Some smaller churches can’t afford to put on a VBS of their own, but are happy to join in with another church. We joined with three other churches this year and had 145 kids attend. Of that number, 50 opened their hearts to a relationship with God through Christ and came into the Kingdom. VBS, like anything else in ministry, is a wonderful opportunity for Kingdom expansion and adult volunteers also get something out of it. It is a great reminder that knowing God and being in His family is “fun” (a great adventure) when compared to the life of guilt, shame and defeat that our enemy wants for us. VBS is a great opportunity for a congregation to step into that adventure together for the sake of the kids they are reaching!

If you’d like to have Derek and Amanda consult with your children’s ministry staff, you can contact them at: derek@graceshowlow.com