After twenty years of doing VBS, I am still convinced that it is one of the best ways to reach your community for Jesus Christ! My family was reached through a VBS in 1980. The church canvased the neighborhood and invited my family church. My father had just passed away and my mom was trying to raise 6 children all by herself. The Lord used VBS to reach a grieving, lost, and hurting family.
In 1993, I started to Pastor a small church in Concord, NH. It was averaging about 20 people. The key strategy for making that church grow was VBS. The church had a few children, but it needed many more. I personally walked the street for two weeks passing out fliers and invited children to our night time VBS. My wife, Jane, was the VBS director. We were a great team! (She is still directing VBS TODAY!) She made the VBS a great experience for the kids and I tried to get as many as possible to attend! That year we averaged about 40 kids every night. We launched a Sunday School program in the fall of 1993 and the church started to grow. The first year of ministry, we went from 20 on a Sunday morning to an average of 125. It all started with VBS!
Every church should do a VBS! It must be intentionally focused upon reaching people in your community. Many people will not go to church as adults, but they will allow their children to attend a VBS! Go all out and make the VBS the best week of the summer. This week we have 350 children and over 130 volunteers! Make VBS an all church event and get everyone involved!
If you have a VBS STORY, PLEASE post a reply! I would like to collect as many as possible! Thanks!
