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Vacation Bible School
 

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May 18, 2008

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Vacation Bible School is one of the greatest opportunities we have to reach all people, especially children and preschoolers, during the summer months. It continues to be one of the most productive special events in terms of both finding prospects and leading them to the Lord.  This page will help you as you plan VBS 2008 in your church.

At the Jersey Baptist Church, where I serve as VBS Director, we will be using Outrigger Island: Living God's Unshakeable Truth for VBS 2008.  It is published by LifeWay Christian Resources. Based on a tropical island theme and Psalm 86:11, Outrigger Island will  help kids develop the stability they need to face a world of shifting sands and wavering opinions.

"Surf's up, so grab your surfboard and head for the waves!"

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Resources

I will add resource links here as I find them.  Please send email if you have other items you would like to make available.  Come back regularly to see what's been added.

Reference Items: VBS Worker's Handbook

Red_Ball70A1.gif (916 bytes) National Day of Prayer for VBS (updated for 2008)
Red_Ball70A1.gif (916 bytes) General VBS Resources
Red_Ball70A1.gif (916 bytes) Outrigger Island Resources (2008)
Red_Ball70A1.gif (916 bytes) Links (Check here for additional craft ideas)
 

Join the VBS mailing list! Receive email notification as items are added to this page.  Your email address will be kept in confidence.

To join the email list, click here to sign up at the Topica site, or
send a blank email to VBS_list-subscribe@topica.com

To unsubscribe, send a blank email to VBS_list-unsubscribe@topica.com

 

 

Visit the LifeWay web site for more great Outrigger Island clipart at www.lifeway.com/yourvbs/

Visitors:


NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR VACATION
BIBLE SCHOOL
May 18,
2008

Pray for other churches!
Download list of churches and VBS dates
registering their VBS dates for prayer support
Click Here!
It's too late to participate in the National Day of Prayer for Vacation Bible School for 2008. But you can still register the dates of your school, download the list of schools already registered, and join together in prayer for one another this summer. We continue to pray that God will continue to anoint VBS to reach kids and their families for Christ as He has in past years.

To support this prayer ministry, please register the dates of your VBS here.  The information will be available to others who covenant to pray specifically for your VBS, and is available to you to support others in prayer.

National Day of Prayer for VBS Registration Form

We will pray for Vacation Bible Schools around the world
and we request others to pray for our school.

Name:
Email:
Church:
Location (State [USA] or country): 
VBS Dates: 
Please use this format for dates:
     June 22-July 2

Note:  Your name, church, and VBS dates will be added to the downloadable list of VBS dates accessible from this page.  Your email address will be used only to send confirming email, and will not appear in the downloadable list nor be shared with any other organization.


Outrigger Island Information (VBS 2008)

bullet Faculty Training Presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint format as used at The Jersey Baptist Church for our VBS worker's meeting.  Read slide speaker's notes for content and presentation hints.  The 2001 version of this material is provided as it can easily be updated for the current theme.
bulletDecoration ideas for Vacation Bible School
bullet

Outrigger Island:  View pictures of the VBS decorations from the VBS Preview Clinic presented by the VBS Team of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio on February 9, 2008.

bullet

More Coming!


(click to view larger image)
Game Day Central Worship Set
Jersey Baptist Church

(VBS 2007)

General Resources

bulletThe curriculum we will use at the Jersey Baptist Church (where I serve as VBS Director) will be Outrigger Island: Living God's Unshakeable Truth, published by LifeWay Christian Resources. LifeWay has a great support page on the web for the curriculum, where you can preview and order the material and resources and even get some freebies.  Visit it at http://www.lifeway.com/yourvbs/.
bulletBobbie Lee Pugh of Wrightsboro Baptist Church, Wilmington, North Carolina, shares lots of ideas and links for their forthcoming Game Day Central VBS, including many links on where to find materials and support items at the lowest cost.  Click here to access their web site, which continues to be updated with new ideas.
bulletThis page is a collection of general VBS ideas and tips which may be helpful.  Use the Discussion Forum to add your own ideas and suggestions.
bulletA children's Gospel activity booklet is available from Moments with the Book in conjunction with the Christian cartoonist, Ron Wheeler.  A free .PDF format version is available on line, or printed copies may be purchased for as little as twenty-five cents each.  This is a well-done piece presenting the plan of salvation through coloring pages, mazes, and connect-the-dots in a story format that will capture the attention of children.  
bulletSuggestions to pastors on how and why to communicate with children during VBS (and other times) can be found at A Message to Pastors.
bulletA VBS attendance promotion idea that I have used successfully for over ten years, the Gum Tree, is detailed on VBS Attendance Promotions.
bulletA recent version of the Vacation Bible School Worker's Handbook that I provide to each member of our faculty and staff, with encouragement, logistics, schedules, and organization. View it in PDF format (1.31 MB) or download the Microsoft Word document (1.16 MB) to adapt for your school.
Note that some items have been intentionally omitted from this Web version, either in the interest of privacy or download time:
bulletWorkers names and telephone numbers
bulletSupply lists for children and preschoolers
bulletVarious other reproducible items from the Mt. Extreme VBS Director's book, such as age-group characteristics, etc.
bulletWe enlist a personal prayer partner for each worker from those not directly involved in VBS, and ask our congregation to undergird our school in prayer.  This Prayer Suggestion List helps provide knowledgeable prayer support for our school. View it in PDF format or download the Microsoft Word 95 document to adapt for your school.
bulletA good VBS will reach people, but a good plan is required to continue to minister to these people through the ongoing Sunday School organization after VBS is over.   The VBS Transfer Plan will help you accomplish this important goal.
bulletLet us share a powerful testimony about the positive influence of VBS in the experience of one church in Columbus

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Links

General VBS

bulletVBS Resources at LifeWay Christian Resources (publisher of Outrigger Island)
bulletVacation Bible School Planning helps at http://www.gbgm-umc.org/marshltn/vbsmain.html

Crafts

bullet Memory Cross provides inexpensive multi-fold cards which present Bible and Gospel messages in an intriguing way to children.  Some can be colored, others help with scripture memory.  Free samples available.
bullet Oriental Trading is the "standard" supplier for all kinds of craft and art materials, craft kits, and decorations.
bullet Guildcraft Arts and Crafts offers good prices for quantities of basic craft supplies (craft sticks, crayons, etc.) as well as kits for Bible-related crafts at less than $1 per child (typically).  Request a catalog or order on line.
bullet VBS  Crafts and Activities: a resource for VBS teachers and leaders, is part of Danielle's Place of Crafts and Activities: lots of craft ideas for various Bible and VBS themes.
bulletFamilyFun Magazine: http://familyfun.go.com/
Lots of seasonal craft ideas, plus all the great things families can do together.
bulletParentsTalk: Because You're Always a Parent - Advice, Recipes, Family Fun, Child Care Experts http://www.parents-talk.com/

Link Collections

bulletAwesome Library "organizes the web with 24,000 carefully reviewed resources, including the top 5% in education." http://www.awesomelibrary.org/

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Thomas J. Cook, Webmaster
Updated: Sunday, May 18, 2008
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