Standard”s VBS: More Than Learning, Beyond Fun

By Joni Baker

“The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.”

“”Billy Graham, as quoted in Beyond Your Backyard, by Tom Ellsworth (Standard Publishing)

 

 

Churches today are rediscovering the world outside their four walls. In fact, a movement of “externally focused” churches reaches out to show love in practical service to schools, parks, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in their communities.

Within these churches, all ages can serve together. Even small children learn the joy of helping others.

But even though the value of service in Christ”s name has been incorporated into many books and Sunday school lessons for children, no one has ever made it the focus of a whole Vacation Bible School curriculum””that is, until now.

Standard Publishing”s 2008 VBS, “God”s Big Backyard,” combines the fun of backyard play with the joy of service. In a creative backyard environment, kids will learn what it means to serve Jesus in their neighborhoods and communities.

Based on the theme of loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31), each day kids of every age will work together on a service project and meet community leaders and others who serve.

Bible Learning, Christian Service

“We”re excited about “˜God”s Big Backyard” because we know kids love helping others. This VBS gives them the opportunity to reach out and help, while they are learning Bible truths and, of course, having fun,” said Ruth Frederick, Standard Publishing”s editorial director for Vacation Bible School.

“In fact, we believe this is the first VBS to integrate a service focus into every aspect of the course, beginning with Bible stories that teach about serving family, friends, neighbors, community, and Jesus.

“The backyard theme works well for talking about serving my neighbors and my community, as well as my friends and family, in a context that even the youngest children can understand.”

Service projects may be simple, like making a craft to serve or share with a shut-in, but they can also be broader, such as involving groups of kids and adults in neighborhood cleanup projects. Suggestions for selecting service projects are among the many practical helps provided.

Standard Publishing”s editorial leaders believe this theme will also allow churches to attract families to VBS.

“˜It”s Everywhere”

“Community service is a huge trend right now,” Frederick continued. “It”s everywhere.”

Indeed. In 2006, more than 65 million Americans volunteered in their communities at least one time, according to the Congressional Quarterly.¹

Universities have “service-learning” programs that structure volunteer service in the context of a student”s coursework. Studies have documented the value that students derive from providing service to others. The American Association for Higher Education even has published a 21-volume series on Service-Learning in the Disciplines, with specific suggestions on how to incorporate service-learning into a variety of disciplines ranging from accounting to medicine, hospitality, tourism, and philosophy.²

And middle schools and high schools around the country have started requiring community service hours for graduation. According to a 2001 report published by the National Commission on Service-Learning, more than 13 million high school students participated in service-learning or volunteer activities in the 2000-01 school year.³

Social science researchers have discovered that service experience leads to “prosocial” behavior, meaning that once students experience being involved with their community, they want to do it again; in fact, these students ultimately become more engaged in other fundamental tenets of democratic life””such as voting, working on political campaigns, and expressing opinions on public policy.⁴

A theme that resonates with community trends can help unchurched families feel more comfortable with coming to VBS. And viewing our communities as part of “God”s Big Backyard” will help children and adults view the world with God”s eyes.

Each day at VBS, kids will participate in the large-group excitement of Backyard Bash, experience God”s Word at Backyard Bible Club, meet real-life servants at Community Corner, work together each day on a service project geared to the day”s lesson, while also learning through music, puppets, crafts, and games.

Lessons and activities work in classroom settings or with children grouped in small crews that move from site to site. The program is adaptable for preschoolers through teens, and offers an adult component suitable for use separately or in conjunction with VBS.

Beyond the Fence

“Tomorrow”s generations of unbelievers will not be drawn to the church behind four walls, but to the church that is found serving in local food pantries, homeless shelters, and hospices. Christians of all generations are called to demonstrate their love, share their faith, and serve humanity . . . all for the privilege of introducing others to Jesus,” writes Tom Ellsworth in Beyond Your Backyard.

Ellsworth challenges churches to go beyond the fence into serving their communities. The church he leads, Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington, Indiana, is one of the congregations that has learned the value of serving outside its backyard.

Each autumn, church members blanket the city with a one-day service blitz called CareFest.

“In a day”s time, a thousand volunteers can make a big dent in the mound of unmet needs,” Ellsworth writes. “In most cases the church furnishes both the labor and the supplies for the work. It is a great way to bridge gaps and share the compassion of Christ. I”ve watched families have a great time serving together. From the oldest to the youngest, they work with a sense of satisfaction seldom seen in other chores.

“Any congregation can reach this goal. Size or location is immaterial. Look for the unmet needs of your community, offer to help out and go””clean, rake, paint, build, plant. Your congregation can do it””you can do it!”

Serving Others, Serving Jesus

Each day in “God”s Big Backyard” the themes emphasize service””serving family, serving friends, serving neighbors, serving community, and finally, serving Jesus.

“The final theme of serving Jesus brings home the message for kids that all the previous days are also about serving Jesus,” Frederick explained. “These lessons are concrete, close to home, and kids can see the results.

“VBS is supposed to be fun, but kids will end this week having accomplished something besides having fun. They will have made a difference in other people”s lives in their own neighborhood and community.”

Bonus Enhancements

Each year, Standard Publishing”s VBS team adds additional resources and tools to help guarantee a church”s success. For 2008, Standard is introducing an assortment of Web-based tools, including the opportunity for a church to create its own customized VBS Web sites with a unique Web address (URL). Even if the church does not have a Web site, a VBS leader there can use a Web site builder to upload photos, logos, and forms to create one.

In addition to providing information about an upcoming VBS, the site can offer online registration. It also provides an opportunity for participants to obtain documents such as medical release forms, permission slips, and emergency contact forms.

At www.vacationbibleschool.com, VBS leaders will find songs, additional helps, free downloads, and a forum for churches to share experiences, tips, and even their gently used décor, puppets, and sets.

These tools are in addition to other helps such as a Director”s Guide, a Decorating Pak, and a Planning DVD for promoting VBS.

“We want to do all we can to ensure the success of churches that will be using “˜God”s Big Backyard,”” Frederick said. “Our VBS team continually seeks new ways to support our customers and help provide the very best experience possible for churches that use our VBS product.

“We believe in VBS,” she said. “Standard Publishing was the first publisher to produce VBS curriculum 85 years ago and we remain committed to this powerful, life-changing experience for kids.”

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¹From an article in the Congressional Quarterly Researcher, June 30, 2006.

²“Learning In Deed: The Power of Service Learning for American Schools,” by E.B. Fiske, National Commission on Service-Learning for American Schools, 2001.

³American Association for Higher Education: Series on Service-Learning, ed. by Edward Zlotkowski, available from Campus Compact, 2006

⁴School-Based Required Community Service and Civic Development in Adolescents,” by Heinz Reinders and James Youniss, Applied Developmental Science, 2006/Vol. 10, 2-12, abstract at www.LEAOnline.com.

For more information, visit www.StandardPub.com or www.vacationbibleschool.com, or call Standard Publishing at (800) 353-1353.

 

 

VBS 2008 Resources

The Starter Kit and Power Pak for “God”s Big Backyard” are now available. The Starter Kit, at $69.99, includes director”s resources, plus sample site leader”s guides, and teacher and student materials“”a total value of more than $175 (item number 09800). The Power Pak includes all items in the Starter Kit plus the Puppet Pak, Theme Pak, Art and Decorating CD, Life Focus Poster Pak, Site Names Poster Pak, and Community Corner DVD. The Power Pak costs $199.99, with materials valued at more than $325 (item number 09817). All additional items will be available in February.

Additional resources:

“¢ Beyond Your Backyard, by Tom Ellsworth, available in February, coordinates with VBS lessons while challenging adult learners to think more broadly about the world (item number 24327; softcover, $9.99).

“¢ Beyond Your Backyard Group Member Discussion Guide, offers eight sessions in a question-and-answer format (item number 41185, $6.99).

“¢ Life on Loanâ„¢: A Church-Wide Experience Kit, provides churches the tools to learn to become externally focused, and includes both student and children”s ministry options (item number 80506, $159.99).

“¢ Externally Focused Seminars, www.externallyfocusedseminar.com.

“¢ House in the Middle of Town, by Crystal Bowman, a picture book for children ages 3-7, demonstrates being a good neighbor and helping others (item number 04737; hardcover, $15.99).

 

 

Joni Baker is a freelance writer from Loveland, Ohio, and managing director of Buoyancy Public Relations.