The End of VBS?

[pegmo]

So, has anyone else's church begun to promote a program like Kidshine instead of vacation bible school? Its a performance arts day camp where the kids work to put on a show. Their website says it attracts more unchurched kids so its being pitched as an outreach or evangelical program for youth.

Here's their website link. http://http://www.kidshineonline.org/index.cfm?i=1144&mid=4&ministryid=10232

This program is being promoted at the church we just left. Just wondered if anyone here has any experience with this rather than a traditional VBS program.

[JesusisTHEway]

My church still has a traditional VBS, I don't know about any other churches though.

[billiefan2000]

never heard of it


as far as I know is that program is not being promoted here in Omaha


I know many churches here in my town are doing VBS but have never heard of Kidshine

[Diane 1611]

Our church is doing a traditional VBS. It's called "SonWorld." It's all next week, during the day time, and the kids learn a song that they will sing during services the next Sunday.

I have noticed some churches doing VBS in the evening. I guess it's hard to find volunteers with so many mothers working outside the home. I would have put my ds in our church's VBS, but it runs from 9:00 - 3:00 p.m. and I need before & after care, which is not offered.

[pegmo]

So what exactly do you think makes a good VBS program? And what things should parents steer away from?

[HSmomto4]

A better question is do you really need VBS to teach your children about Jesus? Instead of looking for "programs" to teach our kids what they need to know, we should start thinking about daily worship in our own families so our kids grow up knowing about Jesus.

[Daniel1210]

Once the marketers found out what a lucrative business selling to VBS can be, the VBS themselves started getting watered down.

One year it's a jungle theme, the next it's island themes, etc...

Around here the theme this year seems to be a few various take offs on pirate movies.

That has to make you wonder as pirates weren't exactly evangelizing - one or two might have been, or so the story goes, but for the most part....

[FaithContender]

My church is doing a VeggieTales VBS this year for the first time. I'm not sure what to expect.

I would say a good VBS promotes Scripture memorization and presents the Gospel.

[CircleSlide]

Our church is doing a VBS on Service. It should be fun! I am looking forward to it.

[pegmo]

HSmomto4 wrote: A better question is do you really need VBS to teach your children about Jesus? Instead of looking for "programs" to teach our kids what they need to know, we should start thinking about daily worship in our own families so our kids grow up knowing about Jesus.


I didn't grow up in the Christian church and we didn't become Christians until our children were out of the house, so I have no experience with VBS. I assumed it was a bible based program of some kind and its purpose was to teach the bible. I didn't realize it was all these other kind of things. So I didn't know if what our old church is offering is typical or not. Sounds kind of like the programs are all over the board.