It’s a fact. Children love Vacation Bible School (VBS). Because the children love it, churches love it too. So much so that churches have been asking LifeWay Christian Resources for more VBS.
For next summer, in response to those requests, LifeWay is releasing two lines of VBS materials: one a cross-country trek in which children through adults will learn about their ultimate destination in Jesus and a second, more streamlined version that will take children to a beach “blast” to learn about God.
The cross-country trek will be titled, “Ramblin’ Road Trip: Which Way Do I Go?”
The cross-country venture will take VBSers along “Route 254” from Destination Worship in Washington, D.C., to Destination Thankfulness in Chicago, through Destination Salvation in Lebanon, Kan., (the geographic center of the United States), past Destination Belief in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and finally to Destination Obedience at Knott’s Berry Farm in Southern California.
“Show Me! Teach Me! Guide Me!” — the VBS motto — sets the stage for the week’s jaunt.
As they ramble across the country, children will discover that the daily choices they make affect all their other journeys through life. By choosing God as their guide, they are sure to arrive at their ultimate desti- nation — a relationship with Jesus.
“Each day and at each destination, the children will be presented with biblical truths,” said Mary Katharine Hunt, LifeWay’s VBS division proj- ect manager. “One thing that is absolutely true about all our VBS material is the presentation of Scrip- ture. Everything, all the fun stuff, always relates back to the Bible story.”
The overall Scripture for the Ramblin’ Road Trip is Psalm 25:4–5: “Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation” (HCSB). This verse will remind chil- dren to think of God as their Guide as they travel through their own life adventures.
Multiple age levels
“Part of what makes this line of VBS curriculum so great is that it’s designed for all ages,” Hunt said. “While most people think about VBS as being for children, we have materials based on the theme for teenagers and adults as well.”
To help leaders and teachers, LifeWay offers:
␣A Sampler that includes a Ramblin’ Road Trip New Testament, CDs with games and music, leader guides and learner guides, a promo- tional poster and more.
␣A Super Sampler that includes even more of the things that make the Sampler so popular: more music resources, more promotional materi- als and more leader packs.
␣New resources to help with dec- orating VBS classrooms and an expanded line of decorations.
␣A worship rally pack.
␣A one-stop shopping site for ordering curriculum, decorations, promotional materials, follow-up resources.
The second VBS line for 2005 — “Club VBS: Beach Blast” — will help children focus on God’s faith- fulness. It offers an All in One Pack that has everything needed for a VBS of up to 50 children.
“We had a number of churches that asked us to give them another choice for VBS,” Hunt said. “The VBS format is so effective in reach- ing children that many churches told us they’d like to have another option.”
The VBS Beach Blast offers lots of flexibility, Hunt added. Churches can use it for special weekday or Wednesday night activities during the summer, and it can be used other times of the year, such as a fall or spring break.
The motto for this line, “God is faithful. I can dig it!” will lead chil- dren to:
␣Dig into God’s Promises ␣Dig into God’s Provision ␣Dig into God’s Power ␣Dig into God’s Plan ␣Dig into God’s Presence Promotional materials will be
mailed to churches in October and November. All VBS materials will be available Dec. 1. (BP)
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