With the economy situation like it is, folks will not be able to take as many vacation trips, and they’re going to be looking for something for their children to be involved in,” said James Blakeney, an associate in the office of Sunday School at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “Vacation Bible School (VBS) can help in that.”
Last year, more than 2,100 Alabama Baptist churches reported holding VBS, enrolling 262,686 people and seeing nearly 7,500 professions of faith.
“It’s the No. 1 evangelism tool that Southern Baptists have,” Blakeney said. “We reach more people through VBS than anything else we do.”
Westwood Baptist Church, Alabaster, in Shelby Baptist Association reached around 750 kindergartners through fifth-graders alone last year, making it the state’s largest-registered Bible school with nearly 3,600 in attendance.
But for Jenny Funderburke, minister to children at Westwood Baptist, it is not about the numbers.
“It’s about that one child that got to hear about [God],” she said. “That should always be your focus. That’s your reason for being there.”
Still between 800 and 1,000 churches (about 30 percent) affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention did not host VBS last year, Blakeney reported.
For some churches, it was because of a lack of resources. For others, it was a lack of manual labor or uncertainty of “how” to do VBS.
Blakeney said that is why associational training conferences are important, as they provide the opportunity to learn about proper planning, recruitment, promotion and training workers.
“I went to my first associational training event in 1974 after graduating from seminary. I learned more about hands-on VBS in that conference than I did in seminary,” he said. “I go every year because I teach 4-year-olds and like to hear other teachers talk about their experience.”
According to Blakeney, nearly 70 of the 75 Alabama Baptist associations will host a training conference this year.
Upcoming conferences are scheduled for:
– Cherokee Association at the associational office on March 7
– Marion Association at First Baptist Church, Winfield, on March 8
– Marshall Association at First Baptist Church, Albertville, on March 9
– Elmore Association at the associational office on March 12
– Judson Association at Calvary Baptist Church on March 16
– Baldwin Association at First Baptist Church, Silverhill, on March 17
– Bethel Association at Linden Baptist Church on March 17
– Calhoun Association at Golden Springs Baptist Church on March 19
– Washington Association at Fairhope Baptist Church on March 23
– DeKalb Association at Nazareth Baptist Church on March 24 and 26
– Covington Association at First Baptist Church, Opp, on March 26
– Bessemer Association at Loveless Park Baptist Church on March 26
And those conferences are “key,” said Shelia Thomas, VBS director for First Baptist Church, Bridgeport, and associational VBS director for Tennessee River Baptist Association.
“I think associational teams are a resource that are underused. … Don’t be afraid to call and ask, whatever your need is,” Thomas said. “You might find a music teacher on an associational team, and that might be a need you have, or maybe an extra Bible teacher. Associational teams have a head start because they have already had the training.”
Ultimately the conferences are about helping churches share ideas with others in their area, Blakeney said.
For more information about VBS training in your area, contact your local associational office or Blakeney at 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 286, or jblakeney@alsbom.org.
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7 ways to stay on budget
1. Find a church to partner with — For a small church that would not be able to host Vacation Bible School (VBS) on its own, a great way to make Bible school a success is to partner with one or more area churches for a communitywide VBS. This allows small churches to pool their limited resources for a fantastic Bible school with the works.
2. Create your own snack ideas — Use store-bought cookies and crackers and water or Kool-Aid in place of expensive snacks and juices. Or have church members sign up to provide snacks that will not come out of the official VBS budget.
3. Be resourceful — When it comes to decorations, make use of everyday items church members have at home like trash bags, cereal boxes, grocery bags and cardboard. And with this year’s theme of “Boomerang Express,” items directly from nature would be a great touch. Have people gather sticks, rocks, plants and grasses straight from their back yards for cheap and easy decorations.
4. Don’t be afraid to borrow — One way to save on the cost of decorations and supplies is to find another church in the area that is willing to lend, give away or sell its materials once its VBS is complete.
5. Keep crafts simple — Children are not as concerned about what they make as they are about the fun they have making it.
6. Find financial backers — If the church does not have enough in the budget to allot for VBS, then find individuals or businesses in the community to sponsor Bible school. This allows them to lend a helping hand in their community and take a tax deduction.
7. Make use of cost-efficient promotions — Instead of paying for postage, hand deliver fliers, invitations or postcards to families and schools in the community. (TAB)
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