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No More VBS

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Bible Believing Bill, Jul 31, 2007.

  1. Bible Believing Bill

    Bible Believing Bill <img src =/bbb.jpg>

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    I love VBS, but is it the best way to reach out and lead the lost to Salvation? We need to look at our reasons for holding VBS, are we trying to reach the lost or the saved, do we have VBS because that is what we always do, is VBS an effective ministry for your church, can we reach more of the lost by trying something different?

    Lets her your thoughts on VBS.

    Bill :godisgood:

    Here are a few thoughts from the VBS poll.


     
  2. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    To me, VBS is a fantastic way to build relationships with the community...
    Every year, we increase by a few families after VBS...

    Some are lost families that have never been to church..
    But for the most part they are families with children, (obviously lol) that see the importance of having their children in church... The mom and dad may have strayed, but are ready to come back now because they want their children to grow up and be good people...

    Sooo... They start coming, and before long, they see that not only do their children need God... but they do too...
     
    #2 tinytim, Jul 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 31, 2007
  3. 2 Timothy2:1-4

    2 Timothy2:1-4 New Member

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    Vacation: That is the time we hold it during summer vacation

    Bible: That is what we base all the teachings in the school on

    School: This is a time to learn about the Bible



    Renaming this event to some secular name gives the appearance of hiding your agenda. And has an appearance of dishonesty. Why should the word Bible be removed from the event? This is the Pinnacle of dishonesty. Of course for some churches removing the Bible is just being honest.

    Disliking tradtion just because it is traditon is rather immature. And assuming that something is wrong or inappropriate because of its age is a fallacy. what is inappropriate is to hld an event at church and use a secular name to hide what you intend to do.


    Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
    Ro 9:33 - As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
    Ro 10:11 - For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
     
  4. dan e.

    dan e. New Member

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    so now there are sacred and secular words?

    we'll have to come out with a new dictionary to distinguish which words are sacred, and which are secular.

    How about my comments...did I use any secular words??? this is silly.
     
  5. dan e.

    dan e. New Member

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    wahoo! my 500th post!
     
  6. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    I believe Group publishing is on the cutting edge of what the next stage of VBS will look like...

    It is not just for the kids, but for the whole community..
    I know a couple churches that has went this way, and have had success...

    http://www.groupvbs.com/2007/vbs-GalileeNew/index.asp

    I agree the whole cookies and kool aid type VBS is on it's way out...

    Another thing to think about...
    OUr state has been bouncing around the idea of making the children go to school yr round...

    Summer vacation was based on an agricultural society that is disappearing...

    Having school yr round will help working families... they won't have to worry about daycare in the summer...
    Soooo...

    Don't we as churches need to be prepared to adjust our schedules to this....

    IOWS... Instead of doing VBS in the summer... it may have to be done in the winter...
     
    #6 tinytim, Jul 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 31, 2007
  7. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    Not if you advertise and promote the event honestly, giving information on the schedule and teaching that will take place.

    I think you're overstating this. Most churches don't have the word "Bible" in their name and no one questions whether or not they teach biblical truth.

    Yes, but in the same way, holding to tradition in spite of the consequences, just because it is tradition, is dangerous and deadening.
     
  8. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Obviously, traditional VBS still works in areas of our country... (world)
    So if it still works... go for it...

    But when something stops working, then it is time to re-examine.

    Newer VBS formats will work in other parts, and in different cities...

    We here in WV are about 20 yrs behind the newest trend anyway...
    This is good in someways...

    By the time it gets here all the bugs have been worked out....

    BTW, I have been hearing about a thing called the "internet" hmmm... one day I will have to check it out...
     
  9. Jkdbuck76

    Jkdbuck76 Well-Known Member
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    Venerated
    Baby-sitting
    Service

    I love it. All the people in the community who never come around
    and don't give a rip that services happen 52 sundays during the year
    show up and abandon their kids every night for a week. Then when
    our week is done, they abandon their kids at the other church across
    town when they do theirs. Then if they are lucky, they'll find two churches
    who do VBS the same week, but one in the morning and the other at night so
    they can abandon their children twice in one day for a week.

    VBS is great!

    OK. All kidding aside: even if people use it for a babysitting service, the
    kids WILL learn the BIBLE! That is how I got started in Christianity: VBS.
     
  10. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    VBS is a tool. It can be used rightly or wrongly. It can be benificial; it may not be.

    We are having ours this week. We are hoping for 50 new family contacts and the gospel to be clearly presented each night. We have no high pressure invitations. We are not geared towards having a lot of fun, since the Bible and the gospel really isn't about fun. We want the kids to have a good time and to learn about the Bible.

    We are also having an adult Bible study each night.

    Weekly meetings (instead of one night a week, have 10 nights over 10 weeks) might be better. A VBS should also be careful not to be too much different than a normal church service. It has to potential of false advertising, by hyping newcomers up with fun and games and then they show up on Sunday for something entirely different and feel betrayed.

    We need to be cautious. Be more gospel oriented.
     
  11. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    In my church's recent VBS we had a significant number of children from other Baptist churches in the metropolitan area who were just going to have fun. In the class for which I assisted, every single child professed Christ.

    IMO, VBS in its traditional form, much like Sunday School, may become more of an educational tool for churched children rather than an outreach tool. I think it can still be an outreach tool, but it needs to be adjusted.
     
  12. npetreley

    npetreley New Member

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    My only mission experience was to go and teach VBS in Belize for 2 weeks. While I think we spoiled Americans saw more benefit from those 2 weeks than the people in Belize did, I also think the kids in Belize got a lot out of it, too. I thank God for that opportunity.
     
  13. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    suggestion: Churches as a whole are not doing well at reaching out to multi-family housing. There is a vast untapped field of young souls to be reached in apartment complexes.

    Radical idea: why not do your VBS next year at a local apartment complex? If you can do it both there and at your church, great. If not...why not go to where there are so many lost folk, who would probably jump at the chance to come?

    Note: the above was a general suggestion...not for one person in particular. We are seriously considering this for our 2008 VBS.
     
  14. Hopeful

    Hopeful New Member

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    I like this idea--a true "mission outreach".....Have you (or the VBS 'staff') checked out the legalities on this? I guess I'm asking if you've checked into the obstacles that might be in the way that could prevent it. Obviously, approval by the owners of the apartment complex...but beyond that, would there be any insurance issues, or anything like that?
     
  15. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    Our church has held VBSs in low-income apartment complexes for years. It is an integrated part of the mission outreach of our apartment missions program. As far as I know, we haven't had any major issues.
     
  16. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    I agree completely.
    While I am not totally opposed to VBS, I am opposed to many methods used with VBS.

    What VBS SHOULD be:
    A way to bring the Gospel to the community.

    What VBS should not be and do:

    Should not simply be a summer day care service
    Should not be for making the gospel palatable for the lost.


    Fun and games are certainly fine. But just water down the gospel with fun and games.
    When it is time to share the gospel, seriousness is important.
     
  17. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    This sounds like what we used to do when I was in Houston. We called them back-yard Bible Clubs, but we did them in apt complexes too. I know back-yard Bible Club is not any better than VBS, but . . .

    We went to them instead of them coming to us. We hit the groups that couldn't travel. We shared the gospel time and time again.

    I'm trying to remember how we set it up exactly as it was during my Jr. and Sr. years in HS. I remember that I had picture cards to help me tell the story and that I planned ways to integrate the plan of salvation -- there were practice sessions. We had sessions to help us with games. We took refreshments with us. The whole thing was no more than a couple of hours - maybe only an hour.
     
    #17 mcdirector, Jul 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 31, 2007
  18. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    This is SOOO important I believe.
    If we believe that no man in his natural state seeks after God, then we must go to them, not make a program appeal to the flesh of the lost to try to get them to make a decision for Christ.
     
  19. Bible Believing Bill

    Bible Believing Bill <img src =/bbb.jpg>

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    Great discussiona and ideas so far. This is exactly the kind of ideas I am looking for. We are done with VBS for this year, I want to make it better next year and that may mean doing something completely different.


    Bill :godisgood:
     
  20. Archeryaddict

    Archeryaddict New Member

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    VBS is Unfortunately used by many parents as a baby sitting service.
    we are able to plant seeds in a young Child but after VBS is over you don"t see the majority of the Children until next VBS.
    I would really like to see a program put in place that focuses more on the whole family.

    Don't get me wrong, the Church needs to continue with the Summer VBS programs because for many children this will be the only time that they will be introduced to Jesus Christ.
    I have also witnessed Children getting saved during VBSand when they tell their parents that they have gave their life to Christ enables the Holy Spirit to convictthe parents to start bringing their children to church then the parents get saved
    so VBS is definately a good thing.
    If VBS brings one person to the foot of the cross it is worth all the effort it takes to do it each year. JM.02
     
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