Many VBS leaders think that Vacation Bible School is over when the last person has left on Friday. Actually, this is just the beginning.
Jesus gave us an illustration of what VBS is all about. In Matthew 4:18-19, Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to be fishers of men. Churches have a great plan in place for promoting their VBS to get people to come. After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus tells Peter to “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). Are churches interested in building relationships with those who attend VBS and nourishing them in God’s Word?
A lot of time and energy is spent “fishing” for those to attend VBS while at the same time, no plan is in place to provide for their “feeding”. Traditionally, Vacation Bible School accounts for 25-28 percent of all baptisms among Southern Baptist Churches. How many baptisms could there be if churches changed their attitude about follow-up putting more effort in planning and implementing this important aspect of VBS?
The entire church must get involved from the security/parking lot volunteers to church leadership. A friendly greeting and helpful attitude in the parking lot or at the door is so important. The registration process is so important. Correct information is needed for follow-up after VBS.
Sunday School teachers have a great opportunity to visit prospects with VBS leaders during the follow-up process to begin and continue building relationships with those who have attended VBS. Take a Bible, VBS music CD, VBS picture, VBS craft when the follow-up visit is made, but don’t forget to take something for other family members in the household as well. Be sure to include the name, address and phone number of your church.
A new mindset is needed – VBS is not over when the last person leaves on the last day but continues in building relationships and discipling those who attend. Could this year be the time that churches will say as those who witnessed a miracle of Jesus in Mark 2:12 – “We have never seen anything like this.”
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Kathy Trundle,
Vacation Bible School Specialist
Tennessee Baptist Convention
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