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| | There are so many Vacation Bible School curriculums available, how do you make sure you select the one that best fits your church's VBS goals and objectives? What factors do you consider when selecting a VBS curriculum for your church? What curriculum features are most important? (ex. Music? format? theme? Bible translation? Cost? etc.)
Lisa B from NC |
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 6:36:56 PM
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| First of all, we look for a VBS that is easy to plan and staff. It's important that the program provides the salvation message in a simple and straightforward way. Group Easy VBS continues to deliver year after year in all three areas. This is my second year at my current church and I introduced them to Group's Avalanche Ranch last year. It was such a success, we decided to use Powerlab for 2008... especially since several station leaders from 2007 told us they wanted the same job for 2008... nothing like staffing the next year's program on the last day of VBS!
Lisa B from NC |
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| | I go for music. Group's is always right up there and I echo the previous person's comments--I fill more than half of my sites from previous year's VBS. My workers love Group--until that alters it's not to my advantage to look at other VBS programs. |
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Last Login: 2/25/2008 8:06:19 PM
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| | This is my first year at our new church, and my first year to do VBS. As the church is an hour away for most of us currently attending, we thought about doing VBS just one day.... ALL DAY. Does anyone have any experience with this? Would Group's VBS programs still work for this?? Jackie
Jackie
~~Zeph 3:17~~ |
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| | Yes, you can do Powerlab OR Jerusalem Marketplace as a one day event. That modification is explained in the Director's manual. With Jerusalem Marketplace, you could even make it a full day Family Event! Here's a tip - Check your local Christian Bookstore and see if they are having a VBS preview event. That's a good way to sample the curriculum from many different publishers in just a few hours. If you've already chosen Powerlab or Jerusalem Marketplace check the back pages of the catalog to see if there is a training party in your area.
Lisa B from NC |
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Last Login: 6/30/2008 1:15:50 PM
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Choosing VBS Curriculum - I am looking for several factors -
Is the theology correct? does it fit our Reformed tradition?
Is the material user friendly
Is the gospel message apparent
Does it work for our situation - stations rather than age separation
Is it fun and is the music rocking?
also, I never make the final decision myself. I review several check the theology and so forth and bring it to a committee for approval. Sometimes they do not choose the material I choose - but it always works best if most people like the theme and the music.
Your sister in Christ, cathy |
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Last Login: 6/30/2008 1:15:50 PM
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I would especially recommend the Jerusalem marketplace for a one day event - it would be such fun to have a picnic with the food items bought from the bakery and so forth - it would be a blast and the Directors manual has all that info inside. For more recipes, look over the past marketplace bulletin board postings or just google middle eastern recipes - I loved doing marketplace and a one day event would be such a fun thing for all ages without driving you nuts.
Your sister in Christ, cathy |
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 6/19/2008 5:40:29 PM
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| | I think that each church is different so you really need to find a curriculum that you can adapt to your needs. Think about volunteers -- how many can you get? Is a night time program better for your volunteers or a day time program better? Do you have a volunteers that want to help but that can't put in a lot of extra time getting ready? I've found that doing a night time format allows more of our adults to volunteer -- we've also found that doing Group's Easy VBS programs we can have volunteers act as Crew Leaders and they get to enjoy volunteering and being a part of VBS and all they really have to do is show up and lead a group of 5 kids from station to station -- and they get to build relationships with the kids that last for years.
Is the curriculum easy to follow and understand? Group's programs are so easy to follow -- you can give the station guides to your leaders and it tells them exactly what they need and what to do -- they've tested the curriculum at a real church with real kids and real volunteers -- so they've done the hard part -- you just read and follow directions and you look like a star! It is also great because you as a station leader just prepare one lesson and then repeat it as each group comes to your station -- so you don't have to do 4 or 5 different lessons for each day. I've got leaders that have been doing VBS for 7+ years and each year they say they'll be back because it is so much fun and they love interacting with the kids.
Final thoughts -- I love Group's VBS programs -- does that mean they are the only ones out there with great programs? No. I will say -- there are so many programs out there -- don't try and re-invent the wheel -- you can find something that works for your church. Whatever you decide to do -- do it as BIG and as exciting as you can. You are building memories that will shape the future of the kids attending your VBS. The more fun you can make it -- the more the kids will enjoy it and want to be there and the more they are there the more they will learn about Jesus and His love for us. Deborah in Texas |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/10/2008 9:55:33 AM
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| | VBS works GREAT for one day events. We have successfully used Groups Easy VBS for sidewalk Kids church and other special one day events. One of our most successfule was a mid-year "FUNDAY FRIDAY". The amount of material found in the vbs programs is great. You could also use the Wild West Fall fest for the one day event. We are looking and excited about doing something with Group's - "SLIME TIME" this year.
Bill Love
Pastor of Children's Ministries
Grace Community Church
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