VBS: Very Beautiful Strategy
by Colonel Richard Munn
Across the USA and The Salvation Army, August is often the month that sees an explosion of youth ministry lovingly known as VBS—Vacation Bible School. Interestingly, historical records reliably attest that this national movement began in earnest around 100 years ago, with links to the Church provision of education for underschooled and underprivileged children.
VBS has become an American staple, creating many, many fond memories and associations of a week filled with songs, stories, crafts, snacks, and awards during sweltering summer days.
And not just for children. It’s often great fun for corps leaders, youth workers, and parents too. VBS is effective, helpful to families, easy to plan, and a genuine antidote to the ever-present administrative duties of corps life. Here is a time to let imagination and creativity run freely—and, boy, do we have that in bucket loads in our Army. Themes, backdrops, songs, Bible verse memorization games, triumphant award ceremonies, and snacks, snacks, snacks, all are waiting to be explored.
Surely there is no product on earth as indelible as VBS Hawaiian Punch, which most assuredly will be spilled somewhere.
Major Jessica Irwin, corps officer for The Salvation Army of Lewiston/Auburn, Maine, first met Jesus herself because of a neighborhood family who held a home VBS. “They got to know our families,” she says, “and showed us love and shared Jesus, sang songs, made crafts, played outside in the backyard, and helped our neighborhood bind together to nurture the children.”
She calls VBS an incredible blessing—both for the leaders and the youth of the corps.
“We consider the ministry of sharing Jesus with young hearts to be a vital reach of love that holds eternity,” she says. “We pray for our young children and their families that the seeds of the gospel sown in their hearts will be nurtured to grow a strong faith and a deep love for Jesus.”
Vibing with VBS in Trenton
Captains Alan and Ling Porchetti exemplify the zeal for VBS and deploy it enthusiastically at the Trenton Citadel Corps in New Jersey. At the church, it’s part of the annual rhythm.
“VBS has been a gateway for many children to come through our doors and experience the love of Jesus beyond traditional ways,” Captain Ling says. “Every year, children are amazed learning about Jesus in simple and tangible ways.”
One particularly memorable session for her involved teaching about Jesus feeding the 5,000, then showing the children how to make bread from scratch.
“Children made their very own loaf. The smell of fresh bread filled the corps,” she says. “When the day came to an end and their parents picked them up, they were intrigued about what they had learned. The bread opened the conversation for a church invitation.
“This year, God has blessed us with a group of teens who became soldiers at our corps this past spring. As corps officers, we constantly wonder, how are we going to get things done? Decorations need to be hung, craft materials need to be prepared, copies to be made, etc. Since being enrolled, the soldiers have truly taken on their ‘saved to serve’ covenant. VBS became their field in which to share their love of Jesus through action, teaching, and service.”
Well done, Captains Alan and Ling.
Colleagues, let us go and do likewise. What a very beautiful strategy.
