What I Learned from Vacation Bible School

This is the season for special summer ministries in local churches, one of which is Vacation Bible School. Each week as you look at newspapers and church web sites, you see a description of the creative teaching times offered in VBS for families and especially their children. I have discovered that Vacation Bible School is a great learning time too for the adults who volunteer their time and energy.

For the last two years, my wife and I have determined that we wanted to fulfill a goal the Psalmist stated, to “declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (73:18). Since I am qualified according to the first part of the verse because “I am old and grayheaded,” I thought a good way to “declare” the Lord to the next generation was to be one of the volunteer VBS workers. Since we have two granddaughters we infrequently get to see (they live in upstate New York), we thought having them involved in our church’s VBS would be an additional way to “declare” our faith to them. We expanded the “teachable moments” for our granddaughters by planning day trips to add to the VBS experience. It was a great week for the two grayheaded grandparents—and the granddaughters are already making plans for next year!

A side benefit to the week was to realize how much I learned about life by watching the interaction of the children at VBS. One lesson was that all people are different. The children came into the auditorium with a variety of emotions. Some were excited to be there and others entered literally kicking and screaming. All were different, yet all responded to the love that the dedicated VBS workers displayed for them. Even the most apprehensive children warmed up to the experience when they realized that they were in a place where someone loved them and wanted the best for them. I learned the importance of displaying love to the variety of people who enter the doors of our church, realizing some will have great apprehension.

Another lesson learned is that people don’t always play by the rules. During the game time, the game directors carefully explained the rules of the game and checked to see if everyone understood them. In the heat of the game, the rules were sometimes obeyed, but quite often they were forgotten, ignored, or resisted. When the game director enforced the rules, there were a variety of reactions, often reflecting the maturity of the child. Some compliantly yielded to the rule, while others loudly resisted with, “It’s not fair!” How often I have seen people in churches act the same way to the Word of God that has been taught. They know what the Word of God says, yet a variety of reactions occur. Perhaps those reactions reflect maturity too!

When snack time came—one of my favorite activities!—some children devoured the treats with gratitude, even expressing a word of thanks. On the other hand, there were some children who regularly expressed a complaint about what was provided. “It wasn’t like Mom’s,” or “It’s too messy,” or “Isn’t there something else?” were common comments. I learned the lesson that some people are generally grateful, while others… well let’s just say that gratitude is not their main attitude. How often in churches are people quick to complain and slow to express gratitude for what has been provided for them?

The Bible lesson time taught me something else. When exposed to the Word of God, people must do something with it. Our VBS teachers were excellent as they taught the Bible lessons. The strength of their teaching was not just the information they shared but also the application that they made. They gave practical suggestions and encouragements so the children could respond to what they heard. Too often people hear the Word of God but are not encouraged to “…be doers of it also” (James 1:22).

In the craft time I learned that what seems simple for one person to do is difficult for another. Some children could rival Rembrandt in their artistic creations. Others…well, Picasso might appreciate the effort! Some children needed the guiding hands of the VBS craft instructors, while others were flying through their project with little guidance. It is the same in some Christians’ experience. Some need guides to disciple them as they walk through this project called life and do not do very well without assistance. I learned to be better at looking for individuals who need assistance.

Children learn a lot at Vacation Bible School. Let your children enjoy one! If you are willing to volunteer at one, be prepared not only to teach but to be taught!