Enter the VBS 2008 Photo Contest June 24, 2008

Facts & Trends Online is inviting churches and individuals to submit photos for the 2008 VBS Photo Contest. This year, you get to help select the winning photo! But first things first, we need your submissions.

E-mail your best VBS 2008 shots to Facts&Trends@LifeWay.com by Friday, Aug. 1. Submissions received after this deadline or that do not meet the following criteria will not be eligible for the contest. Criteria are:

* 300 dpi
* JPEG format
* Sent as an attachment to the email, not embedded in the email
* No more than three photos per church
* Must include church name, city and state
* Must include at least one child in the photo
* Must feature one of the 2008 LifeWay VBS themes – Outrigger Island or Cactus Canyon

Facts & Trends Online staff will narrow the submissions to the top 30 photos, but you will determine the ultimate winner.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 4, visit Facts & Trends Online every Monday throughout the month to vote for your favorite photo for that week. During the first week of September, Facts & Trends Online will feature the winning photo from each week’s contest. Your votes during that week will decide the Grand Prize winner!

The winning photo will be featured in Facts & Trends magazine and the church will receive a 2009 VBS Sampler Kit.

Remember, deadline for submissions is Friday, Aug. 1, and all photos must fulfill the contest criteria.

Please note: Because photos will post online, the church must notify parents or legal guardians of minors photographed to ensure consent before submitting photos.

NOTE #2: Please send your photos as ATTACHMENTS. Do not embed them in the email. Photos that are embedded in the email cannot be used.

Good Luck!

Outrigger Island video downloads available now! June 23, 2008

We just added some downloadable videos to our online catalog that you might be interested in – you can now download bundles of the missions videos, music videos, or worship rally dramas from our website!

Pictures from video shoot June 17, 2008

We worked last week on the VBS promotional video for 2009, and I thought you guys might enjoy some pictures from the shoot:

VBS Music Permissions Request June 13, 2008

We get many calls from you needing permission to use the VBS music as background music for videos, for advertising purposes, etc. I wanted to let you know that you can request permission for this through our website at this address: http://www.lifeway.com/PermissionsRequest

VBS makes a difference June 13, 2008

I didn’t go to the SBC annual meeting this year (someone has to stay back at the office!), but have already heard great things about the pastors luncheon honoring 200 SBC churches that experienced the largest VBS enrollment increases over the past 5 years.  Did you know that one in four baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention last year happened as a result of VBS? 

I’m a little obsessed with Vacation Bible School  - in my defense, it is kind of part of my job. (And I guess there are worse things to be obsessed with.) I’m so obsessed that I follow what people are twittering about VBS using tweet scan. It so interesting to me the different perspectives people have about VBS – tired teachers, thankful parents, frustrated tech guys, and people who know that the results of VBS are worth all of the work that goes into it!

Why am I telling you guys this? Because I believe that VBS makes a difference. And I know it’s hard work for VBS directors, teachers, and volunteers, but I know that the results make it worth all of the work that you do. So be encouraged, and when you get frustrated, or overwhelmed, or you just can’t get the Wiki Wiki song out of your head, remember the opportunity you have to change kids lives forever – and know that we at LifeWay are praying for you.

Oops! VBS 2008 Clip Art – Decorating Made Easy book June 12, 2008

Oops! - Some of you are having trouble using the JPG clip art from the Decorating Made Easy book in applications like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher. We’ve discovered that the JPG clip art files were saved differently this year (the graphic designers explained the problem to me, but I won’t try to repeat it – it’s all techno mumbo jumbo to me!!) which is why the clip art isn’t working like it has before. All that to say, we are putting the JPG clip art files from the Decorating Made Easy book up on our website in a format that should work like they have in prior years.

The clip art that is saved as other file types (EPS, PDF) on the CD in the Decorating Made Easy book are the same as before. PDFs will work with Microsoft Office, but you really need a graphics program (like photoshop or illustrator) to work with EPS files.

Here is a link to download the updated files.

Another way to fix these files so that they will work with Microsoft Word and Publisher is to open the clip art that you want to use in Paint (the graphic program that comes standard on most PCs) and then re-save it as a .PNG file. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) files are compatible with Microsoft Office.

So sorry for the mix-up – this won’t be a problem in future years!

 

New LifeWay Women’s blog June 10, 2008

Just wanted to let you guys know about a new blog from the Women’s area at LifeWay – Check it out!

another lime green shirt June 10, 2008

I went to lunch at cracker barrel today, and spotted another lime green outrigger island shirt!!! i love it!

If you guys don’t know what lime green shirt I’m talking about, here it is!

LifeWay’s VBS E-newsletter sign-up June 9, 2008

If you aren’t a subscriber to our VBS e-newsletter, you can subscribe here:

LifeWay e-newsletter sign up

 

You’ll want to choose the LifeWay’s VBS e-newsletter (and any other ones that interest you) under the Kids and VBS section.

LifeWay’s VBS 2009 Themes Announced! June 9, 2008

Hey guys – Here is some initial info on the VBS themes for 2009. You’ll want to check out www.lifeway.com/vbs2009  for the biblical content,  plus free downloads of the theme songs and logos!

Boomerang Express
Hop on board! Take a thrilling ride across the Land Down Under with LifeWay’s Boomerang Express! As kids wind their way across Australia, they’ll discover the vastness of God’s love, and they’ll learn that no matter where they go or what they do in life – it all comes back to Jesus.

Club VBS: Truth Trek
Can you dig it? This summer transform your church into a dig site of discovery that’ll help kids uncover the treasures of God’s truth as they learn to obey His commands and understand that Jesus is the power by which we live.