VBS Mission Project Idea – Providing Beds to Orphans November 6, 2009

Because Sunday, November 8th is Orphan Sunday, I wanted to let you know about a mission project opportunity that deals with helping orphans. Statistics say that there are more than 143,000,000 orphans in the world (some say up to 210,000,000), and as you are beginning to plan your Vacation Bible School, consider doing a mission project that will help meet the needs of these orphaned and abandoned children.

There are many organizations that do work to aid orphans around the world, but I want to let you know about one that was founded here in Middle Tennessee that is called Sweet Sleep. This non-profit organization was started by a friend of mine, Jen Gash, after she went on a mission trip to Moldova and saw the living conditions at the orphanage she visited.  The mission of Sweet Sleep is simple – to share God’s love by providing beds to the world’s orphaned and abandoned children.

This organization means so much to me because there is an orphanage in Moldova that I have been going to for the last 3 years, and Sweet Sleep has provided a bed for all of the children that I know and love from that orphanage. Sweet Sleep has provided beds for many of the orphanages in Moldova, and they are now working in Haiti and in Uganda.

Consider doing a “Build-a-bed” mission project for your 2010 VBS.  Their website provides information on how to do the project, plus resources like downloadable videos and craft project ideas.

Just to give you a glimpse of what they are doing in Uganda, here’s their latest video, which you can download here.

VBS still top outreach event! November 4, 2009

According to a survey conducted among 801 Southern Baptist pastors by LifeWay Research, Vacation Bible School is still the top outreach event in the SBC! Here’s an excerpt from the article:

LifeWay Research reveals top evangelism activities

Written by Mark Kelly

NASHVILLE, Tenn., 10/7/09 – When it comes to evangelistic outreach, the most common methods Southern Baptist churches use these days are Vacation Bible School, feeding ministries, visitor follow-up and prayer for people who have not made a decision to receive Christ.

Most pastors, however, struggle to lead by example in personal evangelism, and churches don’t make the most effective use of available media to communicate with people who are unchurched, meaning those not associated with any church.

These were the key insights drawn from an online study, conducted by LifeWay Research, that asked Southern Baptist pastors more than 30 questions about their personal evangelism efforts, evangelism in their preaching, their church’s evangelism methods and advertising outreach methods used to reach their communities.

Events and ongoing activities

By far the most common outreach event conducted by Southern Baptist congregations is Vacation Bible School. Eighty-five percent of pastors say their churches held VBS in the past 12 months.

To read more of this article, click here!

First glimpse of VBS 2010 . . . August 7, 2009

Although it’s not the primary reason we have LifeWay Kids Conference, it kinda serves as a first glimpse into VBS 2010 for those who attend. There is a premiere of the VBS 2010 musical, plus it’s the first time our VBS catalogs are available, and there are even a few classes about VBS there.

Besides giving a first glimpse of VBS 2010, this year’s conference promises to be GREAT! If you are a Kids Ministry Leader, make plans to join us in Arlington, Texas on October 12-15, 2009. In our general sessions, you’ll hear from keynote speakers and guests like Dr. Gary Chapman, D. Micheal Lindsay, John Kramp, Ken Davis, The Skit Guys, Dr. Mary Manz Simon, Dr. Richard Couey, and Chris and Diane Machen.

There are also a ton of workshops that you can attend! Click here for an alphabetical list of the workshops that are offered.

Early Bird registration rates have been extended until September 1st! And if you register and book your hotel reservation at the Sheraton Arlington by August 15th, you’ll be entered into a drawing to receive one night FREE during your stay!

Here’s a link to the LifeWay Kids Conference webpage where you can get more info and download a brochure.

Hope to see you there!

LifeWay Kids and LifeWay VBS Twitterers June 21, 2009

I’m gonna admit that a year ago, I didn’t like twitter. I didn’t understand twitter, and I thought it was kind of self-indulgent – I mean, who really wants to know that much about me (except my mom!) I also thought it was kind of a substitute for real community. Then I started using it on my blackberry and I became hooked! I’ve witnessed firsthand how it’s not really a substitute for community, but a catalyst. I’ve had many conversations with people I follow on twitter where I’m able to talk to them about something they tweeted about, which helps build deeper conversation and deeper community!

At LifeWay, we have some twitterers – Here’s a link to the list of official accounts

Here’s a list of LifeWay Kids official twitter accounts:
@LifeWayKids
@LifeWayVBS
@CentriKidCamps
@ParentLife

And here are some LifeWay Kids employees who twitter (some more than others!):

@mkhunt – Mary Katharine Hunt, Director of LifeWay Kids
@jerryvogel – Jerry Vogel, Director of Childhood Ministry Publishing
@lrholmes – Landry Holmes, Managing Director of Childhood Ministry Publishing
@sxwiley – Scott Wiley, Editorial Project Leader (Preschool)
@tpollard – Tim Pollard, Editorial Project Leader (Children)
@jeffland – Jeff Land, Editorial Project Leader (Preteens)
@jskulley – Jodi Skulley, Editor (ParentLife)
@NanaVancleave – Rhonda VanCleave, Editoral Project Leader (VBS)
@darparr – Darlene Parrish, Editor (VBS)
@canpowell – Candace Powell, Production Editor (VBS)
@lynnevbs - Lynne Norris, Editor (VBS)
@VBSKeith – Keith Tyrrell, Graphic Designer (VBS)
@vbscandy – Candy Gibson, Product Costing Specialist (VBS)
@lhowert – Lance Howerton, Director of Children’s Training and Events
@bemeott – Bill Emeott, Lead Childhood Ministry Specialist
@adukes – Andy Dukes, CentriKid
@CoachEchols - Jeremy Echols, CentriKid
@MeredithBMay – Meredith May, CentriKid
@LauraFillingim – Laura Fillingim, Children’s Training and Events
@lifewayvbsgirl – Becky Loyd, Marketing Strategist (that’s me!)

VBS 2010 Snack Photos June 17, 2009

So, I didn’t want Donny to have all the fun of giving you clues about the VBS 2010 theme.  By the way, I did get a picture of him in the hot dog suit, which goes along with this post since hot dogs are snacks, right?

Yesterday, I got some photos of a couple of the snacks for VBS 2010 – Thought I’d let you guys take a look and see if you can guess what they are.  (Ok – if I’m honest, one of them is a real 2010 snack and one of them is just to throw you off the trail). Which one do you think is real? And any guesses on what the snacks are?

Snack #1

Snack #2

Beth Moore is cheesy! June 16, 2009

Here’s some info on how to get Beth Moore to your church!

Can’t get it out of my head. . . June 16, 2009

So while I was driving to work this morning, all of a sudden I found myself singing “We Believe” from Ramblin’ Road Trip. Out of the blue that was the song that came into my head! Out of all of the VBS themes that I’ve been involved in (I started working on VBS at LifeWay in 2003, but did VBS in my church for years before that) that is the song that I can identify as my favorite VBS song.  What’s your favorite VBS song? Which one is the one that you can’t get out of your head? Are they the same?? There are a couple of songs from VBS 2010 (which you guys will hear very soon) that I can’t get out of my head!

Big kudos to Jeff Slaughter for writing the songs that make the whole (VBS) world sing

Are you thinking about evangelism and follow up? May 18, 2009

A couple of links to make you think:

Whatever happened to Evangelism? from thomrainer.com

Don’t Waste Your VBS Time or Money! from Facts and Trends

Funny, funny, funny May 11, 2009

I laughed out loud at this post on Stuff Christians Like about getting tricked into volunteering for VBS!! Hopefully, you are well on your way to getting all of your volunteers lined up for VBS! If not, you may want to lay off on the glitter before you approach your potential helpers

Why Vacation Bible School matters April 2, 2009

As some of you probably know, we (LifeWay Christian Resources) keep statistics on VBS participation in SBC churches.  Every time I take a look at these statistics, I’m humbled that God allows me to even be a small part of such a great ministry! I’m not sure that there is another church event that can have the impact on children and families that VBS does. It is an event that has proven itself year after year to be extremely effective in reaching unchurched families. Here are some statistics from 2007:

• 2,876,877 children, teens, and adults participated in a Southern Baptist Vacation Bible School.
• Of those participants,  267,771 identified themselves as unchurched – many more are most likely unchurched in practice.
• Of those who identified themselves as unchurched, 37,888 enrolled in Sunday School following VBS. Think about this – 37,888 sounds like a lot of people, but when you consider that each person represents a home with additional siblings, parents, and other relatives living in the home, that number can quickly becomes 1,000,000.
• One of the most amazing statistics is one of every sixteen 1st – 6th graders was enrolled in an SBC VBS in 2007.
• VBS 2007 accounted for 88,097 professions of faith during the week of or immediately following VBS, resulting in 26% of all 2007 SBC baptisms.

These stats are remarkable, but when we consider that 95% of the churches in a recent survey responded that their greatest need was help with follow-up, what would the stats be if every church intentionally used VBS as an evangelistic event and made sure the home of every participant was contacted, the gospel message shared, and follow-up contacts made? VBS truly has the potential of changing lives, churches, and communities.

Thanks to Jerry Wooley, our VBS Ministry Specialist at LifeWay, for helping me with these stats!

So – with all that said – today’s tips will be on how to get your community to VBS, and how to take VBS outside the walls of your church!