Time to Start Thinking VBS 2013

Now that Labor Day is behind us and we Southerners have packed away our summer whites, it is officially time to start thinking VBS 2013! Of course, most of you reading this post are like me and have been thinking (dreaming, contemplating, planning) VBS 2013 since at least June 4!

There are two great opportunities to be one of the first to see, touch, and experience the fun of Colossal Coaster World.

The first is KMC (Kids Ministry Conference) at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, October 8-10.  Just click on KMC to learn more.

The second opportunity is at one of four VBS Preview locations in January and February. VBS Preview is your Fast Pass to Colossal Coaster World. You don’t want to miss it! Click on VBS Preview to learn more.

Hold on tight! This ride is ready for take off!

AND THE WINNER IS…

Wow! What an awesome response we have had to our challenge to find the best person to teach and lead music motions for our VBS 2013 Preview events! We have been amazed by the number of videos submitted, and overwhelmed by the number of people casting votes – first for the Fab Five, and then for the Final Two.

Both of the Final Two received such tremendous support we just could not leave one at home.

And the winner is…

Jennifer Moore of Murfreesboro, Tennessee,

and

Tammy Nall of Marietta, Georgia

We will be inviting Tammy to join us at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, January 10-12, and Kissimmee, Florida, February 8-9. We will be inviting Jennifer to join us at Fort Worth, Texas, January 17-19, and Nashville, Tennessee, January 31-February 1.

We are honored to have both ladies serving with us. In addition to teaching the Music in Motion breakout sessions, they will serve on the music team to lead motions, along with a group of CentriKid staffers, during the large group experiences.

I am also excited to announce that Dr. Shane Garrison, professor at Campbellsville University, Kentucky, and an outstanding band (can tell you who just yet) will be joining Jennifer and Tammy for the large group experiences.

Thanks to everyone who participated – both those who sent in videos and those who voted. It has been great fun!

We’re Down to the Final Five!

Back on June 4, I asked anyone interested in being considered to lead music at our VBS 2013 events to submit a video of them leading music from VBS 2012. Mail started arriving almost instantly, and we have had a major challenge choosing five semi-finalist for YOUR consideration.

I want to thank each of you who responded. I wish we could choose all of you to travel with us to Preview events in North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. But alas, the budget will only allow for one.

Make sure to tune in next Tuesday, August 7, for your opportunity to view the final five and cast your vote. Until then – keep on singing!

Adventures in International VBS!

The following is a guest post from Ann Cretin, LifeWay International.

As our boys and girls have experienced the various continents and cultures this year during “Amazing Wonders Aviation” VBS, VBS volunteers have literally travelled around the globe training leaders in other countries in regards to Vacation Bible School these last few years.

Texas team goes to Malaysia!

 

II Timothy 2:2 “. . . commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” has come alive with VBS volunteers from TX, OK, AZ, TN, CO, AL, and others.  About 10 years ago teams began to travel to Malaysia to help churches there conduct a LifeWay VBS.  Churches got excited about the concept of VBS being an outreach for their church and their community.  At one particular church, boys and girls can only come to the VBS if they bring with them a friend that doesn’t attend church anywhere.  This church follows up through the entire year with these friends and families with special events to continue the relationship with them.  
So we’ve seen Americans travel to Malaysia.

Malaysian team goes to East Malaysia!

Then the Malaysians “got the concept”, and they then travelled to East Malaysia to help churches there train and conduct their first VBS.  Volunteers have travelled to the Caribbean countries with this same mission at heart.  Another team heads back to northern Malaysia in November.  The request came in this week asking for a team to come to Taiwan!

Testimonies:
“It was an amazing wonder for training!” writes Sabrina from OK who went to the Cayman Islands.

“From a small VBS group of 50 children in 3 classes – Kindy, Middle Children and Preteens (2011) – they are going to have 6 classes and about 120 children. (2012) PTL!!” writes Poh Gek who took the first team to Miri, East Malaysia

“We had 356 kids at Saddle Ridge Ranch and 118 of them said the Sinners Prayer for the first time at our VBS.  For the first time, we have seen growth in both our Sunday Schools due to the follow-up from VBS,”  writes a friend from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Teaching boys and girls about global missions is wonderful.  But have you ever thought about experiencing it yourself?

Ann Cretin
LifeWay International

VBS 2013 – Pictures in My Head

One of the cool things about my job is to see something on a LifeWay Bookstore shelf that was once just a picture in my head.

Check this out. Here’s a sketch of the idea for the New Testament covers for VBS 2013. It’s not the best drawing I’ve ever done but it doesn’t have to be. Scott Burroughs, my artist friend in Arvada, CO, sees pictures in his head too. He can make any ‘ole rooster scratches look good!

Below is what Scott sent back—clearly a much better sketch, still rough, but one that we can pass around for suggestions/changes to those editor types like Melita.

After any suggested changes are made and the editors and managers sign off on the skecth, it goes back to Scott for “final art”. When we get the final art back, we add titles, barcodes, LifeWay logos, etc, and send it off to the printer!

Soon, here’s what you’ll see in LifeWay Bookstores everywhere. You might even use one of these New Testaments to introduce a child to Christ—which is after all what it’s all about!BONUS! Below is a sketch of an idea for one of the VBS 2013 Visual Pack posters. The idea for the posters, and many of our graphics this year, is put the viewer, that’s you, IN the park—to see Colossal Coaster World as if you were actually there. Ummm, it’s the back of a carousel horse. Again, not my best drawing ever but you get the idea.

Another artist friend of ours, Geoffrey Brittingham (who does a ton of VBS art) sent back the following sketch. See! It is a horse!

…and then the final art!

Well, almost final. The people aren’t done and we’re gonna put some shine on that hand rail, add the words, etc… but for the most there’s your “finished art”!

Enjoy!

BONUS 2! My son Evan and I just back from a trip out west where I actually got to meet Scott Burroughs, his wife Chrysti and their great/fun/cool kids Max and Ti. Scott and I have worked together for over 7 years now, sweating through some tough deadlines and praying through some tough person stuff. This is first time we’ve met face to face. It was a very cool!

Scott Burroughs at his desk in his new house. (boxes are cropped out!) That is some actual VBS 2013 art on his screen!

Playing angry robots by one of Scott’s super fun robot paintings!

What Scott really does when he says he’s working on VBS art! That’s Ti – their youngest – a real live miracle kid. Just so you know, God is good!!!