School is in for increasing number of workers

Joe Westbury

Children sing at First Baptist Norcross' 2004 VBS. They represent a large increase in overall participation recorded by Georgia Baptist churches last year in Vacation Bible School.

Ask any Vacation Bible School worker, and they will tell you the more kids participating, the more help needed.

Evidently, more help is on the way as a large increase in volunteers could translate into a banner year for VBS this summer across Georgia.

According to a report recently released by Research Services of the Georgia Baptist Convention, 7,797 VBS volunteers were trained through clinics in 2004, up from 2,183 the previous year, translating into a whopping increase of 258%.

The big jump received special recognition for the state from LifeWay.

Sue Rother, consultant with Sunday School/Open Group Ministries of the GBC, has witnessed the growth in numbers of those volunteering their time to VBS.

Joe Westbury

Although important to overall VBS experience, Sue Rother of the Georgia Baptist Convention wants churches to see VBS as more than just children's crafts, Bible stories and snacks. She points out that churches are now incorporating more youth and adult studies.

Work bringing results

"Good work happens in our state," says Rother. "Our people are evangelistic and care about children and their families. It reflects healthy kingdom growth."

It all begins with VBS training, says Rother, who conducts training seminars statewide.

Despite the statistics, the number of volunteers has always been rather steady.

According to Rother, the trick was to get associations to report the results of their training sessions.

"This past year, 81 out of 92 associations reported their training numbers," says Rother. "This was a high level of feedback. Usually we have around 66 associations report."

Training sessions for VBS will be taking place at the Georgia Baptist Conference Centers in Toccoa March 11-12 and Norman Park March 18-19 for associational VBS teams. For information on registration call Sunday School/Open Group Ministries at (770) 936-5285.

"When associational leaders come to the sessions, we train them to train on the associational level. We train trainers.

Club VBS Beach Blast is expected to be very popular among VBS directors this year. Georgia Baptist Consultant Sue Rother says that training workers is the key to having a successful Vacation Bible School.

"We've done good work for years [in VBS], but this year the associational directors reported it. An increased level of training in 2003-04 led to greater accountability in reporting."

Training associational leaders is key in getting the word out about Vacation Bible School, maintains Rother. From that point those leaders go and instruct key laypeople in individual churches.

Two themes for VBS are being offered this year: Ramblin' Road Trip: Which Way Do I Go? and Club VBS: Beach Blast.

Fostering an effective VBS has an impact on other areas of the church. During 2003 there were 4,504 prospects for Sunday School enrolled through VBS in Georgia Baptist churches. That number nearly doubled last year when 8,361 prospects were enrolled through VBS.

In addition, 8,763 decisions for Christ were reported with 2,731 baptisms.

As far as overall attendance, numbers swelled to 296,525 statewide for a 1.9% increase.

Rother hopes that people see VBS as more than just Bible stories, recreation, crafts made of popsicle sticks and cheese curls.

One theme being offered for VBS this year is Ramblin' Road Trip. Statewide Vacation Bible School directors are expecting a banner year for Georgia churches.

"It's important for churches to take ownership to promote VBS," claims Rother. "It is a local church event, not a state event. In this partnership, the state provides resources but the church takes ownership.

"VBS is for everyone, not just children," she states. "More churches are putting an emphasis on adults in spreading the gospel. They are also being more creative with how to do VBS with youth.

"Our missions partnership with other states and countries is also having an increase in participation. Churches are taking trips nationally and overseas to do VBS."

With training taking place throughout the state and greater emphasis being placed on VBS in the local church, Rother is upbeat about Georgia's chances to set new standards and raise the bar for VBS in the state.

"We'll do it even better in 2005."