VBS stories, snacks & a Savior

There was a moment when Patrick Thompson had to decide which way he would go.

Thompson, a communications major at Auburn University, had worked at Nickelodeon Studios in Florida. The nine-month stint included working for game shows Legends of the Hidden Temple and Guts and the situation comedy, Clarissa Explains It All.

Then Thompson decided to work in ministry, to see if that was a good fit.

“About a year later I got a call from Nickelodeon offering me a job. I had to make a decision and I chose to follow God’s call in ministry,” said Thompson, who was recently named GBC consultant in Sunday School, Open Groups. He oversees youth, children, and preschool and also promotes Vacation Bible School.

After choosing the ministry route, Thompson worked in several Georgia churches and also at the Chicago area mega-church, Willow Creek.

With his new position, Thompson sees all of his past providing insights for his new job.

“I worked for the competition. I learned how intentional television can be in trying to capture the hearts of kids. It forced me to ask the question: How intentional are we at knowing our kids and capturing their hearts for Christ? Our ‘product’ – a personal relationship with Jesus Christ – is infinitely better than Nickelodeon, but sometimes we don’t work as hard to capture the hearts of these kids,” he said.

Thompson labels the age group from third grade to sixth grade as the “red zone.”

“In football, if you’re in the red zone, you’re close to scoring. We are truly in the battle for children’s hearts during these years. If we don’t win that battle, it can be a long road back to those kid’s hearts,” he said.

One effective way to touch children is through Vacation Bible School.

“We know that 28 percent of all SBC baptisms are a result of Vacation Bible School. VBS is still the number one outreach tool used by SBC churches. I want to help people use their VBS to be more evangelistic,” Thompson said.

Discovering ways to be more evangelistic and bring in children who are ready to hear the gospel is the first part of designing an effective VBS. But leaders also have to accurately and appropriately present the gospel.

“You don’t want to just say, ‘You want to know Jesus? Come forward.’ You want to explain, in ways they understand, ‘Here’s what it means to be a Christ follower.’”

But, one of the most important parts of VBS doesn’t come during the week of the event, it comes afterward, Thompson said.

“You must have consistent follow-up. This is where most churches struggle. You’ve got to plan for follow-up as much as you plan for the week. Contacts can get cold very quickly,” he said.

All churches – no matter the size – can provide an effective Vacation Bible School.

For Thompson, growing up at Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta, Vacation Bible School was an event he looked forward to every summer.

“Wednesday was petting zoo day. I loved that. That was also the day they presented the gospel,” he said.

But the best Vacation Bible School of his childhood was up the road a bit, at his grandmother’s church, Awtrey Baptist Church in Acworth.

“I went to two Bible schools every summer. My fondest memories are from that church. When I walked in that building I felt like the most special person in the world. I could be a handful, but I never felt like they didn’t want me there. I felt like they would have a bad day if I wasn’t there,” he said.

The church went overboard to make the week special for each of the kids – right down to the snacks.

“Everything was homemade and there were plenty of them. No little circular flowers you could fit over your finger. This was the real thing,” he said with a grin.

“But I also remember the passion they had when they presented the gospel. My time there was some of the most formative toward moving toward a relationship with Christ.”

Thompson wants to help every church provide those opportunities for their children.

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Did you know ...

Patrick Thompson, GBC consultant for Sunday School/Open Groups, is forming a children’s ministry network. If you are a children’s minister, please send your name, church, phone number and email address to pthompson@gabaptist.org.

Thompson is available to churches and ministers for training and support in Sunday School, open groups and VBS. He can be contacted at pthompson@gabaptist.org or (770) 936-5291 or (800) RING-GBC.

The work of Sunday School, Open Groups is provided through your support of the Cooperative Program. You and your church may send your Cooperative Program gifts to:
Dr. J. Robert White
Executive Director, GBC
6405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097

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“Gameday Central” is the theme for Lifeway’s Vacation Bible School. Based on Hebrews 12:1-2, the curriculum challenges children to become heroes for the Lord.

GBC will sponsor two associational training events. Leaders are trained at these events and then asked to return to their associations and train church leaders for the summer event. To register for these events, contact your associational office.

• March 9-10 – Georgia Baptist Conference Center at Norman Park
• March 16-17 – Georgia Baptist Conference Center at Toccoa