How To Make Your VBS Missional—Locally, Nationally, and Internationally

Most Christians today are familiar with the Great Commission, the closing words of the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus tells His disciples,

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19–20)

This is the main reason for holding VBS at your church. We are called to “make disciples of all nations” and to teach them what Christ has commanded. All children who come through the doors of your church or VBS location should leave with a better understanding of who God is, that they have all sinned, that they are in need of a Savior, and that the Savior they need is Jesus Christ.

Answers VBS provides an additional opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission by mobilizing the kids to take the mission outside the church walls. Answers VBS partners with Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) each year to provide physical food to those in need around the world and more importantly, spiritual food—the good news of Jesus Christ. Learn how the partnership of Answers VBS and CHF has blessed others in the past.

In this year’s mission moment during each day of Ocean Commotion, kids hear the truth that all nations and all people are descended from Noah’s sons, so we are all family. Because of that, they’ll be encouraged to take the gospel to all our relatives around the world. From a short video, they will hear about CHF’s mission work and meet children in need who live in Ghana, Honduras, Ukraine, the Philippines, and South Jordan. Your VBS children are encouraged to bring loose change to donate to the kids they’ll meet during the week. Every 25¢ provides one meal! Hungry children then receive a Food Pak delivered by a local pastor who also presents the gospel to them using one of these tracts. This eight-year-old boy attended Answers VBS last year. After being touched by the videos and updates each day, he got very excited about helping provide food and the gospel to hungry children. Even after VBS ended, he put aside money from chores and lemonade stands to help feed and reach other kids for Jesus. After many months, his mother posted this message and picture.

*Proud mama moment* Gideon has been working hard and saving every cent he has made since vbs this summer to “help the poor children orphans.” He even asked if he could sell lemonade at our church’s Arktoberfest to further his cause. I’m pleased to announce that last night we shopped on Children’s Hunger Fund’s website and Gideon spent his $120 and has provided care for 3 orphans, as well as 4 Food Paks, which is 190 meals! Thanks to all who helped him achieve this goal that is so dear to his heart!

It started with a local mission—a group of volunteers and church staff organizing a VBS. Staff and volunteers taught children the truth of the Bible and all that God has commanded in His Holy Word. The children and leaders took that mission globally as they brought in money for Children’s Hunger Fund. And this mission inspired a young child to commit to being used by God to make a difference in the lives of children he has never met.

Wherever you are, we encourage you to be a part of the mission of VBS this year and ecourage the mission within the mission as you feed children who are physically and spiritually in need.