What Is Your Mission (Statement)?

When I was first asked, I immediately thought of the great commission, which states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). I thought that was it—I printed this for our next meeting and proudly presented it to my pastor.

He smiled and said, “No, what is your mission statement for VBS?” So, off to the drawing board I went again. I was slightly frustrated that I couldn’t use the great commission because I had thought that was always the right answer!

So, I googled the definition of a mission statement, and learned that it is “a formal summary of the aims and values of a company, organization, or individual.” I then asked myself, what are my aims with VBS? What are my VBS values?

When I am looking to add a segment to our VBS, I look at how it would fit into the mission statement.

In a later meeting, I showed my pastor what I had come up with as a mission statement for VBS. He said that it was great and that I needed to commit it to memory, print it out on paper, and hang it where I do all my VBS work so that I would be reminded of it. I reference it all the time. When I am looking to add a segment to our VBS, I look at how it would fit into the mission statement. Does it? If yes, then I move the idea forward. If not, I use it as an opportunity to rethink how it would better fit and go back to the drawing board.

I also use our mission statement to support some of my “out of the box” thinking. Just because we haven’t done something like it before, why can’t we? Does it support the mission statement?

The mission of our VBS is simple: “To bring the hope of the gospel to children and their families.” It is not overly complicated, yet it wraps up and embodies everything we do. I desperately want to share Christ and his sacrifice with everyone. I long for everyone to know how much they are all loved. But if I start with the hope of the gospel, everything else falls into place. If every single volunteer I have knows the mission statement, they know the goal they are working toward.

I encourage you to spend some time thinking about your VBS mission statement. Whatever you settle on, whether a new mission statement like mine, or just a verse that directs you in your endeavors, print it out and look at it often. I pray that you will find it as useful as I have.