Is VBS Worth It?

Lessons are taught, songs sung, verses quoted, games played, and snacks eaten. Then . . . it’s over. It’s fun, and it’s draining. But is it worth it? Is it worth the time, energy, expense, and cleanup?

Perhaps that can be determined by considering three other questions: What is the primary goal of VBS? How important is that goal? And does VBS accomplish it?

The primary goal of a vacation Bible school is to reach kids for Christ. And, yes, that goal is extremely important.

The answer to the first and second should be fairly straightforward. The primary goal of a vacation Bible school is to reach kids for Christ. And, yes, that goal is extremely important.

The third answer, however, is more complicated and can include many variables. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll assume that a good VBS curriculum is used and that the leaders and volunteers do their due diligence in executing it. With those considerations out of the way, there are several reasons to believe that VBS effectively accomplishes the goal of reaching kids for Christ.

First off, VBS is a great draw! Often, local families who don’t normally attend church will send their children to VBS. Some may see this as a form of free childcare or a fun summer activity, but we know better. It’s an opportunity to reach these precious souls (and, by extension, their families) with the truth of the gospel. Whether or not these visitors have ever been to a regular church service or ever return for one, seeds have been planted in their hearts.

And that doesn’t discount the impact VBS can have on kids who regularly attend church—they need this focused time too! It may not be the first time they hear about Jesus (as could be the case for newcomers), but it might be the first time that the message of the gospel clicks, and they realize that salvation is for them.

Second, the multiday format of vacation Bible school allows teachers and leaders to dig deeper into a theme. VBS has a unique advantage in this area over weekly children’s classes by being able to build on the overall theme without losing momentum between lessons. And reinforcing biblical concepts is also more effective because reviews can be done daily while the subject matter is still fresh in the kids’ minds.

And third, kids love it! They want to come—want to learn and participate—and they do. In the welcoming and exciting setting of VBS, they learn about Jesus while having fun—an excellent combination for a lasting impact!

VBS does reach kids for Christ in an effective way.

So, yes, VBS does reach kids for Christ in an effective way. And that’s something to keep in mind as we prepare for another year of vacation Bible school or decide whether to hold one at all. Especially if we’ve been doing VBS for a long time, it’s easy to forget that this is not just part of our church’s summer routine. It’s much more than that—it’s an important and unique outreach that can make an eternal difference in kids’ lives.

Still looking for a VBS curriculum? Check out Keepers of the Kingdom: Standing Strong in Today’s Battle for Truth. This medieval-themed, armor of God VBS is unique, powerful, and timely as it equips kids to fight the battle for truth in an increasingly relativistic culture.