June 3, 2015

Experimenting with VBS

We’re flummoxed. Our congregation is going against the national trends, with steady and climbing attendance and giving. But when it comes to Vacation Bible School, we’re part of the pack. Our VBS program has been in decline for several years, with smaller numbers of participants and volunteers.

We’re not alone. A study by Christianity Today revealed a 16 percent decline in the number of churches offering VBS programs. And that statistic doesn’t account for the massive changes in VBS, from morning to night, five days to four or even three, smaller sessions, etc.   

Staging VBS is an expensive endeavor—both in actual costs and time and energy of leaders and volunteers. You could argue that cost shouldn’t play a role in the priceless gift of Christian formation. And while the value of education can’t be easily quantified, we also are called to be wise stewards of our resources.

We haven’t figured out the answer. (Maybe you have ideas and examples that have worked in your congregation. If so, share them! Imitation is flattering). But we are trying something new this year. 

Instead of the traditional model of VBS with a weeklong program targeted at elementary-age children, we are hosting an intergenerational gathering once a month during the summer. Our hope is that this model will encourage people to set aside one night a month, when perhaps a full week of consecutive classes is cumbersome. We also hope that it will attract people from across the church, not just families with young children. Our churches are stronger, and our disciples better equipped and informed, when relationships build across age and family boundaries.  

We’re using the Messy Church program, which started in England and has become very popular there—and is beginning to crop up in the United States. 

Their website describes Messy Church as “an all-age fresh expression of church that offers counter-cultural transformation of family life through families coming together to be, to make, to eat and to celebrate God.” It’s not a craft club, although we’ll make stuff together. It’s not potluck, but we will share a meal. It includes time for worship, reflection, and deep engagement with scripture. Our hope is that folks of all ages (not just parents and grandparents) will come and be a part of the experiment. 

Our first session is next week. I’ll let you know how it goes.

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