resources for effective children's ministry

Vaction Bible School kits

    In this review we will be looking at VBS kits for 1997. I would like to thank the publishers for providing their kits for me to review for you. I am very pleased with the quality of the VBS resources this year as all of them have solid Bible teaching, hands on learning and interesting themes - these are the most important components for an effective VBS resource. My favorite features that some of the companies included this year - and I hope all of them will in next year's resources - would include the following: more reproducible resources, craft books with lots of options (some companies provided craft kits, but I prefer the books as they are a resource that will last for years and provide an excellent way to involve virtually everyone in your church as part of your VBS team by helping to bring in the supplies for the crafts), information to help you develop a written goal for your VBS, interactive Bible lessons, teacher devotions, reproducible music tapes, information on ways to develop a child protection policy, teacher commissioning service, and ideas on ways to thank your teachers after your VBS. I would like to encourage you again to utilize more than one kit this summer, and throughout the year as you will not find better resources at a better price anywhere. I hope the following reviews will serve to help you decide which resources to make a part of your summer ministry!

Sonrise Balloon Adventure
A High Flying Adventure in Faith
Publisher - Gospel Light
5-day plan, easily expands to 10 days
Lessons about: Moses; Elijah; Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego; Jonah; & Thomas

    In Gospel Light's Sonrise Balloon Adventure, your kids will travel around the world in the "World's Greatest Hot-Air Balloon Race around the World ever! "They will journey over raging rivers, foggy swamps, exploding volcanoes, boundless oceans, and the frozen Arctic. As they do they will have the opportunity to place their faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation and will learn that faith isn't a one-time experience. It is a life of faith that is the most awesome adventure of all as they learn how to commit to that adventure of faith!

• Favorite features
  • section after each lesson on Life Application - includes resources on application for salvation and for kids who have already put their trust in Christ.
  • lots of hands-on Bible learning in each lesson for each age.
  • interactive Bible stories. Kids don't just sit and listen to a lesson - they participate in the telling of the lesson through finger plays and motions for the Early Childhood kids and through skits and parts for the elementary age kids. Excellent!
  • many reproducible resources.
  • craft book with 50 crafts to choose from.
  • teacher devotions for each lesson.

    I found this to be an excellent VBS resource with solid Bible teaching and resources designed to help your summer ministry be as effective as possible. It is well suited for use in the traditional 5 or 10 day VBS as well as for Back yard Bible Clubs or Sunday School. Gospel Light provides you with an abundance of resources that will last well beyond the summer. Well done Gospel Light!

Meadow Mysteries
Magnifying Christ
Publisher - Regular Baptist Press
5-day - expandable to 10 days
Lessons about: Jesus' last week on earth

    If your kids like bugs, this VBS will capture their attention. In Regular Baptist Press' Meadow Mysteries, your kids will learn all about Jesus' last week on earth, how they can live with Him forever, and how to worship Jesus as they investigate they mysteries of the critters hiding in a meadow.

• Favorite features
  • worship activities designed to help children learn how to worship Jesus today.
  • page on Child Abuse Prevention Guidelines for Children's Ministry in the Directors Guidebook. Unfortunately this is an issue we need to deal with in our churches. This page is well laid out and has excellent and valuable information. Well done Regular Baptist Press!

    This VBS offers solid Bible teaching and resources for an effective VBS and would work well with an outdoor VBS or as a BBC. I liked the way the concept of worship is taught with the two practical learning activities each day. Nicely done Regular Baptist Press.

Circle of Friends Ranch
Being Friends with Jesus
Publisher - David C. Cook
5-day curriculum
Lessons about: Zaccheus; Peter; Jesus

    This is a site based curriculum. Each day the children move to a different site and learn about Jesus from those who knew Him best, His friends. The children will see how knowing Jesus changed the lives of His friends and can change their lives, too.

• favorite features
  • some reproducible resources
  • teacher devotions for each lesson
  • hands on learning activities
  • emphasis on application

    I found this to be a well written resource that would be very effective as a 5-day VBS or as a Backyard Bible Club. Children should enjoy the Wild West theme and the Bible teaching is sound. Nicely done David C. Cook.

Let's Follow Jesus
Publisher - Concordia Publishing House
5-day curriculum
Lessons about: Worship at the Red Sea; Crossing the Jordan River; Victory at Jericho; Jesus calls His disciples; Jesus' Crucifixion

    If your kids have always wanted to ride on a train, they will enjoy this VBS as they travel with the J-E-S-U-S express on a Bible tour to exciting destinations where they will learn about their Savior, Jesus Christ.

• favorite features
  • the directors guide encourages you to develop a written purpose and goal statement. This is vital for us to do in all areas of our Children's Ministry. Excellent!
  • information on how to have an installation and commissioning service.
  • certificate of appointment for each teacher
  • teachers devotions for each lesson

    This VBS has solid Bible teaching with a theme the kids should find interesting. It is well suited for a 5-day VBS or for a BBC. Good job Concordia.

Promise Builders for Jesus
Publisher - Standard Publishing
10 day curriculum
Lessons about: Joshua; Gideon; Ruth; Elijah; Balaam; Jonah; John the Baptist; the disciples; Lydia; Paul

    Standard's VBS will help your kids learn what it means to be a Promise Builder and to build their lives on the promises of God. Each of the Bible lessons teach about a promise God made and then encourages the children to learn what promise they can make to God.

• Favorite Features
  • "God's Promise to me" & "My promise to God" on each take home paper.
  • reproducible pages in the craft book
  • some interactive lessons
  • hands-on Bible learning
  • teacher's devotions for each lesson

    I found this to be an excellent VBS resource with solid Bible teaching and an abundance of resources designed to help your summer ministry be as effective as possible. It would be well-suited to use as a traditional 5 or 10 day VBS or as a mid-week program for kids. Well done Standard!

Wild Frontier Bible theme Park
Publisher - Group
5-day curriculum
Lessons about: Life of Christ

    Group's Wild Frontier Bible Theme Park is where kids will see that Jesus is the main attraction in this theme park as they learn about the life of Christ.

• favorite features
  • information on child protection. Well done Group.
  • interactive lessons
  • hands on Bible learning
  • teacher's devotions for each lesson

    I found this to be a good program for a 5-day VBS and extremely well suited for a BBC. Children will have many opportunities through hands-on-learning each day to reinforce the lesson for the day. The lessons are solid and provide for flexibility to allow you to set up your VBS in the way that will best suit your needs. Well done Group!

Adventure Fair
God's Kids in Action
Publisher - Augsburg Fortress
5-day curriculum, expandable to 10 days
Lessons about: Children from the Bible

    Augsburg's VBS invites your kids to the fair where they will learn how God worked in the lives of children in Bible times with lessons about Jesus in the temple, Miriam & Moses, David serves Saul, the forgiven son, and the feeding the the 5000 all in the setting of a country fair.

• favorite features
  • encourages you to develop a VBS purpose statement
  • a page with information about health/safety concerns
  • ideas on ways to thank your staff after your VBS. Well done Augsburg!
  • information on how to hold a staff dedication service.
  • teacher's devotions for each lesson
  • hands on learning activities

    This is a solid VBS resource with hands on learning and Bible teaching to aid you in having a very effective summer ministry. It is well suited for the traditional VBS as well as BBC and summer long ministry outreaches. Good job Augsburg!

1. RBP provides Primary currirulum for Grades 1 - 3 and Junior for Grades 4 - 6
   
2. GROUP combines children from grades 1 through 6 into small groups and provides craft pop out books for each child

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