Should I serve in VBS?
"[Jesus] said to his disciples, 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.'" —Matthew 9:37-28 (NLT)
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is an evangelism program for children that churches offer during local kids' summer vacation from school. VBS programs last one to five days and usually include Bible teaching, music, crafts, and snacks, plus fun-filled games and activities. These events can be a great opportunity to share the gospel, be a positive influence on kids' lives, and even grow in practical skills and spiritual practices.
An Opportunity to Share the Gospel
"We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders." —Psalm 78:4 (NLT)
Because VBS is open to the community and not just the church family, the kids attending are often unfamiliar with church, the Bible, or the gospel of Jesus. Participating in a VBS ministry will give you the opportunity to share the gospel in the creative ways the church has designed for their program, such as through stories, music, crafts, etc.
Some churches don't prioritize the gospel message as much as they do the fun and games, but it's OK to step outside of the curriculum a bit to better present the gospel to a child. This can be especially helpful for "church kids" who have grown up in Sunday school, hearing about different Bible characters. They may know the stories but haven't yet connected how these stories point back to the gospel.
Be sure to talk to your leaders first to assure that you're presenting the gospel accurately and appropriately for that age group.
An Opportunity to Be a Godly Influence
"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." —1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)
As a teenager, you're not far off in age from the kids who attend VBS. Children often look up to older kids—especially teens—as role models. And as a VBS volunteer or leader, you would have an opportunity to show them what Christlike behavior looks like firsthand (1 Timothy 4:12). Your kindness, gentleness, and loving actions are fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and God can do a lot with them.
There are all types of children who attend VBS—from various financial situations, with married or divorced parents, or in either loving and supportive or neglectful and abusive home environments. VBS is an opportunity to love a child and give them attention and care that they might not be getting at home. This may look like guiding a preschooler as he learns to fingerpaint, teaching a group of 2nd graders hand motions to a God-honoring song, or helping a 5th grader with learning challenges to successfully recite her first Bible verse.
You never know how much of an impact you can have by just simply being present with a child and treating them like they matter.
An Opportunity to Grow
"You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen." —2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
You may learn new skills, spiritual gifts, or discover new interests in places you never considered before. Perhaps you're a gifted musician who usually serves on the worship team at church, but you're asked to help with games at VBS. You might be stretched beyond your comfort zone at first, only to realize how much you enjoy helping kids have fun through athletics.
VBS can also be a great entry-level opportunity for potential church leaders. With the right training and support, you may find out that God has blessed you with certain gifts, such as leadership or teaching.
VBS can also present challenges, such as tight schedules, rowdy children, adjusting to a new environment, or bossy leadership. Look at these as learning opportunities for more effective communication, better conflict resolution, and compassionate problem solving. This is how we become servant leaders—those who lead with both confidence and humility (Matthew 20:26-28).
While all of this may feel intimidating at first, be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance as you try new things.
What to Expect
Every church will have different ways to express interest in their VBS program. Sometimes there's simply an online volunteer form to fill out or you might be able to sign up on your church's app (if they have one). Sometimes you have to call or email the VBS organizer. If you're 18 or older, they may do a background check.
Sometimes training is provided before the actual event start date. But you should at least be informed of when and where to show up and what duties you'll be performing—if not, be sure to ask!
Things may be a little chaotic on the first day or two, but it should settle down as you get used to the daily routine. Try to be flexible and humbly accept instructions and advice from more experienced leaders and volunteers (Proverbs 11:14).
The Mission of VBS
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." —Matthew 5:14-16
The primary mission of most VBS programs is to help spread the gospel to children and reach out to the surrounding community (Matthew 5:14-16). As followers of Jesus, we should desire to share the hope and light of Christ with others (Romans 1:16). One of the many ways we can do this is by serving within our church's VBS.
Being a positive influence in a child's life—even for just a week—could leave a lasting impression on them about the church, Christians, and Jesus. It may be easy to downplay the impact of volunteering at VBS, but God can do a lot through our willingness to serve Him (Philippians 1:6).
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TL;DR
VBS is a church outreach program for local children. VBS typically includes fun-filled Bible lessons, games, crafts, and more. Their primary mission is to help spread the gospel to children and reach out to the surrounding community (Matthew 5:14-16). As followers of Jesus, we should desire to share the hope and light of Christ with others (Romans 1:16). One of the many ways we can do this is by serving within our church's VBS.
Writer: Grace Murphy
Grace is a passionate writer and musician who desires to radiate Christ's light in a generation of teens and young adults navigating their life in a world of spiritual darkness. Recent founder of Christian rock band Lighthouse Saints, she desires to spread the message of God’s truth and love through her songwriting and voice! Grace is also an aspiring freelancer who has worked professionally in writing, editing, and social media content creation. In her free time, Grace enjoys meeting new people, reading lots of books, jamming out with her friends, and writing (sometimes overly dramatic) poetry.
