In a world filled with 15-second reels, fast-paced glitzy storytelling, and character-driven multiplayer gaming platforms, traditional Vacation Bible School (VBS) might seem like an outdated format. But this past summer, many churches around Arizona seem to prove that idea wrong. If you stepped into the Adventist churches that transformed their lobbies and meeting rooms into beaches, underwater biomes, or Bible lands, you could feel the energy and passion of the members who volunteered long hours to make the transformations.
For many churches with young families, Vacation Bible School is a natural extension of their children’s ministry. However, for churches that have few or no children regularly attending, VBS becomes an important evangelistic outreach to their local community.
“We had a family of five come to our VBS; the husband was raised Adventist but hasn’t been to church in 15 years,” said Cathy Fields of the Desert Cove church in the West Valley region of the Phoenix metropolitan area. “He brought his wife and kids, and they said they really enjoyed it and would be back next week.”
Across town at the Mesa Palms church, the church leadership team decided to reboot the Heroes VBS program. “It proved to be a good decision,” Pastor Vince Woolsey said. “The turnout was nearly double last year’s attendance, and seven kids made decisions to be baptized.” Church members are following up with parents who are interested in Bible studies.
Preliminary surveys from the churches state that over 40 percent of children who attended the VBS programs came from families that did not attend an Adventist church. Over a quarter of the volunteers for the programs were teenagers who were actively engaging in the ministry of their local church.
While not every program resulted in baptisms like those that took place at the Desert Cove church, the long-term impact on the children and parents who attended the meetings cannot be overstated. The commitment by members to transform their church spaces into another world is also transforming their churches in other ways.
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By Jeff Rogers
