Not Your Mama's Bible School (Part 2)

Now, some 45 years later, Vacation Bible School comes in a box, canister or backpack.  It is a complete package that includes commercialized themes with slick props, commercially printed materials, videos projected onto a screen all utilizing the latest technology.

The one thing that hasn't changed one bit over the years is the enthusiasm.  The children arrive on registration night and you can see that they are looking around for a familiar face.  They squeal with delight and run to hug one another.  The first night of VBS the younger ones are sometimes weepy, holding on to mom or dad, not wanting to stay.  By the time the evening is over, they don't want to go home.  There is laughter, deafening screams of joy, there are new friends made, both young and old.  

 There are snappy new songs complete with steps and hand motions and there are still some old songs such as "I'll Fly Away" and "Up From the Grave He Arose" with a new beat that the kids can dance to.  There are catch phrases that the kid's learn quickly and scream as if they are trying to dislodge a lung.  Snacks are healthy and are planned to enhance the theme.  The registration form asks about food allergies and the snack committee makes sure the children don't get what they're allergic to.  The crafts seem  to be a little more sophisticated too, but seem to employ the use of a great many stickers rather than paints and in some instances they use craft kits.  They still learn bible stories, catch phrases  and verses.  The games are totally different from what we learned but I attribute that to the person in charge of the games.  He uses water balloons, tubs of water, home made props... the children just love the games. 

The thing I like most about vacation bible school as an adult is the feeling that no matter how messed up and terrible the world seems at times, I can still have hope for a better world.  These children are being taught  foundational lessons of ethics and morality.  They are learning just how much God loves us and how we should treat others with that same love and have concern for our fellow man. 


These beautiful, smart, enthusiastic, and wonderful children, if nurtured have the potential to make the world a kinder and more loving place.  The future is bright indeed.