VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – THEN AND NOW

VBS – Vacation Bible School! What does that mean to you? My introduction to VBS was not as a pupil, but as a teacher of VBS in my home church in central Wisconsin. My pastor had requested that I would help in this way. Later, in 1944, I began teaching VBS for the Rural Bible Crusade (now Bible Impact Ministries), and I have continued each year since then.

Although some churches no longer have VBS but have switched to day camps or other activities, VBS is still important to many churches. It provides an opportunity to present the Gospel to many children, and to reach families that are not involved in any Bible-teaching church. Children usually enjoy VBS and are often interested in coming to Sunday school because of their experience in VBS. Therefore, there are opportunities for follow-up contacts which could result in whole families attending a Bible-teaching church where they could grow and have fellowship.

God’s Word remains central in Vacation Bible School. The message is the same as ever because the Gospel of Christ is unchanging. It is the “power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” (Rom. 1:16). But methods have changed through the years. Many more visual aids are used today, since TV has made people more accustomed to using the eye-gate. Today our country schools have disappeared. Buses bring children to consolidated schools. Our Bible schools also have larger enrollments than formerly.

In the early days, a team of teachers was brought to a needy community to have VBS in a little country schoolhouse, which was located in the center of a district. If no home opened up for the teachers to stay, they stayed in the schoolhouse, and slept on cots. If not invited out for meals, they cooked for themselves. Quite an experience!

Since children were accustomed to walking to school, they were willing to walk to VBS. There were only two classes – one for older pupils, and one for the younger pupils. Classes were held only in the morning, usually for two weeks. In the afternoon, the teachers would call on people in the community. That was in the days before both parents often worked away from home! Teachers also prepared lessons for the next day.

As time went on and children were taken to school by bus, they also had to be transported to the place were VBS was scheduled – a schoolhouse, town hall, or church building. Because of the transportation factor, and to increase the number of VBS’ conducted, Bible schools were held only one week instead of two with sessions in the afternoon as well as in the morning. As enrollment increased, more teachers were needed. The Bible school was divided into Beginner, Primary, Junior, and Young People’s departments. Today there are even more divisions in the larger schools.

In one community in Wisconsin where we taught VBS, we stayed in a big schoolhouse. The janitor was displeased about our being there and he tried to scare us away by saying that he had seen a poisonous snake in the building! The local tavern was the only place in the community where children and young people could congregate, but they liked to get together. So during the week that we were there, they came to the schoolhouse after hours to sing songs they had been singing in VBS and to talk to the teachers. One little boy from the tavern home was thrilled to know that the story of David and Goliath and some other exciting Bible stories that were in his reader at school were really true events! A person wonders what happened to this lad and others in that area. We moved to Minnesota in 1947, and so lost track of those VBS contacts.

Songs play a big part in VBS. Some of the first visual aids we used were illustrated songbooks. Children love to turn the pages! Songs used in VBS have a message, and help the children understand the meaning of what they are singing. Children probably do not realize that during the singing time they are learning valuable truths of the Bible. One Christian lady told us that in her community, a little boy from an atheistic home had been permitted to attend our VBS. He loved to sing, and was heard singing heartily around home: “I believe the Bible…is the Word of God; I believe that Jesus… is the Son of God; Jesus died for sinners…Jesus died for me,” and so on for the rest of the song. Who can estimate how many parents have been exposed to such truths from the lips of their own children?

Vacation Bible School is a great time to memorize Scripture and to quote it to parents at home. There isn’t enough time to do all the Scripture quoting during VBS hours. Parents have told us of the blessings they received from hearing God’s Word recited by their children, even though it made a very busy week. Children are encouraged to review old verses as well as memorize new ones. Repetition helps retention, and the Scriptures become more useful. Some children have quoted 100 verses or more to a teacher during lunchtime! Although they might memorize or quote verses mainly for points, as they grow older they can appreciate the treasure stored away in their minds.

One part of VBS that we have used for many years is the Thought For The Day – five of them each week. Children love them and it is amazing how even the beginners can remember these succinct little messages. One of the earliest Thoughts ever used was: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to the zoo makes you an elephant!” Another favorite is: “If you’re born once, you’ll die twice; if you’re born twice, you’ll die once.” For brevity, how about this one: “If you don’t know, you don’t go!” Another easy one to learn is: “No God, no peace. Know God, know peace!” As we explain each Thought For The Day, a precious truth is implanted and is not easily forgotten.

What is the incentive to learn the Thoughts For The Day? It is simply the possibility of choosing a prize from the Prize Box if the child’s name is drawn and he or she can quote the Thought. In one class of beginners, classmates were concerned for a member who had cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair. What if her name would be picked? What if the teacher couldn’t understand what she said? The class decided that if her name came up, the class would quote it together with her – and they did! Their little friend was thrilled to choose her prize.

The most unusual case occurred a number of years ago. A blind boy attended our VBS and enjoyed learning these Thoughts even though he couldn’t see the illustrations as the other children could. After VBS was over, we received a letter from him, written in Braille, translated by his mother! He had wanted us to know that he had remembered a Thought For The Day – and it was correct. Although we had to describe the illustrations as we showed them to the class, even a blind pupil was learning, and could enjoy thinking about them later on.

One of the joys of teaching VBS is to see the eagerness of children who hear the Gospel for the first time. The simple Gospel as given in 1 Cor. 15:3-4 is made plain every day. Some youngsters may be visiting in the community and can attend only once. Others need to hear it repeatedly before they grasp God’s plan of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Too often they have been exposed to other beliefs involving good works. They need to hear the Gospel at an early age, even if they are not saved until later.

It is always encouraging to hear of children who receive Christ during VBS week. “I was saved on the last day of VBS last year,” one boy told us. His increased interest in the Bible lessons was evident. Instead of playing after school, he stayed to ask questions about the Bible, to draw diagrams of the lessons on the chalkboard, or to quote Bible verses. He was much concerned about those who were unsaved. What a change from the previous year!

One result of being involved in VBS for a long time is that of teaching the children of former VBS pupils. Each year it is not unusual to hear someone say, “You taught my mother in VBS when she was a girl!” But at one of our closing programs, I noticed that there was a grandmother, a mother, and several of her children present – three generations! And I had taught them all! And when one of my former Bible school students became my pastor I realized how time had flown!

So the years go by. Now, as always, there is the need for teaching God’s Word. But although we still have the freedom to conduct VBS, young lives soon absorb the philosophy of this evil world, and it is harder to reach them for Christ. May we be diligent to use wisely the time and opportunities that we have today. Tomorrow may be too late.n

Lydia Erb has taught Vacation Bible Schools in Wisc. & Minn. for 54 years through Bible Impact Ministries (previously Rural Bible Crusade).

Duluth Bible Church has Vacation Bible School July 27-31 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For additional information, call the church at 218/724-5914.