VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS)
‘I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent’ – St. Luke 15:7
Vacation Bible School is a wonderful opportunity for any Church to strengthen the spiritual lives of its young ones and also reaching out to the young people living nearby with the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Ever since VBS ministries started in India, Churches have grown leaps and bounds both quantitatively and qualitatively.
In our church VBS is being conducted from 1st May to 10th May every year without fail with the vision of soul winning and mission to reach all children who do not belong to this fold at this tender age for Christ.
Praise God for the many witnesses through VBS ministries. Many of our present day Church Leaders and many servants of God are the fruits of VBS ministries. We first of all thank our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for his Guidance to conduct VBS effectively all these years. May God’s mighty name alone be glorified according to Psalm chapter 115 and verse 1 which says “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness”.
Around 250 to 350 children participate in our VBS despite the scorching heat during those 10 days. A team of committed directors, 35 to 40 dedicated teachers and 15 to 20 tireless volunteers, involve themselves in this noble ministry devoting their time and energy and render their services to organize this mass soul winning program successfully.
In other words, these ten days VBS are ten festival days, one of the major outreach activities of our church. Every day our VBS starts at 8.30 am with Teachers devotion, followed by action songs, skits, theme introduction, teaching memory verse and theme story. After which according to their age and class, the students are divided into Beginner, Primary, Junior, Inter, Senior and Teens sections and number of subsections in each age group depending on the strength.
After the individual class sections, the beginner and primary have another common devotion and the Juniors, Inters, Seniors and Teens are grouped together for general devotion. The teachers and directors again gather for a time of review and prayer.
Apart from observing the usual special days during VBS such as day of cleanliness, day of inspection, Love feast, day of labour, final day programme, Our VBS has the following salient and special features:
- Special meetings for Junior / Intermediate and Senior/ Teens
- Memory verse competition /Psalm recitation for students
- Free medical screening camp & medicines for students
- Puppet show / Film show
- Sports events for students
- Teachers Love feast
- Teachers Memory verse competition and Bible test
- Final day procession
Apart from the VBS which is conducted in our Church, a one week outreach VBS is also organized at Amman Nagar where nearly 100 to 150 children participate. All these children come from very poor background and most of their parents are daily labourers in nearby crusher unit and elsewhere. Further most of the men are addicted to alcohol, making their family life miserable. Please remember this village in your prayers.
Last but not the least, follow up for VBS children is the need of the hour to help them grow in the Lord continually. In this regard, follow-up Sunday school is yet to be initiated at least in the seven zones. So kindly remember this in your prayers.