|
Vacation Bible School remains an important way of shaping young lives This last summer about three out of four churches in the U.S. made plans to throw open their doors and announce to their communities: “Vacation Bible school! Bring your kids. They’ll love learning about Jesus.”
Despite cultural and technological changes in the last few years, VBS remains strong. According to research we have carried out at David C. Cook, only slightly under 8% of churches are experiencing any decline in their VBS programs.
Meanwhile, in 2007, 42% of all VBS programs saw growth. Estimating 60 kids at an average-sized VBS, that was a total of 13.3 million kids enjoying 3.3 million hours a week—or 380 years of Bible training in one summer at VBS.
These statistics come from the David C. Cook Landmark Study in Christian Education we conducted in 2007. We wanted to know what could and should be done to make VBS even more effective, and we have since shared some of our findings with all those involved in VBS in different ways—from church leaders to retailers who make the materials available.
Our study polled 2,122 Christian educators to ask them about their goals, their students and their programs. In addition, researchers talked to 40 church futurists and asked what they saw as key trends. A third part of the study involved 12 focus groups in Chicago, Charlotte, N.C., and Southern California where paid Christian education leaders talked about their programs.
In many ways, the children who come to VBS now are like those who attended 20 years ago—they are energetic, demanding, loving, self-centered and open. But in many ways, too, the society in which they live has made them different from previous generations.
For example:
* They are bred to need constant noise, activity and movement.
* Their social milestones are being pushed younger and younger. Children may bring their appointment books to VBS.
*They may dress more like teenagers or talk about their personal trainers at the gym. They are getting older, younger.
* Some will have diminished creativity or willingness to take the creative initiative because they are used to always having an adult “coach” around to tell them what to do. In part because of the dangers in today’s society, they have not been allowed much free playtime.
* They are used to being entertained. Americans spend $10 billion annually on the private party industry dedicated to just children’s affairs, according to a 2005 Newsweek report.
* They are visually adept from hours of playing video games and watching television. The downside is many are less developed verbally and interpersonally.
Landmark asked children’s leaders what the top challenges were for children in grades 3 through 5. Top of the list was peer pressure (56%). Second was their need to develop friends (45%). The third was a surprise: Children at ever-younger ages are dealing with their self-image, how others see them (35%).
What are children’s fears and concerns, according to leaders who work with them in church? They fear failure, even as young as 6. They worry about not achieving what their parents and teachers expect.
We also became more keenly aware how many of our children are not biblically literate. Teachers gave only 7% of their upper elementary children the school grade of “A” in Bible knowledge; “B” (47%); “C” (38%); “D” (7%); and “F” (1%).
Meanwhile, many children know the “back stage” of adult life too soon. All too early, they learn from television and movies what adult life is all about—money problems or their mother’s fear for her job.
Another concern is that many children do not live in what was once considered a traditional household. Some have no active male model in their homes, and VBS week may be the only time all summer they get to interact with men who are of father and grandfather ages.
Some children live in skipped-generation households, homes headed by grandparents raising their children’s children. More than 2.5 million households in the U.S. fit this category.
SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION
Commenting on the study he commissioned, Cris Doornbos, president of David C. Cook, said: “We realize that what children responded to in the past is not what will reach them tomorrow. We must constantly look at kids and the reality of their situations and ask ourselves if they are challenged and changed by our message.
“If the way we are communicating the gospel is not connecting with them in ways they can really live, we risk losing this generation. We also realize that the parents of these children want to take some responsibility for the spiritual development of their children. Those same parents are telling us that they would like us to resource them for this responsibility.”
What do leaders and volunteers want to happen when they invest a week of their time in VBS? “Without a doubt,” said 79% respondents, “spiritual transformation.” That can only come from a heart-knowledge of Jesus Christ, not from a focus on changing the child’s behavior. Real-life transformation is the key measure of success—and that measure is taken one child at a time.
SIDEBAR: Seven VBS keys for Christian retailers
1. Underestimate the potential of VBS, either spiritually or financially, at your own peril: 13 million kids need a lot of prayer and a lot of supplies. In churches with under 100 people, 52% have VBS. For churches more than 1,000-strong, 78% do.
2. Plan VBS workshops in your store. Aim to attract children’s directors because for churches of all sizes, they are the purchase decision-makers. In churches of more than 300, the director is more than 90% likely to decide what the church will use.
3. Train your VBS workshop presenters. Challenge them to stay within their time limits, be interactive and hit hard on the areas that differentiate their VBS from their competition.
4. Download a longer list of distinctive characteristics of today’s children identified in the David C. Cook study from CBA’s Web site. Print it on your store’s letterhead, and give it to the people who attend your VBS workshop: www.christianretailshow.com/attendees/TrainingHandouts.asp.
5. Post the list of key stressors affecting children today. Encourage leaders to pick VBS and Sunday school materials that deal with these real pressure points.
6. Ask VBS leaders to post pictures of their events on a large bulletin board in your store. It announces: “Get your next year’s materials here. We’re VBS Supply Central,” and parents will be pleased when they see their kids on display.
7. Organize a contest to draw attention to your ministry area’s volunteers. Ask each VBS director to nominate one volunteer. Draw one of these names, and make a big deal about it in your store and in your local newspaper. Remember that a story with an active picture is more likely to get printed.
Marlene LeFever is vice president of education development for David C. Cook. She presented some of the findings of the Landmark Study in Christian Education at the 2008 International Christian Retail Show.
|
