You Call VBS This School?

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 21, 2005 by PAUL ASAY THE GAZETTE

The phrase "vacation Bible school" is a study in undersell.

For the typical child, the word "Bible" doesn't have the same fun quotient as "Xbox" or "baseball" or "Disneyland." The word "school" is even worse. Put them together, and it would seem to advertise a painfully boring week in the heart of summer vacation.

"I thought vacation Bible school was this place where parents just brought their kids to read the Bible for three hours," said Adam Muse, children's ministry director for Mountain Springs Church. "Why would anyone send their kids to that?"

But modern-day VBS programs resemble school about as much as a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. Children learn about God as they sing, play and giggle, and church leaders such as Muse insist that, when the session is done, kids are ready for more.

VBS is -- dare we say it -- fun. The reason? Competition.

Churches want to attract more children to their VBS sessions, and they count on the curricula they buy to be entertaining. They shop and compare, and there are a lot of programs to chose from. More than a dozen faith-based businesses are churning out kid-pleasing VBS curricula, and all are trying to ratchet up the fun-o-meter.

"I think any time there's competition, it's good for everybody," said Dan Tancik, VBS product manager for Group Publishing. "It raises the bar."

Group Publishing, based in Loveland, authored two VBS programs for 2005. One, "Holy Land Adventure," takes children to ancient Jerusalem. The other, "Serengeti Trek," transports kids to Africa and walks them through biblical lessons with the help of wacky explorers, wild animals and cultural activities.

"Serengeti Trek" is one of the most popular VBS programs in Colorado Springs this year, with more than a half-dozen churches using the program.

Even though most VBS sessions run just one week, VBS experts insist that these programs can make a lasting impression.

"Our target is life change," said Tancik. "It really can be very, very impactful."

Before VBS can affect children, it must engage them.

That's where the fun, games and themes come in. Safari-based VBS programs such as "Serengeti Trek" and "Kingdom of the Son" (from Gospel Light) are big in Colorado Springs this year, but there are other choices. Others may become astronauts, cross-country roadtrippers or detectives.

Most churches use VBS programs for outreach.

"The main purpose is to tell the children about Jesus," said Adam Muse of the 2,000-member Mountain Springs Church. "We're really stretching it out to the community."

Muse hopes that Mountain Springs' VBS program, which will use the "Serengeti Trek" program, could attract 1,000 children during its three June sessions. By comparison, about half that number -- 500 children -- attend Mountain Springs on a given weekend.

During VBS, the church (7345 E. Woodmen Road) will be festooned with 3-D Serengeti landscapes carved from 10-foot foam panels, and children may walk through the trunk of a gigantic Acacia tree to enter the church.

Sunrise United Methodist Church, using the "Kingdom of the Son" program, will host four sessions between its two locations. The Rev. Char Elliott, children's minister at Sunrise, said she expects 125 children to participate in each of its two daytime sessions at its main 2655 Briargate Blvd. campus. Fewer children will probably participate in its evening session or the session at its new campus at 4005 Lee Vance View.

"We try to reach the kids who are unchurched or nominally churched," Elliott said.

Sunrise supports VBS in terms of money (its VBS budget for 2005 is $3,700) and volunteers (more than 150 will be needed for the foursion run). Some volunteers go to elaborate lengths to decorate their classrooms, creating faux waterfalls and fire pits last year.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0367 or pasay@gazette.com