Author Archive

Welcome Katie!

Today I want to introduce you to Katie DeCillo! Katie is going to be joining the LifeWay VBS blog team. Katie is part of our LifeWay Kids marketing team, and she specifically works with all of our social media! That means you won’t just see Katie’s fingerprint here on the LifeWay VBS blog, you’ll see her over at the Kids Ministry 101 blog, the LifeWay Kids Facebook Page, the LifeWay VBS Twitter & Facebook and a host of other places.

Plus you might want to keep track of Katie … you never know when she might give something away. (Hint, hint.)  She’s here to listen and wants to hear what YOU need in your ministry.

Here are some other random facts about Katie:

  • She’s a graduate of Murray State University (GO RACERS!) who loves video and photography and used to co-host a weekly program called Roundabout U.
  • She Tweets about food
  • Is a member of Mosaic Nashville
  • Has planned an imaginary two-week road trip around the country
  • Can draw a mad Ewok in DrawSomething (see below)
  • Worked two summers with FUGE camps before joining LifeWay full-time.
  • Has a funny story about her “kidmin initiation” at First Baptist Church, Murray, KY (she’ll have to tell that later).
  • Led VBS for the Wai Wai children of the village of Inaja along the Amazon river in Brazil!  You can see her video here.
  • Her kidmin hero is Amber Sugg of FBC because “Amber is amazing at what she does; she taught [me] first and foremost how to share Jesus with kids, and that you’re supposed to have fun at church! (Plus, she loves LifeWay VBS!)”

Leave Katie a comment below welcoming her to the team! We are so excited she’s joining us!

Egg Crate Airplane

If you’ve had the opportunity to come to a VBS Preview you know there are tons of great ideas around every corner, but what you may not know is that you can take all of those ideas home. If you weren’t able to come to Preview event this year, don’t worry see below for how you too can get your hands on these great video ideas.

 

Meet Adlin Cotto … she’s got a really cool fleet of airplanes made from egg cartons.  These airplanes are used in the VBS Espanol curriculum, but could be great for games and activities in your VBS classroom, no matter the age group.

 

Adlin presented the VBS Espanol sessions at the VBS Preview this year at Ridgecrest.  In this video segment, Adlin shares a couple of great ways to use VBS Espanol, even if you aren’t currently ministering to a Spanish-speaking congregation.

 

 

Want more videos like these? These videos were created at the Ridgecrest VBS Preview flash drive.  Attendees at the VBS Previews could purchase the flash drive, but you can order one too by emailing the folks who put it together at CentriKid@lifeway.com.   To see more specifics about what is included on the flash drive, check out this video that was used to promote the flash drives at the Previews. The cost is $20 + $5 shipping.
This guest blog is written by Jeremy Echols who normally spends time preparing for CentriKid Camps and writing for centrikidblog.com.

Top 11 Posts of 2011

Let me state from the start, it’s hard to pick 11 favorite posts from this year. So rather than leaving it up to me, I picked 11 posts that you all seemed to love.

VBS 2012 Theme Reveal Video

Representing all the posts from reveal week, the Amazing Wonders Aviation theme reveal video with all the clues explained! 

VBS Geek of the Week

We started a new feature here on the blog starring … YOU! You can always nominate a VBS Geek of the Week in the comments on that page!

Jeff Slaughter – A VBS Legend!

There’s just one more day to send in your memories to help us celebrate Jeff!

Amazing Wonders Aviation VBS. How am I going to decorate? 

A great place to start thinking your Amazing Wonders Aviation VBS decorations!

It’s Time to Think Dollars & Cents

A great reminder on how to think about VBS when your in your planning your yearly budget!

Name that Tune

Candace gave us all a fun challenge with these VBS song clips. Are you up for the challenge? See if you can name that tune!

VBS Around the World

Joyce shares the story of Pantai Baptist Church in Malaysia’s VBS.

Foto Friday … Times Square Ball

We all loved this post, and I bet many of you made your very own Time Square Ball. With New Year’s Day right around the corner, why not break yours out?

Connecting Faith and Life - Beth Yates and First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa

Debbie shares with us an amazing story of how several churches in Tuscaloosa took VBS to the areas of Tuscaloosa hit by the tornado this spring.

Recording Sessions . . . and Cinnamon Rolls!

Lynne give us an inside look at the Amazing Wonders Aviation recording session!

All God’s Creatures Great and Small

Jerry introduces us all to Andrew Mann and Proof, who I’m sure you all love now!

 

Thank you for visiting the VBS blog this year!

 

Geek of the Week-Sarah!

This week when it came time to pick the VBS Geek of the Week, I thought I’d pick one of our very faithful blog commentors, Sarah Stinnett. We love interacting with other VBS fans here on the blog, on Facebook and Twitter. So of course we love Sarah’s comments.

 

 

Let me introduce you to Sarah!

What has been your “geekiest” VBS moment?
My Geekiest VBS moment would have to be making sure I knew all the songs before the preview event last year so I could get on stage and dance with VBS Rockstar Jeff Slaughter:)
What is your favorite VBS theme to date?
My favorite VBS theme was Big Apple Adventure – It challenged me to put my feet on the ground and really live out my faith 24/7.
What makes you continue to do VBS year after year?
I do VBS year after year because it is such a fun opportunity to introduce Christ – it gives kids an opportunity and evangelize.  It’s a revival for kids that also includes discipleship – how can you get any better than that!
How would you complete this sentence? You might be a VBS Geek if …
You might be a VBS Geek if you don’t get tired during VBS but more excited each day to see what God is going to do next!
Will we see you at one of the VBS Previews?
You won’t see me at a preview event this year but I am already praying for those who will be attending and for ya’ll at LifeWay!!!  The ladies in the picture with me will be in Ft. Worth so say hi if ya see em!  Go if ya can it’s AMAZING!!!!
Thank you Sarah for being a VBS Geek!

VBS Geek of the Week – Ben Furr

I regularly check this post to see if there have been any new nominations for VBS Geek of the Week. I just loved the following nomination, and I had to pick Ben Furr for this week’s VBS Geek of the Week!


My VBS Geek is my husband. He serves in our home church as VBS Director, our Association as the VBS Director and on the South Carolina Baptist State VBS team for 2011 and again in 2012. He is involved in helping our Associational churches have a great VBS. He truly “Says Yes to VBS” all year long. His name is Ben Furr.

PS-He is also my husband, so I am Mrs. VBS Geek!!

Susan Furr

Thanks Susan for nominating your husband, or should I say Mrs. VBS Geek! I sent Ben an email, and here’s what I found out about this week’s Geek of the Week.

What has been your “geekiest” VBS moment?

I have had several.  The one that jumps out was during Outrigger Island, and I came to VBS with a pink Mohawk for crazy hair night! 

What is your favorite VBS theme to date?

I have enjoyed all of the VBS themes, but my favorite so far has been Game Day Central.

What makes you continue to do VBS year after year?

Being able to share the love of Jesus with the children and teens is the most important reason for VBS.  Also, I enjoy being able to come to VBS and just have fun with the kids and leaders.

How would you complete this sentence?

You might be a VBS Geek if …you starting looking for the announcement of next year’s theme before you have had VBS during the current year.

Will we see you at one of the VBS Previews?

I will be at the VBS Institue/Preview Event at Ridgecreston January 5th-7th, 2012 along with the South Carolina State Team.

Ben, Thank you for being a VBS Geek!

If you know of another VBS Geek you’d like to nominate, you can submit those here. Please make sure to leave contact information so we can follow up!

And if you’ve missed any of our other VBS Geek of the Weeks check them out here.