Posts Tagged ‘vacation bible school’

Over the River…

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img_5318Over the river (Little Pigeon River) and through the woods (Mt. Pisgah National Forrest) to VBS 2013 Events we go! It is going to be a COLOSSAL week!

This is the week we (LifeWay’s VBS Events Team) look forward to all year – the first in a series of awesome fun events – where VBS groupies from all 50 States, Canada, and Mexico (and sometimes even a groupie or two from Great Britain or Korea) join together for two days of exciting VBS sights and sounds!

Over 1200 VBS leaders will be our guests at Ridgecrest Conference Center later this week for worship with Dr. Shane Garrison and Austin Adamic, teaching by some of the best VBS practitioners in the country, inspiration and creativity of LifeWay’s VBS Graphics and Publishing Team, and a performance of the Colossal Coaster World Musical by a great children’s choir. AND if all this is not enough, how about 60 degree weather (we typically have ice) in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

If you are not registered for the Ridgecrest event, there is still time to join us January 18-19 in Fort Worth, January 31-February 1 in Nashville, or February 8-9 in Kissimmee. Like I said before, these events are going to be COLOSSAL so don’t miss out.

To learn how you can be part of a one of these awesome Preview events go to lifeway.com/vbs/events.

We’ll be looking for YOU!

Kid Quotes

melitaIf you’ve taught in VBS even once you probably have several funny stories about things kids did or said. My friend, Scott Wiley, over at “Brick by Brick” often shares funny things he overhears in his Sunday School class and inspired me to do the same. So to kick off the new year, here are my top 10 all-time favorite kid quotes from kindergartners at church…

 

 

10. “I am going to rinse this off with my tongue.”

 

9. “Why do people use blue and yellow [paint] to make green? Why don’t they just use green paint?”

 

8. “If I was a shepherd I would use a sheep as a pillow.”

 

7. “We’re having a wedding. Sam, you can be the ring master.”

 

6. “Thank You, God, for polar bears. The Coca-Cola kind.”

 

5. “He’s my best friend. I’ve known him for years.” (5-year-old speaking)

 

4. “I’m going to be a rock star astronaut when I grow up!”

 

3. “Don’t press down the [paint] brush too hard or you’ll give it a bad hair day.”

 

2. Teacher: “Is it hard to get along and be kind to your brother and sisters all the time?”
Kid: “Yeah, because sometimes my brother is evil.”

 

1. “Dear God, thank You for all the animals that are boys, have horns, and that are dangerous! Amen.”

 

These are 100% true… and completely hilarious. What’s the funniest thing you’ve overheard a child say at church?

Discounted Shirts – Great Reason to Attend Preview!

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There are many awesome reasons to attend one of the VBS Previews scheduled for January and February, but for many guests they find discounted VBS t-shirts and leaders a huge incentive! Everyone who attends will receive one free t-shirt of choice (choose from Colossal Coaster World, Thrill Seekers, or Club VBS Jungle Jaunt), but Previews make it possible to outfit your entire VBS team for a fraction of the costs you would spend otherwise.

One guest told me she saves enough each year on t-shirts to pay her Preview registration fee and travel expenses. Talk about making ever penny count!

Once again t-shirts – whether you need just one or multiple hundreds – will be available for $7.00 each and Colossal Coaster World leader shirts will be priced at $20.00. This is an event-only offer so don’t miss out!

Another great reason to attend this year is to see the many people who show up in amusement park costume. We are encouraging everyone to attend the first day dressed as an amusement park character or employee. Everyone wearing a costume will be entered in an opportunity to be chosen to participate in the VBS 2015 theme think tank. One person will be chosen from each location.

The Ridgecrest and Nashville 2 events are now closed, but there is still plenty of room at Nashville 1, Fort Worth, and Kissimmee. To learn more go lifeway.com/vbs.

Until then, I wish you the merriest Christmas ever and a blessed 2014!

Four Weeks and Counting…

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Hopefully it is looking a lot like – and sounding a lot like – Christmas where you are today. It certainly is here in the VBS office! But it is also looking and sounding a lot like four weeks until the first national VBS Preview at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina.

We are in perpetual motion putting the finishing touches on a not-to-be-missed event! We have now hit capacity at Ridgecrest and the Nashville Friday/Saturday events, but there is still room at Fort Worth, Nashville Thursday/Friday, and Kissimmee.

A complete list of breakout sessions is now available at lifeway.com/vbs/events. Check it out today!

In addition to the basics for Colossal Coaster World and Club VBS: Jungle Jaunt, you will have the opportunity to explore decorating options with Mark Jones and the VBS Design Team, be introduced to LifeWay’s newest VBS resource Backyard Kids Club, be challenged by the preaching of Dr. Shane Garrison, and participate in worship with the Austin Adamec Band.

I’m looking forward to seeing you soon for the Colossal Coaster World Experience!

Your Chance to be Part of VBS Think Tank 2015

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This past weekend I completed my Fall VBS 2013 Jump Start traveling schedule. The past few weeks have found me in Arizona, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, and Michigan helping church, associational, and state VBS leaders prepare for a Colossal Coaster World experience.

It is always fun to see how people (VBS Groupies) across the U.S. interpret a theme. Each location plays host to a variety of theme-related food, decorations, and costumes – which I think add the most unexpected touch of all.  It started me thinking – what if people wore theme-related costumes to VBS Previews? Talk about creating a fun atmosphere!

With just 39 days until the first Preview at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, I’m challenging all of you to make this the most entertaining Preview ever by showing up in a costume that shouts Colossal Coaster World!

Jerry and Roberta dressed as tacky tourists for our CCW theme release party.

Each event guest wearing a costume will receive a chance to be selected as a member of the VBS 2015 Think Tank team. This is the team that will create the 2015 theme! One Think Tank member and one alternate will be chosen from each of the five Previews. (An alternate is being chosen in case the team member is unavailable to attend Think Tank.)

Looking for costume ideas to get you started? Check out these great photos from our 2013 Theme Release party in June.

Click here to register for a Preview. Several locations are just about full so register today! You definitely want to be part of the fun! It just might be the most exciting ride of your life!

 Click here for official LifeWay Sweepstakes rules.

Familiar Faces Coming Soon to a Worship Rally Near You

You never know what you might end up doing here at LifeWay VBS HQ. One day you’re just working away and the next thing you know, you’re being called in to help out on the video shoot for the Worship Rally dramas. Now our video producer, Lynne, is just about the nicest person you’ll ever meet, so when she calls… you come running! But I don’t think any of us knew how many people from LifeWay Kids’ Ministry actually made it INTO the videos until they came out.

Of course these are all cameo appearances… but I guess you could consider this our collective big screen debut. Be on the lookout for us in the Worship Rally videos this summer. Hope you enjoy this little sneak peek!

Angel Ortiz is the man behind all LifeWay Kids resources in Spanish. We are SO grateful to have him heading up the Spanish VBS team. Look for Angel and his lovely wife, Rosalía, as “the TV watching couple.”

James Hargrave’s day job is with 1st-2nd grade Sunday School (Bible Teaching for Kids). But it’s not uncommon to find this showman, magician, and all-around good guy lending a hand to the VBS team. James really loves VBS!

Richard VanCleave is married to our VBS team leader, Rhonda. He got tapped to play a lawyer, but we won’t hold that against him. Richard is actually an area pastor.

Lynne hates being on camera… so SSSHHH!!! Don’t tell her we put her picture up. Lynne looks pretty convincing as a boom operator, but she also served as the producer of these videos.

Here was my big break! See me? That’s my arm on the far right. Hollywood, here I come! A big thanks to Candace (the Queen of VBS), Landry Holmes (Kids Ministry Publishing managing director), and Jeremy (Kids Ministry graphic designer) for sharing the spotlight with me!

Surprise! There’s Gordon, one of our VBS graphic designers. Gordon whipped up the sign he’s holding in the picture and somehow ended up on camera when he delivered the sign to the site of the video shoot!

You’ll recognize Carol’s name from the many VBS products she edits, but her husband and son really earned their keep in a BIG way this year. They are responsible for the amazing toy roller coaster you will see featured in the video. Jeff and James spent TWO whole days constructing the roller coaster together… and still liked each other at the end!

Joyce Frazier’s name was mentioned on an earlier slide, but here she is sliding a t-shirt on the grand prize contest winner. I can’t tell you any more without spoiling the plot. You’ll just have to wait and see what’s going on here when you get the DVD!