I already posted about why reports about your summer mission trips is important. This is a ditto plug for VBS and what your youth are doing.

I’m thinking there are two schools of thought about YM and VBS. The official word is “Our youth LOVE helping at VBS.” Street-level reality? You’re either a “VBS Eye-roller” or  a “VBS I’m on it!” kinda youth worker.

If you’re the first, too bad for you and especially too bad for your youth. A bad attitude about VBS costs you and your student ministry PRIME summer coverage.

Here’s reasons and ways to make VBS a “first priority” week in your summer planning:

1) Kill two birds with one stone…so to speak. You and your youth will be coming anyway; so why not add some “youth only” pieces to the week, leaving more room on your calendar other weeks. VBS week can be the time you do the new 6th graders welcome pool party, a special summer Bible study based on the VBS themes, or a youth only breakfast before the VBS day begins (or for you night VBS people, nightly youth VBS helper-only ice cream cone at McD’s).

2) Small Church VBS is Inter-generational Ministry at its best!  So don’t let the youth get stuck doing just the grunt work in places that others don’t w

ant to do. Guard your kids to make sure there’s a good mixing of age levels. Be pro-active in making sure youth are at the training events; all part of the age-levels mixing. At the same time, make it clear that during VBS week, you’re just one of the team. If there are youth helper issues, the VBS chain of command deals with the transgressors.

3) The Rumor is True: A small church can’t pull off a VBS without the youth. So if you’re reluctant, you may be putting a small church’s key summer outreach event in jeopardy.

4) So post the pictures! Let’s folks know what your kids are up. Hit up your church’s website with them because people want to see a church where the generations are integrated.

Stephanie