Melita Thomas

July 29, 2020

Dig In to Bible Stories for VBS 2021

Pack your bags and grab your gear, VBS 2021 is headed to present-day Israel where an epic adventure of discovery awaits. Discover long-hidden treasures, amazing finds, and exciting evidence that proves biblical events were not just stories. They really happened.

Each day during Destination Dig, junior archaeologists will use a real-life artifact from Bible times to help them discover more about who Jesus is and why He came. Let’s take a closer look at the Bible stories connected to each artifact.

Day 1: Jesus Was Born (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:18–2:6)

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God told prophets to write about His plan to send His Son to be our Savior. Many years later an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph. The angel told him Mary would have God’s Son, and they were to name Him Jesus. Just as God promised, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. God promised He would send His Son, and He did.

Day 2: Jesus Healed a Blind Man (Psalm 146:8; Isaiah 35:6-6a; John 9:1-41)

Prophets wrote about what would happen when God’s Son came to earth. They wrote about miracles He would perform such as healing people. When Jesus began His ministry, He did everything God said He would do. One day while in Jerusalem, Jesus passed a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus spat on the ground and made some mud. He spread the mud over the man’s eyes and told the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man did as he was told, and he could see! The man told people what Jesus had done. Later, when the man saw Jesus, he worshiped Him.

Day 3: Jesus Experienced Betrayal and Rejection (Psalm 41:9; Isaiah 53:3,7; John 13; 18:1–19:16)

Jesus shared one last special supper with His disciples. During the meal Jesus explained that one of the disciples would betray Him. Jesus knew His betrayal and death would fulfill God’s plan. After the meal, Jesus and all the disciples except for Judas went to the garden in Gethsemane. While they were there, Judas brought the soldiers to arrest Jesus and take Him to the high priest to begin the trials the prophets had written about many years before. Pilate, the Roman governor, tried to find a way to release Jesus, but the crowd shouted, “Crucify Him!” Jesus remained silent just as the prophecy said He would. Finally, Pilate gave in to the people’s demands, and Jesus was handed over to the soldiers to be crucified.

Day 4: Jesus Is Alive (Isaiah 53:5,9-11; John 19:17–20:18)

God told prophets that Jesus would be born and that He would die for our sins. God also said that Jesus would die with the wicked, be buried with the rich, and be raised from the dead. Just as God said, Jesus was crucified between two criminals and Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, buried Jesus’ body in Joseph’s tomb. A stone was rolled in front of the tomb. On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. The stone had been rolled away, and Jesus was gone. Peter and John came to the tomb and saw the burial clothes, but Jesus was not there. While Mary stood outside the tomb crying, a man she thought was a gardener appeared. The Man called her name and immediately Mary knew He was Jesus. She couldn’t wait to tell the disciples that Jesus is alive!

Day 5: Philip Told the Good News (Isaiah 53:7-8; Acts 8:26-40)

While Philip was preaching in Samaria, an angel of the Lord told him to go south to the road that goes to Gaza. Philip obeyed the angel. Philip saw a man traveling in a chariot. The man was reading a copy of the Isaiah scroll. Philip asked the man if he understood what he was reading. The man said he did not and that he needed someone to explain it to him. Philip explained the good news about Jesus to the man. The man believed what Philip told him and believed in Jesus. Philip baptized the man, and the man went on his way rejoicing.

For more information about Destination Dig, visit lifeway.com/vbs or check out THIS blog post.

Vacation Bible School

September 23, 2019

Why come to a VBS Preview Event?

By Melita Thomas

If you’ve never before attended a VBS Preview event, you are missing out!

VBS Preview Events are the best way to build excitement for VBS, train your leadership team, network with others who are just as crazy about VBS as you, and get inside tips and tricks from the VBS experts. Whether you’re a brand new leader or you’ve been doing VBS forever, you’ll discover practical strategies to make this your best VBS ever!

Bring your entire team to enjoy specialized training for each area of responsibility during VBS (e.g. VBS Director, age-group Bible study leader, rotation leader, etc.) so that every team member can excel in his or her responsibilities. Your team will also have access to a wide range of breakouts from which to pick and choose—giving each team a training experience that is completely customized to them!

VBS Preview Events get your creative juices flowing. You’ll get to explore incredible decorations from every angle, take pictures, and come away inspired to bring Concrete & Cranes to life in your church! It’s also your chance to learn all of the songs and motions before anyone else. You’ll experience large group games perfect for Family Night and discover new strategies for recruiting volunteers and following up with families after VBS.

Plus, each Preview will have a fully stocked VBS Store where you’ll be able to touch, see, and take home everything you’ll need for VBS—including curriculum, decorations, and promo items. VBS Previews are also the only place you’ll find exclusive VBS swag and discounts on T-shirts!

VBS Preview Events are a chance for you and your team to get motivated and be encouraged. It’s a time to focus anew on WHY we do VBS. When we embrace the WHY of VBS, our individual and collective passion is stirred to take VBS beyond “what we’ve always done” and challenges us to reach more, teach more, and evangelize more!

Come discover what Concrete & Cranes is all about. Sign up for a VBS Preview today! Find out more here!

Melita Thomas serves as LifeWay’s VBS and Kids Ministry Specialist. For the past 14 years she has also been an editor of LifeWay’s VBS resources. Melita holds a masters degree in Childhood Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. A passionate advocate for kids ministry in the local church, Melita enjoys teaching kindergartners and preteens at Nashville First Baptist Church.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Vacation Bible School

May 22, 2017

VBS Checklist

By Melita Thomas

VBS is almost here! For many churches, VBS is only weeks away. By now most of “the big stuff” is done and checked off the list—things like purchasing curriculum, enlisting volunteers, training teachers, promoting within the community, and opening registration. But now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty details. These extra touches often are the difference between a smooth launch and a rocky start to VBS. To help with your last minute preparations, here’s a checklist organized by specific areas within your VBS. Don’t try to tackle all of these alone. Delegate responsibility for each area to a different person or team. After all, VBS is a team effort!

Registration Area

Blank registration forms for walk-up registrations
Tablets or computers for electronic registration (via KidEvent Pro)
Printed class rosters with the class max highlighted
Pens and Sharpies®
Name tags and security tags (or whatever security method your church is using during VBS)
Media Release forms
Allergy and medical alert forms
Display board with each day’s snack listed for parents to see (as an allergy alert)

First-aid Station

Enlist a nurse from within your congregation to be on-call during VBS.
Basic first-aid supplies (such as adhesive bandages, cold compress, antiseptic wipes, hydrocortisone ointment packs, etc.)
Nonlatex gloves
Printed list of all allergies, medical and/or special needs of children attending VBS—including emergency contact numbers
Any medications supplied by parents (NOTE: Authorized medications should be administered according to your church’s policies—ideally by the parent or designated medical personnel.)

Bible Study and Rotation Rooms

All needed curriculum [A good rule of thumb is one leader guide per teacher, one leader pack per room, and one Starveyor Kit per child (Bible study only).]
All requested supplies
New Sharpies®—Sharpies on a lanyard or keychain make a great (and useful) teacher appreciation gift!
Name tags and security tags
Printed class roles
Daily schedule (including rotation locations) prominently displayed
Adhesive bandages
CD players
TV/DVD players for music and missions rotations
Disposable tablecloths for crafts and snack rotations

Resource Rooms

Fully stocked with basic supplies (such as construction paper, markers, crayons, tape, scissors, pencils, stapler, glue sticks, etc.)
Specialty items related to the theme (such as thematic puzzles and books for preschool rooms)
Communicate with volunteers the process for borrowing AND returning supplies during and after VBS.
Label shelves and cabinets to make it easy for volunteers to put things away after use.
Designate bins or buckets for volunteers to return supplies if they don’t know where things go.

What else is on your list? Comment below to share your ideas with others.

Melita Thomas serves as LifeWay’s VBS and Kids Ministry Specialist. For the past 14 years she has also been an editor of LifeWay’s VBS resources. Melita holds a masters degree in Childhood Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. A passionate advocate for kids ministry in the local church, Melita enjoys teaching kindergartners and preteens at Nashville First Baptist Church.