- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

‘Pack your bags! We’re taking off for a VBS ‘Ramblin’ Road Trip.’

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–It’s a fact. Children love Vacation Bible School. What’s not to love? It’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s something to do while school is out.

Since the children love it, churches love it too. So much so that churches have been asking LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention for more VBS.

For next summer, in response to those requests, LifeWay is releasing two lines of VBS materials: one a cross-country trek in which children through adults will learn about their ultimate destination in Jesus and a second, more streamlined version that will take children to a beach “blast” to learn about God.

The cross-country trek will be titled, “Ramblin’ Road Trip: Which Way Do I Go?” according to a LifeWay announcement in early August about its 2005 VBS initiatives.

The cross-country venture will take VBSers along “Route 254” from Destination Worship in Washington, D.C., to Destination Thankfulness in Chicago, through Destination Salvation in Lebanon, Kan., (the geographic center of the United States), past Destination Belief in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and finally to Destination Obedience at Knott’s Berry Farm in Southern California.

“Show Me! Teach Me! Guide Me!” — the VBS motto — sets the stage for the week’s jaunt.

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As they ramble across the country, children will discover that the daily choices they make affect all their other journeys through life. By choosing God as their guide, they are sure to arrive at their ultimate destination — a relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Each day and at each destination, the children will be presented with biblical truths,” said Mary Katharine Hunt, LifeWay’s VBS division project manager. “One thing that is absolutely true about all our VBS material is the presentation of Scripture. Everything, all the fun stuff, always relates back to the Bible story.”

The overall Scripture for the Ramblin’ Road Trip is Psalm 25:4-5: “Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation” (HCSB). This verse will remind children to think of God as their guide as they travel through their own life adventures.

“Part of what makes this line of VBS curriculum so great is that it’s designed for all ages,” Hunt said. “While most people think about VBS as being for children, we have materials based on the theme for teenagers and adults as well.”

To help leaders and teachers, LifeWay offers:
— A Sampler that includes a Ramblin’ Road Trip New Testament, CDs with games and music, leader guides and learner guides for babies through adults, a promotional poster and more.
— A Super Sampler that includes even more of the things that make the Sampler so popular: more music resources, more promotional materials and more leader packs.
— New resources to help with decorating VBS classrooms and an expanded line of ready-made decorations.
— A worship rally pack for planning a worship rally.
— A one-stop shopping site for ordering curriculum, decorations, promotional materials, follow-up resources.

The second VBS line for 2005 — “Club VBS: Beach Blast” — will help children focus on God’s faithfulness, according to the LifeWay announcement.

It offers an All in One Pack that has everything needed for a VBS of up to 50 children.

“We had a number of churches that asked us to give them another choice for VBS,” Hunt said. “The VBS format is so effective in reaching children that many churches told us they’d like to have another option.”

The VBS Beach Blast offers lots of flexibility, Hunt added. Churches can use it for special weekday or Wednesday night activities during the summer, and it can be used other times of the year, such as a fall or spring break.

The motto for this line, “God is faithful. I can dig it!” will lead children to:
— Dig into God’s Promises
— Dig into God’s Provision
— Dig into God’s Power
— Dig into God’s Plan
— Dig into God’s Presence

Promotional materials for both VBS lines will be mailed to churches in October and November. All VBS materials will be available Dec. 1.

For more information, visit the VBS website, www.lifeway.com/yourvbs. The site will be updated regularly with tips and ideas for VBS 2005.

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