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Your role in VBS

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by bobbyd, Apr 15, 2007.

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  1. bobbyd

    bobbyd New Member

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    I'm just curious, what role, if any, do you tend to have when it comes to VBS at the church you serve in?
     
    #1 bobbyd, Apr 15, 2007
  2. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Are you kidding, I wrote the curriculum, and directed it last year...
    I also showed my youth director how to do it last year, and she is in charge of it this year with me being her assistant...

    Next year it is all her's!

    I love VBS... the one time a year I can be a kid again... well then and youth camp time.

    I can't imagine being a pastor that just sits back and watches.
    I have to be hands on.
     
    #2 tinytim, Apr 15, 2007
  3. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Head cheerleader ... lead opening
    disrupter of quiet classes :laugh:
     
    #3 Tom Bryant, Apr 16, 2007
  4. SBCPreacher

    SBCPreacher Active Member
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    Same here.

    VBS is great! We reach more unchurched kids in VBS than any other single event!
     
    #4 SBCPreacher, Apr 16, 2007
  5. Hope of Glory

    Hope of Glory New Member

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    I do well teaching adults and older kids who are there to learn.

    I don't do well teaching young children and causing those who don't want to learn.

    Therefore, I teach adults who show up with their kids and I'm just a big play toy with the kids.
     
    #5 Hope of Glory, Apr 16, 2007
  6. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    I'll be doing the music and half of the worship rally
     
    #6 TaterTot, Apr 16, 2007
  7. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    I have done everything from direct (which I will NEVER do again) to recreation to just being a helper.

    This year I will be around helping in any way that I can. But I want VBS to be our folks in action, not me jumping in and doing things for them.

    I do not need nor want to be hands on with VBS. I would rather spend time getting to know the kids and just helping out where needed.
     
    #7 PastorSBC1303, Apr 16, 2007
  8. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    We have several staff...here's our game plan:

    All ministers:
    • are expected to be available all week (no vacations or conventions for anyone)
    • help with "salvation counseling"
    • assist with elements of opening/closing celebrations (devotions, salvation message on Thursday, Family night stuff, etc).
    Sr. Pastor:
    • sometimes teaches a mission track
    • does much of the "salvation counseling"
    • the ultimate bad guy for the real misbehavors.
    Worship/children's minister:
    • Sometimes teaches a class
    • An artist by trade--helps with set design/construction/sanctuary setup
    • Assists with some music performance & rehearsals (we have a volunteer VBS music director for the week--he assists him/her)
    • Helps with many aspects of worship rally
    Education minister:
    • Handles much of the ministry that the rest of us are too busy to do (visitation, office management)
    • The "point man" with regards to follow-up of prospects.
    Student/college minister:
    • Supervises most of the faculty (since 75% of our VBS faculty is high-school or college-aged)
    • Oversees all media, including the worship rally and family night shows.
    • Produces end-of-week video.
    • Is main supply "gofer" during the week.
    We also have a VBS director (school teacher, off in summer) who does an outstanding job.
     
    #8 rbell, Apr 16, 2007
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2007
  9. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    We have a larger VBS (about 425 kids and 150 workers) and our pastors don't run it but they ARE involved in the skit and some teaching. We have 2 women who currently run it (who are trying to recruit me to do it too but I like my position running refreshments - LOL), and they do a most awesome job. Our Senior Pastor is around during the day to visit with parents and such but otherwise, his big role is to play the Silver Fox. In the skits each year, whatever the theme is, we have a recurring thing that goes on. On the last day of VBS, on Friday evening, we have a large fair with games and rides and such - and the kids earn tickets throughout the week to be able to do the activities. Along with the scripted skit, we add in some dumb bad guys who want to get tickets (at the end, it comes out that they just wanted to go to the fair - and are told that there were other ways to earn tickets and then are given tickets to spend - a sign of God's grace) and one VERY bad guy who actually takes them - but is always caught (they have a bag or treasure box of tickets on the stage). The really bad guy is some form of "El Gato" (Il Gato, El Gato's little brother visited last year) - always one of our missionaries from either Spain or Italy who come over for VBS. So, the Silver Fox comes in to protect the tickets on the last day "Kids - You have NOTHING to fear!" but El Gato still gets the tickets! But eventually, he's caught (in an old time chase), and the Silver Fox puts El Gato in "jail". LOL! It's so cute!! The kids all go CRAZY while this is all happening even though it's the same basic thing every year.

    During the day, our two youth pastors are running the "youth" department (7th graders), the missions pastor, recovery pastor and my hubby (the computer/college/worship pastor) are in the skit and then wander visiting parents who hang out (we provide food for anyone who wants to stay - that's my job), the children's pastor is teaching a group and the administrative pastor and sr. associate pastor are doing churchy kind of things. LOL!! My husband also spends the time after the skit editing the skit video so we can sell (for cost) the skit video for anyone who wants to get it. It IS fun to watch at home.
     
    #9 annsni, Apr 26, 2007
  10. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    When I was doing VBS, I would ask my pastor to be a cheer leader on some Sundays. As far as the actual week, an occasional appearance whenever was sufficient.
     
    #10 SaggyWoman, Apr 30, 2007
  11. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    I guess I still have some youth pastor in me... I want to be hands on as much as I can... down on the floor playing with the kids, to helping in snacks, to telling stories, to joining in in the pews in the worship songs...
     
    #11 tinytim, Apr 30, 2007
  12. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    There is a difference between expectation and beyond expectation. You are beyond!
     
    #12 SaggyWoman, May 1, 2007
  13. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Is that a good thing or bad thing?
     
    #13 tinytim, May 1, 2007
  14. patrick

    patrick New Member

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    My pastor does nothing with the kids. He will show up and teach the adults. Actually the last 2 years he planned his family vacation around VBS.
     
    #14 patrick, May 2, 2007
  15. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Wow!! I can't believe that! As a matter of fact, most of us at church don't take vacation during the summer - until the last 2 weeks of August when we PURPOSELY don't plan anything so that the ministry leaders can get some time off (we don't even have youth group during this time). I can't imagine a pastor leaving during something so important as VBS (but then again, VBS for us is a huge deal - VERY labor intensive with a large group of kids).

    Wow!
     
    #15 annsni, May 2, 2007
  16. patrick

    patrick New Member

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    My pastor just don't care. Our attendence has dropped about40% in the last 2 years due to his apathy and general outlook on anything that isn't senior adult driven.
     
    #16 patrick, May 2, 2007
  17. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Oh, Patrick! I'm so sorry!! How heartbreaking to hear a church dying like that. :( I'll be praying for your church.
     
    #17 annsni, May 2, 2007
  18. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    It is good, because you care about the kids.

    Some of the pastors I have had have been good with kids, some haven't, but they all have been willing to do different things, so I was happy.
     
    #18 SaggyWoman, May 3, 2007
  19. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Well thanks...
     
    #19 tinytim, May 3, 2007
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