Many of you may remember your mid-summer’s week spent at a neighborhood church at VBS which stands for Vacation Bible School.

But, VBS stands for so much more. For me, Vacation Bible School is a beacon of fun and friends, crafts and songs, and a positive way to hear the Gospel message.

I’m sure I’m not the only one to have fond memories of VBS, because this institution has been around for a long time. The roots of VBS began in the summer Chautauqua cultural and learning programs that became popular in the 1870’s. In 1894, A Sunday school teacher in Hopedale, Illinois, started a four-week summer program for her students that featured learning and recess.

Then came Mrs. Walter Aylett Hawes, a doctor’s wife. Her goal was to get children off the streets of New York. In 1898 and 1899 Mrs. Hawes rented a beer hall in New York’s East Side to conduct her Everyday Bible School.

Vacation Bible School began in a beer hall!

In 1922, the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School was founded and in 1923 this Association printed its first curriculum.

Not only did VBS keep generations of children off the streets,

but it also provided creative outlets for generations of church ladies.

Moving forward to my generation, we had wonderful church ladies who ran the VBS I attended every summer from kindergarten through high school. The church ladies did it all- taught, led the choir and programs, planned the crafts and recess and best of all, made cookies, cupcakes and rice krispie treats galore to go with the red food punch at snack time.

I can remember the thrill of lining up to march into the sanctuary each morning for the opening songs and program. Big kids led the way, bearing the American flag and the Christian flag, with the classes following by age. We giggled and gathered to say the pledges to each flag and then we learned about the theme for the day, sang songs, saw a funny skit and skipped in bunches to our Bible classes. Bible stories, crafts- macramé and yarn and burlap were popular, recess- featuring Bible freeze tag and a Red Sea version of “Red Rover” and finally snacks filled our cheerful morning.

This was a magical week for me and it all happened through the love and caring of the church ladies. The most exciting part of the week was the grand finale, the final program. It was held on Friday night and parents and grandparents came to see each class do their part. One year, I wrote the song for the high school helpers to sing. Crafts are so Fun! was set to Chopsticks and described the joys and jolts of craft time. The chorus went

“I’m not a Leonardo Da Vince

But let me convince ye

I really do try.

But when things start to happen

My spirits just dampen

And I start to cry!”

Do churches still conduct Vacation Bible School? I checked online and curriculums are still produced. In 2017, kids can experience Passport to Peru, Pets Unleashed, and Campout: Getting s’more of Jesus. (The s’more one sounds like it could use my song writing skills!)

However, statistics don’t bode well for VBS. VBS programs have declined 16 percent in the last 15 years, from 81 percent of American churches in 1997 to 68 percent in 2012.

Overall, the biggest reasons why former VBS churches have skipped out in recent years are: lack of volunteers, lack of children, and lack of time.

Tell that to the church ladies!

Life for me in Vacation Bible School began as a kindergartner, then I progressed to being a junior high helper, and finally a teacher as a high schooler. Now that I am older, it sounds like it’s time for me to earn my church lady badge. Anybody need some cookies and a warbly singer?

Do you have memories of Vacation Bible School? I’d love to hear them!

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