Director

Leader Guide
Director Guide

To make your job as VBS Director

easier, make sure you
0 read the Director Guide completely.
0 check out the Resource Download thoroughly.
0 spread out all the materials that came in your kit.
0 browse the other leader and teacher guides to
become familiar with all aspects of this VBS.
 Course
Day 1 Day 2
Creation Corruption and Catastrophe
All Is Good All Sin
Bible Passages Genesis 1 Genesis 3, Genesis 6–
9

Memory Verses Genesis 1:1 Psalm 14:3

Animal Pals Eden the Green Parrot Tox the Blue Poison Dart Frog

Examining how it all began—man’s

Apologetics Focus Examining the reality of a global flood
ideas or God’s Word?

Tree-mendous Crafts

Face Planter My Bug Jar Straw Serpent Rainy Day Rain Gauge

Order Stack the Fallen Foliage Catastrophic Eruption

Tree-mendous Science Disorder Layers

Jungle Obstacle Course Tox Tag

Rainforest Recreation Sea and Sky Tag Rainy
Relay

Canopy Café Snacks

Dirt Dessert Forest Fruit Serpent Snack Tree Treat

Cool Contests Guess the Beetle Bugs Team Spirit

Day
Overvie
w Day 4
Christ and the Cross
Day 5
Consummation
Savior for All Who All Is Good Again
Day 3 Believe Various Revelation 21–22
Confusion Scriptures

All in Confusion
Genesis 11

Genesis 11:9
John 1:12 Revelation
21:4

Scatter the Silverback Gorilla Rose the Pink River Bliss the Bird-Wing Butterfly
Dolphin

Examining where the

people groups came Examining the need for a Examining how it turns out in the end
from Savior

7 C’s Bracelet
Tricky Triangle Game Toothpick Christmas Ornament Easter or Necklace Beautiful Butterfly
Tower Diorama

Skin-Deep Tower
Don’t Eat Me! Ring Around a Cycling in the Jungle Good Again
Test
Tree

Confusing Competitions Capture the Seven C’s

Babel Bricks Gifts Cross Splash Coconut
Kickball Launch

Shades of Pudding Parfaits Wacky Mixed-Up Trail Mix

 Nibbles
Gospel Goodies Nativity 7 C’s Boats Colorful Bites

yaD sdrawkcaB
Seven C’s Scavenger Mission Money Mania
Hunt
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this license); and (3) you follow the instructions
provided in the book.

Director Guide
Copyright © 2023 Answers in Genesis.
All rights reserved. Limited license to copy.
For more information, write:
Answers in Genesis
PO Box 510, Hebron, KY 41048
Project Coordinator: Stacia McKeever
Writers: Amy Quinn, Randy and Barb Witt
Editors: Ryan Freeman, Sarah Zornes
Interior Design: Diane King
Cover Design: Jon Seest
Illustrator: Paul Agner
Photographer: Susie Jarvis
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright
© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Text edition 2016.

Printed in China.
 CONTENTS

Overview: It’s a Jungle Out There!.................................................7

Introduction
7 Your Role 8
Frequently Asked Questions
8 Terms to Know
8 Top 20 Tips for the VBS Director
9 Terrific Trivia Tidbits 10
Ferociously Fun Jokes
12 Jungle A to Z
13 Top 20 Tips When Working with Children
14 Age-Level Characteristics
15 Tips for Managing a Group of Kids
19 What’s in the Resource Download?
21 Music Download Contents
22

Priorities: First Things First.........................................................23

Praying for Your VBS
23 Top 10 Tips for a VBS Prayer Ministry
24 Devotion 1: God Is the Good Creator
25 Devotion 2: God Is Our Righteous Judge
25 Devotion 3: God Is the Infinite Sustainer
26 Devotion 4: God Is the Sovereign Savior
27 Devotion 5: God Is the Loving Redeemer
28

Planning: Chart Your Course.......................................................29

Choose a Format
29 A Day at The Great Jungle Journey
30 Map Out Your Space
32 Travel Groups
33 Sample Schedules: Morning VBS
35 Sample Schedules: Evening VBS
36 Sample Team Placement
37 Sample Bible Lesson Time Room Schedule
37 Money Matters
38 Budgeting Tips
38 VBS Budget Worksheet
39 Countdown Calendar Worksheet
40 Director’s Countdown Calendar
41 VBS Headquarters (Information Counter)
46 Decorating Decisions
47 Nursery News
51 Child Safety Precautions
52

Recruitment: Assemble Your Crew..............................................53

Where Do My Teens Fit In?
53 How Many People Do I Need?
54 Job Descriptions
55 Training Workshops
59
Promotion: Announce Your Trek...................................................63
Promotional Helps 63
Promotion Calendar
64 Forest Fun Day
67 Activities and Games
68

Procedure: Man Your Stations.....................................................75

Arrival and Registration
75 Jungle Jam Assembly—Opening
76 Mission Moment
77 The Good News Cruise
77 Swinging Songs
80 Cool Contests
82 Rain or Shine Bible Time
83 Tree-mendous Science and Crafts
88 Canopy Café Snacks
91 Rainforest Recreation
93 Jungle Jam Assembly—Closing
95 Dismissal
96

Follow-Up: Further Field Notes....................................................97

Follow Up with the Children
97 Follow Up with the VBS Crew
97 Follow Up with the Church
98 River Cruise Closing Program
98
 OVERVIEW
Introduction
It’s a Jun g l e O ut Int rod u ctio n

There!

Listen! Can you hear a howler monkey screeching and Canopy Café Snacks, where travelers go bananas,
insects buzzing? Look! Do you see a sloth hanging from a
munch- ing on tropical treats and eats.
tree and a jaguar crouching, ready to pounce? Smell! Is
Rainforest Recreation, where kids rumble in the jungle
that the aroma of tropical flowers wafting through the
with some wet and wild games.
air? Touch! Do you feel soft grass under your feet and
gentle rain on your skin? Taste! Is that delicious milk Travelers’ Missions, Music, and Memory Verses,
from a coconut and exotic spices from the rainforest? where kids sing songs, learn their memory verses
Join us in a world of wonder that will delight our senses with fun games, or go in-depth with the Mission
while captivating our hearts and minds at The Great Moment featuring Children’s Hunger Fund.
Jungle Journey: An Epic Cruise from Genesis to Finally, everyone heads back to the Jungle Jam
Revelation. We will cruise through jungle rivers, Assem- bly for the closing, where there’s more singing,
making stops at seven ports of call along the way—each contest results, and the highly anticipated daily drama.
starting with a C. These represent seven key biblical This follows a jungle river cruise that plans to make
events—the 7 C’s of History. stops at different ports of call but faces a catastrophe
Day 1: Creation—Our first C takes us back to the that affects the plan, resulting in lots of unexpected
beginning of time and the creation of the universe rainforest adventures.
when it was all good. Did the universe start with a Prepare to swing into the fun as we head out on our
big bang, or did God create it? jungle river cruise. See you in the rainforest!
Day 2: Corruption and Catastrophe—Next, Adam
sinned, which affected his descendants, who were so Our Goal
wicked that God sent a global flood as judgment for We are so thankful for how God has chosen to use the
their sin. Answers VBS programs over the past years! But why did we
Day 3: Confusion—The fourth C checks out the events decide to embark on such an undertaking in the first place,
that began at the tower of Babel. Can this be where all and why are we still at it by God’s grace?
the people groups originated from? Our primary goal has always been to bring God glory
Day 4: Christ and the Cross—At these stops, we by boldly and unashamedly proclaiming him to a
realize once again that man is sinful and needs a strategic group—young people! From both a biblical and
Savior. Hallelu- jah, God provides one in his Son! statistical point of view, young people are a big deal.
Day 5: Consummation—The last C shows the thrilling con- They’re not only awesome—we love ’em!—but they’re
clusion to history when all goes back to very good also dearly cherished by our Lord and tend to be
again, and—best news ever—God wins against sin and softhearted toward spiritual things. Researchers
Satan. generally agree most people become Christians when
Excitement and adventure await from the first minute they’re children, so it’s apparent this age group is a
of each day when kids meet in travel groups. The huge mission field!
groups gather at the Jungle Jam Assembly, a high- Children are loved by their Creator, and Jesus said to
energy begin- ning that includes wacky intros, lively let them come to him (Luke 18:16). We want children
songs, a Mission Moment, and prayer. to come to Christ and not be hindered in any way
Then they’re off to rotate through five fun sites: from doing so. To that end, we combine a biblically
rich VBS with off- the-chart, irresistible fun. In a day
Rain or Shine Bible Time, where God’s Word is taught in
and age when content
creative, hands-on ways.
sometimes suffers, we don’t want to sacrifice rich
Tree-mendous Science and Crafts, where kids make
teaching. But it’s also crucial that the most exciting book
jazzy jungle crafts and explore God’s amazing world
in the world not come across as boring or irrelevant. We
with sci- ence experiments.
want to reflect our creative, inspiring, joy-giving God
who made laugh- ter and fun.

Introduction Overview • 7
 So why do we do it? We want kids around the We pray you will find that every prayer prayed, every
world to hear about and personally meet our minute invested, every dollar spent, and every word spoken
awesome God and understand how they can receive will bring God glory as you reach kids for Christ. Just
eternal life through repentance and faith in Christ remember—VBS is worth it. May God richly bless your VBS.
Jesus. We believe VBS is a great way to introduce them We’re praying for you!
to God, as it is one of the big- gest outreaches of the
year for most churches.

Your Role
As the director of VBS, you are someone who
possesses vision, organizational and people skills, and a • Recruit, organize, and oversee the entire VBS staff
heart for chil- dren. The following are your • Run training workshops
responsibilities. • Coordinate the closing program to bring everyone
back together after VBS is over
• Oversee the entire VBS (read through the Director • Establish effective follow-up
Guide • Pray over all aspects of this job before,
and other manuals for further information) during, and after VBS
• Work with the church staff on VBS-related issues such
as goals, dates, and budget

Frequently Asked Questions

The content of The Great Jungle Journey may be new to you. For a list of helpful articles on the topics covered in this
VBS program, please visit AnswersVBS.com/junglefaq.

Terms to Know
Throughout the VBS curriculum, various terms will be
used. Here is a list of some of the most common terms Rainforest Recreation: Indoor or outdoor site (outdoor
you should know. is preferred) for recreation time.
Travel Groups/Travelers: Groups of children Travelers’ Missions, Music, and Memory Verses:
(individual classes) named after jungle animals, such Rotation sites where kids can spend additional time
as Bengal Tigers, Butterflies, Toucans, or Howler learning songs, memory verses, and missions.
Monkeys. Memory Verse: Daily Bible verse to learn.
Group Guides: Group leaders who lead the travelers Animal Pals: Our friendly animal mascots that remind us
from place to place during VBS. No teaching is of the main themes of each day.
required of this position. Toddlers: 2–4-year-olds.
Rain or Shine Bible Time: Bible and apologetics lesson Pre-Primaries: 4–6-year-olds or children ages 4 through
time in the jungle. those who have completed kindergarten.
River Guides: Teachers of the Rain or Shine Bible Primaries: 6–9-year-olds or children who have completed
Time. Tree-mendous Science and Crafts: Rotation grades 1–3.
site where crafts are made and science Juniors: 9–12-year-olds or children who have completed
experiments are explored. grades 4–6.
Canopy Café Snacks: Indoor or outdoor location where For multi-age K–6 travel groups, we recommend using
snacks are served. the material for the Primaries.
8 • Overview Frequently Asked Questions
 Top 20 Tips for the VBS Director
Whether you’re a first-time recruit or a seasoned director, here are some tips just for you.

1.Pray and study God’s Word. “We will devote

ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the 8. Label file folders or electronic file folders with
word” (Acts 6:4). You will be busy, so keep in dif- ferent areas of VBS, and use these to file ideas
mind that the busier you get, the more you need and suggestions.
to pray and study! God will multiply your time if 9. Help your church catch the significance of this
you give him your best. event by sharing that VBS is a huge, God-given
2. Read through the various guides thoroughly and opportunity to reach many with the gospel of
early. Become familiar with the Digital Resources, Christ.
which contains clip art, logos, printable and 10.Get enough sleep and exercise.
customizable ver- sions of the forms mentioned 11. Make people feel loved, appreciated, and needed.
throughout this guide, and more. If you’re a first- 12. Communicate well. Make announcements, require
time director, ask previous directors and VBS attendance at the training workshops, send emails,
veterans what’s been done in the past. It helps to and keep everyone informed.
receive counsel! At the same time, don’t be afraid to 13.Be enthusiastic! Your excitement is contagious
try something new. and makes others want to be in on the fun.
3. Check out the web address listed on page 8 for 14. When deciding on the ages to include in your
great articles on the teaching at The Great Jungle VBS, keep in mind that this VBS is written to
Journey. This is a good resource for you and a appeal to not only young children but also older
good reference for vol- unteers or parents who elementary kids. It has real answers from God’s
have questions. Word for real issues all kids face.
4. Many hands make light work. Be careful not to 15.Be the director. Don’t commit to teaching or any
overextend yourself. Delegate areas of responsibility other VBS leadership role during VBS week. Stay as
to people and allow them the joy of serving, even free as possible to greet, encourage, and
if it is not quite how you would do it. troubleshoot.
5. When working with people, there most likely 16. Carry a cell phone or walkie-talkie with you
will be conflicts. Resolve conflict with prayer and during VBS week so you can be reached
gentle throughout
answers based on principles from God’s Word. “A the building.
soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs 17. Prepare two containers for each group
up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). leader. See page 34 for more information.
6. Have a backup plan for games in case it rains and 18.Soon after VBS is over, survey the staff so you
you need to be inside all day. can make improvements for next year.
7.Have fun. Directing your VBS should be a joy for 19.Keep a list of answered prayers and praises. Share
you. At the same time, though, remember you are in your list with others.
a spiri- tual battle with an enemy who will try to 20. After VBS is finished, continue to pray for God to
throw darts your way. “Rejoice always, pray grow the seeds he planted and to bring more fruit
without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 over the next months. “I planted, Apollos watered,
Thessalonians 5:16–18). but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Connect with us and other Answers VBS directors

through the following platforms:
Facebook.com/answersvbs
Facebook.com/groups/answersvbs
YouTube.com/answersvbs
Pinterest.com/answersvbs
Twitter.com/answersvbs
Top 20 Tips for the VBS Director Overview
•9
 Terrific Trivia Tidbits
Jungle. Rainforest. What’s the difference? A jungle is
land covered with dense foliage and typically refers to • The largest river in the world is the Amazon River. It
the ground or understory layer of a tropical rainforest. can be brown, black, red, green, white, or blue,
Rainfor- ests can be temperate or tropical (tropical depending on the sediment content and depth.
rainforests are featured in this VBS) and encompass a • Ever heard of killer plants? Tropical pitcher plants
variety of different vegetation layers, from the found in Southeast Asia kill bugs, and sometimes larger
understory to the canopy. This trivia includes facts from pitcher plants catch lizards and rats!
jungles as well as from tropical rainforests more • The word rainforest was invented around 1900 to
generally. describe a forest that grows in constantly wet
Now—time for a question. Do you know what the conditions.
larg- est jungle in the world is called? The Amazon jungle
(more properly called the Amazon rainforest). It’s almost • Indigenous people sometimes use poison-tipped
as big as the whole US! arrows to hunt. Where do they get the poison?
Use this and the following trivia tidbits (also From poison dart frogs!
available on the Resource Download) to start thinking • Do you like taking hot showers or cold showers? If
about our fun theme—the tropical rainforests of the you visit a jungle, it often feels like you’re standing
world and their in a hot and steamy shower.
jungles—as well as our spiritual theme—the 7 biblical C’s • Pretend you’re standing in the rain. Because
of history. These fun facts can be shared ahead of time rainforests have really thick foliage, drops of rain can
at staff meetings with adults and teens or during the take 10 min- utes to reach you on the forest floor!
week of VBS with the kids. Use them at arrival and
dismissal times or during any downtime between • Do you like the smell of flowers? There’s one you
rotations. won’t like for sure, and that’s the Rafflesia that grows
in the jun- gles of Southeast Asia. As the biggest flower
Part 1: General Information in the world, it’s three feet (90 cm) across and smells
like rotting meat, thus its other name—the corpse
• Do you ever wear a belt around your middle? God flower.
made the earth with a type of “belt” around its
middle. It’s called the equator. That’s where tropical • Feeling sick? Many of the medicines we use today
rainforests with jungles are found. origi- nate from plants in the jungles and are used to
treat con- ditions such as asthma, arthritis, malaria,
• Weather forecast today in the tropical rainforest? heart disease, and even cancer.
Warm and rainy. Tomorrow’s forecast? Warm and
rainy. The next day’s? Warm and rainy. And on, • Glow-in-the-dark mushrooms? Yep, they’re a thing
and on, and on. in the rainforest! God gave some living things the
ability to make their own light, which is called
• Hungry? There’s plenty of food to be found in bioluminescence.
jungles, such as bananas, pineapples, cinnamon,
peppers, oranges, coffee beans, guava, cashews, • There are areas of jungles that are so difficult to
and many other foods. reach they remain largely untouched. Wonder what’s
in there?
• God designed various leaves in the rainforest to help
in different ways. There are leaves with drip tips that • Organisms that live on other plants are called
allow water to run off the tips. This keeps the epiphytes, and they like to hitch a ride on hosting
leaves dry and free of mold. Other leaves act like plants. Epiphytes don’t need soil to grow but
mini “buckets” that gather water. Each is uniquely instead get their nutrients from the air, water, and
made by God. debris—thus their nickname of air plants.

• Guess what you call one banana? A finger. How • Chocolate . . . growing on trees? Cacao seeds grow in
about a whole bunch attached together? A hand. the jungle, and that’s where chocolate comes from.

• If you’ve ever imagined swinging on a vine • Hide and seek. Because there are so many tangled
through the jungle, just know there really are trees and vines in the jungle, animals have lots of
thick, rope-like vines in the jungle called lianas, and places to hide from predators.
many animals do swing on them. • Guess which continent doesn’t have jungles. Did
• Speaking of vines, strangler fig vines coil around a you guess Antarctica? Jungles can be found on
tree and eventually “strangle” the tree to death. every other continent.

• Have you heard of cloud forests? They are cool • Check out these jungle plant names: Lobster
rainfor- ests higher up on mountains that are Claws, Monkey Brush, and the Walking Palm.
frequently covered by low-level clouds. • Only 6% of the world is covered by rainforests, but
over half of all species live there.
10 • Overview Terrific Trivia Tidbits
Part 2: Animal Information • At the Black Ivory Coffee business in Thailand,
•
Would you freak out or think it’s cool to see an about 20 elephants that live in the jungle are fed
Amazon giant centipede that is a foot long? Bird- coffee beans.
eating tarantulas the size of dinner plates? A When they go to the bathroom a day or so later, their
rhinoceros beetle the size of a baseball? You can find waste is harvested and made into one of the most expen-
them all in jungles. sive coffees in the world—Black Ivory Coffee.
•
Ribbit! Most of the world’s frogs live in jungles, • Ants that explode? Yep! If they feel threatened,
including some crazy-looking ones like glass frogs, they squeeze their muscles really hard. That
tomato frogs, the Surinam horned frog, and the makes them explode! They leave a harmful,
hairy frog. sticky goo behind.
•
Most chill animal? Maybe the sloth. It spends its • God designed the basilisk lizard with feet that
days hanging upside down on branches, slowly eating enable it to “walk” on water. Because of that, it is
leaves and sleeping. It moves so slowly it may grow sometimes called the Jesus lizard.
algae on its fur, making it appear a fuzzy green • Have you ever tried to bite off more than you can
color. chew? Leaf-cutter ants bite off so many leaves it’s
•
Here’s a clever invention. The orangutan of the incredible. They actually carry the leaves around—
Southeast Asian rainforests makes his own hat out of almost 50 times their weight! That would be like a
leaves! God gave him that ability to cool himself person carrying the weight of about three large
down from intense heat and to be protected from men in his teeth!
rainforest downpours. • Zap! Watch out for electric eels if you end up in a
•
What’s one of the loudest animals in the rainforest? South American jungle river. They can grow to be
The howler monkey. God gave it an enlarged hyoid eight feet (2.4 m) long and give a jolt that is strong
bone in its throat which makes its calls especially loud. enough to knock a horse off its feet. They aren’t real
You can hear it echoing through the jungle three “eels” but instead are knifefish.
miles away. • Do you like bright-colored birds? Some of the most
•
Stick out your tongue. Now try to touch your eyelid beau- tiful, colorful birds in the world live in jungles,
with it. Okapis have such long tongues they can such as the toco toucan, scarlet macaw, Amazon
actually lick their own eyelids. kingfisher, and the ruby-throated hummingbird.
•
Guess what group of animals you’ll find the most of • Who’s the king of the jungle? It’s often thought to
in the rainforest. Did you say insects? It’s estimated be lions, but lions typically don’t live in jungles.
that 2.5 million insect species live in the Amazon Many tigers do though.
jungle alone. Add in the other jungles of the world, • Did you suck your thumb when you were a baby?
and you’ve got yourself a lot of insects! Baby elephants suck their trunks.
•
Which jungle cat has the strongest bite? The • What’s the largest rodent in the world? A mouse? A
jaguar. It can bite straight through the thick shell rat? Nope, it’s a capybara. They can weigh up to 150
of a turtle. pounds (68 kg) and stand at two feet (60 cm) tall.
•
Some animals’ feet never touch the forest floor! They Now that’s one big rodent!
live their whole lives up in the trees. • What is the world’s strongest bird of prey? The
•
Wanna meet a freaky big frog? Then check out the forest- dwelling harpy eagle. Even though they are
Goli- ath frog. It’s the biggest frog in the world at over birds, they eat mammals as big as sloths and
12 inches (30 cm) in length and seven pounds (3 kg) monkeys. One look at their faces and you might be
in weight, making it bigger than some house cats. intimidated too!
Any ideas why they nicknamed it the Goliath frog? • Is it true that piranhas eat humans? They usually
•
How’s this for creative? When it’s curled up, the eat animals and plants. While they can be
bird- dropping crab spider looks like . . . bird aggressive toward people, it would be highly
droppings! It even smells like them. unlikely they would attack a full-grown adult. Keep
your hands inside the boat though!
•
If you want to see the world’s smallest bear in the
wild, head to the jungles of Southeast Asia where the
sun bear lives. It’s about half the size of the American
black bear.
Terrific Trivia Tidbits Overview •
11
 Ferociously Fun Jokes
Animal Pal Jokes and Riddles
•
What’s a butterfly’s favorite type of government?
A monarchy.
Day 1 Animal Pal Jokes—Parrot •
What do you call a friendly caterpillar? A social butterfly.
•
Why did the parrot’s mom go to the elementary • Why wasn’t the butterfly invited to the dance?
school? Because it was a moth ball.
For a parrot-teacher conference.
•
What did the parrot say to the waitress after he Miscellaneous Jokes and Riddles
ordered his food? “Just put it on my bill.”
• • What’s a rainforest dweller’s favorite dessert? A pie-thon.
What did the parrot say when the monkey made fun
• How do you get to know a modern spider?
of him? “Toucan play that game.”
• Check out his web-site.
What did the teacher say to the parrot who wasn’t
• What’s a rainforest dweller’s favorite Christmas song?
pre- pared for her speech? “Just wing it!”
• Jungle Bell Rock.
What’s a parrot’s favorite material? Polly-ester.
• What’s an anaconda’s favorite subject in school?
Day 2 Animal Pal Jokes—Poison Dart Frog Hissss-tory.
• • What do you call a sick alligator? An ill-igator.
What’s a poison dart frog’s favorite drink? Croak-a-
cola. • Why do hummingbirds hum? Because they
•
What’s a poison dart frog’s favorite place to work? don’t know the words.
IHOP. • Where do tigers go to work out? The jungle gym.
•
Why was the poison dart frog crying? Because • Where do monkeys go to get flowers? The rain-florist.
he was so unhoppy. • What plant can you hold in your hand? A palm tree.
•
What do you get when you cross a frog and a
rabbit? A bunny ribbit. Knock Knock Jokes
• Knock knock. Who’s
Day 3 Animal Pal Jokes—Gorilla
there? Iguana.Iguana who?
•
Why are gorillas the best fighters? Because Iguana go to VBS. Want to
they know King Kong Fu. come?
•
What’s a gorilla’s favorite cookie? Chocolate chimp.
• • Knock knock. Who’s there?
What’s a gorilla’s favorite fruit? Ape-ricots.
• Leaf. Leaf who?
Why does the gorilla like to shop at Amazon?
Leaf me alone, please.
Because he’s a Prime-ate.
•
How does a gorilla get down a flight of steps? He • Knock knock. Who’s
slides down the banana-ster. there? Gorilla. Gorilla
who? Gorilla me a steak,
Day 4 Animal Pal Jokes—Pink River Dolphin please!
•
What’s a pink river dolphin’s favorite country • Knock knock. Who’s there?
to visit? Fin-land. Water. Water who?
•
What do pink river dolphins take when they get a cold? Water you waiting for? Come to VBS!
Vitamin Sea.
Tongue Twisters
•
What did the pink river dolphin tell his mom when
he broke her favorite vase? “I didn’t do it on
porpoise!” • A pack of pretty parrots pitter-patter.
•
What did the dolphin’s mom say after he got a haircut? • Monkeys make mud pies many Monday mornings.
“You look fin-tastic!” • Crowds of crawly critters creep along the crooked creeks.
• A million messy monkeys love to mambo.
Day 5 Animal Pal Jokes—Butterfly • Skunks shun summer sunshine.
•
How did the caterpillar know he was in love? He
had but- terflies in his stomach.
12 • Overview Ferociously Fun Jokes
 Jungle A to Z
A F L S
acacia ant, Amazon, fer-de-lance snake, fern, lantern bug, leafcutter scarlet macaw,
ana- conda, Asian fig tree, forest floor, ant, leaves, leech silverback gorilla, skiff,
arowana fish, fruit- eating bat socks, lemon, lemur, sloth, spiny katydid,
armadillo, army ant, leopard, liana vine, stingray, stran- gler fig
assassin bug, Atlas moth lime tree, Sumatran tiger,
G sun bear, sunlight,
B giant anteater, giant
M
Suriname toad
otter, giant stink bug,
basilisk lizard, beetle, gibbon, golden lion macaw, manatee,
biolu- minescent tamarin, goli- ath mango, matamata, T
mushrooms, bird- beetle, gorilla moss, mother- of-pearl tamandua, tapir, tent-mak-
eating spider, black butterfly ing bat, tomatoes,
agouti, blue morpho tonka bean, tropical
but- terfly, Borneo, H
Borneon elephant,
harpy eagle, N
bromeliad
Hercules beetle, nettles, night U
hoatzin, horn- bill, monkey, ninja ubos fruit tree, umbrella
C howler monkey, slug bird, undergrowth, under-
hummingbird story layer
cacao bean, caiman,
can- nonball tree, O
canopy, capybara, I ocelot, oil palm, okapi, V
cashew, chicle tree,
ibis, insect, iguana orangutan, orchid vampire bat, vanilla
chimpanzee, clear-
bean, violin beetle
water, cloud forest,
coco- nut, Congo, J P
corpse lily, crab
jaguar, Jatoba tree, jumping palm grass, pangolin, W
spider
spider, jungle papaya, parrot, walking palm, walking
passion flower, stick, waterfalls, Welling-
D K
peccary, philoden- dron, ton boots, whip scorpion,
pink river dolphin, whitewater, window-
dogfish, dolphin
Kapok tree, keel- pitcher plant, piranha, pane butterfly, wooly
(pink), downriver,
billed toucon, king- poison dart frog, mouse opposum
dragonfly
fisher, kola nut prayer plant, pygmy
marmoset
E XYZ
Xylopia brasiliensis
electric eel, elephant Q tree, yam, yapock,
beetle, emerald boa,
Queen zebra plant, zorro
emergent layer,
Alexandra’s
epiphyte, equator,
bird-wing
exploding ant
butterfly,
queen’s wreath, quetzal,
quinine bark

R
rain, rainforest, rain
poncho, red-eyed tree
frog, rosy periwinkle,
river cruise, rubber
tree
Jungle A to Z Overview • 13
 Top 20 Tips When Working with Children
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples
rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for
to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:13–14

1.Show love. All children, regardless of age or

appearance, need to be loved. Greet them warmly 11. Be aware of age-level characteristics.
each day, and always be ready with smiles, giggles, With younger children, activities need to be
encouraging words, and appropriate hugs. (Make hands-on, concrete, short, and simple. Older
sure all staff are aware of your church’s appropriate children love to talk and are processing and
touching policies.) questioning information. Be ready to give an
2. Learn names. It makes children feel important and answer for the hope that is within you.
loved to be called by their name. Make sure visible 12.Challenge them. Children generally rise to
name tags are always on each child. the level expected of them, so challenge them
3. Keep it moving. Children have short attention spans. to learn their memory verses and song lyrics. At
4. Use active learning. The more children can the same time, encourage in them a true love
actively be involved in the learning process, the for the Lord and his Word.
more they will retain. 13.Pray. Before, during, and after VBS, be a faithful
5. Be all there! Try to leave behind whatever is prayer warrior for the children in your care.
currently going on in your life and focus your 14.Be organized. Read through all training information,
attention on the children under your care during ask questions, and faithfully prepare any materials
VBS. Listen to them and care for them. for which you are responsible.
6. Eliminate downtime. Find activities to do when 15.Be a team player. Children do not need to hear
you have a few free minutes so all time is being negative words from their leaders. If you are
used in a fun and productive way. Practice memory frustrated or upset, take it to the Lord, but do not
verses, share Terrific Trivia Tidbits and jokes complain or get angry in front of the children.
(Ferociously Fun Jokes), play impromptu review 16.Remember to take bathroom breaks. The younger
games, or ask fun conversation starters (page 75). the children, the more important this is!
7.Think safety. Read the Child Safety Precautions 17. Maintain order. Children like order! Think
on page 52. Ensure there are always at least two through potential trouble spots in your day and
unre- lated adults with the children at all decide on a firm, loving discipline strategy. Ask for
times. help from expe- rienced individuals.
8. Be thematic. Get the kids enthused and excited 18.Build team spirit. Work as a team rather than
about participating in the daily contests. Children allowing cliques to develop. Everyone should be
love cos- tumes, fun cheers, songs, and anything an important member of the team.
that goes with the theme, so dress to reflect a 19.Use guided conversation. Be alert and ready to
jungle cruise. turn conversations to spiritual matters. Build upon
9. Walk worthy. Be an example in both word and what the children are learning throughout the VBS
deed. Children need to see authentic Christianity, day.
so make sure you are walking the walk and not 20. Be prepared to lead a child to Christ. Attend the
just talk- Gospel Presentation Workshop to be equipped
ing the talk. should God give you the awesome opportunity to
10.Notice the good. Children want attention and will talk to a child about Christ.
sometimes act up in an effort to receive attention,
even if it is negative attention. Be proactive by
noticing and praising the things they do right. Be
an encourager.
14 • Overview Top 20 Tips When Working with Children
 Age-Level Characteristics
Kids are awesome! Each one is unique and is a
special creation from the hand of our amazing helpful to see how God has wired children as they
Creator. With all their uniqueness, however, they also develop, enabling us to be more effective in teaching
share some common characteristics. That doesn’t and interacting with them.
mean every child always exhibits the following First, you’ll see characteristics of children in general and
characteristics at the corresponding age, but these then characteristics broken down by the four age
guidelines can be a benchmark to use when looking at groups we use with Answers VBS.
characteristics of children as a whole. It can be

Common Characteristics
• Children are born • Children need to be loved, encouraged, and praised.
sinners.
• God has given each a conscience, and they • Children are rapidly growing and changing.
(generally) want good to win over evil. • Children trust the adults who are responsible for them.
• God has shown himself to all children through his • Children can get discouraged by criticism and failure.
cre- ation, making it obvious to all that there is a • Children are eager to learn and are curious about
Creator. the world and about God.
• Children enjoy active learning—moving around,
seeing things, touching things, smelling and hearing
things, and being involved.

Toddlers (2–4 years old)

Physical Characteristics • Be consistently present all week; establish routines
and stick with them.
Toddlers are active! They’re on the move, running, • Be consistent in discipline. Let your “yes” be “yes”
climb-
and your “no” be “no.”
ing, and exploring. Some are beginning to perform
• Give them opportunities to dress up and
simple tasks like using scissors. They can easily get
play imaginatively.
hurt as
• Don’t dress in elaborate costumes that may seem
they are rapidly developing physical skills but don’t have
unfa- miliar and scary.
wisdom to know when to stop running, climbing, etc.
• Be careful to walk worthy—act and speak in godly
Takeaways for Us ways. Little eyes are watching and will want to
• Keep toddlers moving. Engage them actively as much imitate you!
as possible. Have them do motions to songs and
actions to Bible accounts. Spiritual/Mental Characteristics
• Supervise them carefully. Toddlers are curious and want to touch, smell, feel,
• Provide chunky, nontoxic supplies. see, and experience their world. They have short
• Intersperse periods of sitting with something active. attention
spans and learn and communicate in short sentences.
Emotional/Social Characteristics They understand short and simple directions. They
Toddlers want to do things by themselves, such as believe what you say. Their attitude toward God and
pick- ing out their clothes and dressing themselves. others is in the pro- cess of being formed during these
They like imaginative, dramatic play. They’re testing years.
their powers and saying “no” a lot. They often want to Takeaways for Us
please adults and try to mimic their behaviors.
They’re affectionate toward others. Toddlers are • Involve toddlers’ senses in learning! The more they
fearful of things that are loud and out of the ordinary. can touch, smell, see, taste, and feel, the better!
• Give clear, simple directions.
Takeaways for Us • Keep activities and lessons short. Toddlers’
• Let toddlers be helpers. Give them simple one-step attention spans are only a few minutes long before
jobs to do and have them help pick up things and they need to switch to something new, so keep it
straighten the room at the end of the lesson. Let them moving!
know they’ve done a good job. • Be careful to speak accurately and truthfully.
• Show care and respect for your Bible and help them
see your love for it and for the Lord.
Age-Level Characteristics Overview
• 15
 Pre-Primaries (4–6 years old)
Physical Characteristics Spiritual/Mental Characteristics
Pre-Primaries are active and more confident in Pre-Primaries talk a lot and ask a lot of questions, including
physical activities like jumping, hopping on one foot, questions about God. They understand that sin is disobey-
and walking backward. They love to be moving. ing God. They need a lot of guidance in tasks but can
They’re improving in hand-eye coordination. also follow a simple series of directions. They have an
Takeaways for Us attention span of approximately five minutes. They enjoy
doing new things and hearing stories and songs. They’re
• Pre-Primaries like to play hard, so keep them not always able to tell the difference between reality
moving with short, simple games and activities. and fantasy.
They may need to sit and rest for a brief time after They’re developing attitudes toward right and wrong and
active play. can do basic memory work.

Emotional/Social Characteristics Takeaways for Us

Pre-Primaries are less fearful than toddlers but may still • In downtime, give them time to ask questions and
be afraid of common things like dogs or the dark. be ready to patiently answer! During teaching time,
They can have emotional extremes and are testing how- ever, be careful you don’t get so wrapped up
others to see who can be controlled. They want to in letting them talk that the lesson doesn’t
please adults and want praise. They will often mimic happen!
adults’ behaviors. They like imaginative play. Pre- • Vary activities often—every 5–10 minutes.
Primaries can handle small tasks and levels of • When engaged in pretend activities, name them as
responsibility. such (e.g., “Let’s pretend to be explorers!”). At the
same time, point out often that God’s Word is not
Takeaways for Us pretend but true!
• Let them be helpers. Give them simple jobs to do, and • Repetition in songs and stories works great and
have them help pick up things and straighten the is enjoyed by Pre-Primaries.
room at the end of the lesson. Let them know • Sing the memory verse songs with them. They
they’ve done a good job. will be able to learn at least parts of the verses by
• Give them opportunities to dress up and the end of the week.
play imaginatively. • Use visuals.
• Be consistent in discipline. Let your “yes” be “yes” • Teach them about sin and asking God for forgiveness.
and your “no” be “no.” • Show interest in each child, helping them sense your
• Be careful to walk worthy—act and speak in godly care and interest in them.
ways. Little eyes are watching and will want to • Be careful to speak accurately and truthfully.
imitate you! • Show care and respect for your Bible and help them
see your love for it and for the Lord.

Primaries (6–9 years old)

Physical Characteristics Emotional/Social Characteristics
Primaries love games and competitions, but it can be Primaries are becoming more independent and
hard for them to lose. They are continuing to grow and confident in their ability to do things. Girls play most
improve in hand-eye coordination and fine and gross often with girls and boys with boys, but there is some
motor skills. They need to have opportunities for mixing of girl and boy friends. They like to have a best
movement. friend and enjoy pre- tend play. Primaries enjoy jokes
Takeaways for Us and are gaining a sense of humor. They care about
being accepted by the team and want adult and
• Use games to teach! Primaries love any kind of teacher approval.
games, whether active or learning-type games.
• Help them learn to take turns and to be good Takeaways for Us
winners and good losers! Both winning and losing well • Give Primaries plenty of opportunities to work in
are impor- tant in God’s sight. teams or with partners.
• Use boy versus girl competitions to get them • Use humor with Primaries. The sillier, the better!
revved up! As long as you keep it light and fun, they • Be careful to walk worthy—act and speak in godly ways.
will enjoy these times.
16 • Overview Age-Level Characteristics
Spiritual/Mental Characteristics • Although their attention spans are growing, it’s still
Primaries like to talk and ask questions. They understand good to vary activities and involve Primaries with
simple concepts and sentences and are concrete movement as much as possible.
rather than abstract or symbolic thinkers. They’re • Some children read better than others. Be
learning to read. They need active learning. Their careful about asking children to read out loud. Try
attention span is growing. They understand the asking for volunteers.
consequences of their actions. They can tell the • Small print can be a challenge, so use larger
difference between reality and fantasy. They often print when possible.
have a strict sense of right and wrong. • Encourage memorization.
• Use visuals.
Takeaways for Us • Show interest in each child, helping them sense your
• Be concrete in what you say. Don’t use abstract or care and interest in them.
sym- bolic language. For example, regarding • Be careful to speak accurately and truthfully.
salvation, don’t ask if they have Jesus in their Explain Bible words and concepts even if you think
hearts. They will take that literally. Becoming a child they are widely understood.
of God, or being in God’s family, is a more concrete • Remember that you are a role model.
way to express the same concept, as they will • Show care and respect for your Bible and help them
understand what it means to be see your love for it and for the Lord.
in a family.

Juniors (9–12 years old)

Physical Characteristics sarcasm. As they head into puberty, they may experience
mood swings.
Juniors can vary widely as they grow, with some having a
growth spurt that launches them into puberty. (This can Takeaways for Us
make them get tired easily.) Height, weight, and • Make sure the teens and young adults in their VBS
physi- cal maturity can be all across the board. Their world are good role models.
stamina, strength, and coordination are improving, and • Don’t tear down Juniors or resort to sarcasm. Be
some are becoming known for their athletic abilities. an encourager, listen well, and be patient with
Juniors enjoy going places and doing interesting them.
things. • Incorporate discussion into the lesson and do things
Takeaways for Us that allow teams or pairings that don’t rely solely on
the chil- dren choosing partners. This helps avoid
• Don’t comment on physical appearance, such as how children repeat- edly getting chosen last by peers.
tall someone is. Juniors can feel sensitive and awkward • Be careful to walk worthy—act and speak in godly ways.
about their bodies.
• Make sure to help each child realize how special
and uniquely created by God he or she is. Some
Spiritual/Mental Characteristics
have gift- ings and talents physically, some Juniors are beginning to think abstractly and are asking
musically, some aca- demically, etc. They need to many questions for which they’re looking for good
be assured that they are God’s masterpiece, answers. They have a much longer attention span
created exactly as they are for a spe- cial purpose. than younger children. Their reading and memorization
• Some love being active, and some don’t, but it’s skills are improv- ing. They’re developing their views
good to keep them involved and moving. on current issues and often want to associate
themselves with their parents’ belief system. They spot
Emotional/Social Characteristics inconsistencies in what people do versus what they say.
Juniors enjoy serving and caring for others.
Juniors can’t wait to grow up. They look up to
teenagers and young adults. They like challenges and Takeaways for Us
may develop interests and hobbies, although they’re • Ask thought-provoking spiritual questions. They
self-conscious about their abilities and failures. are thinking and like to talk. Be there for them as
They’re becoming more independent and can handle a safe person to bounce thoughts and ideas off
responsibilities. They enjoy close friendships and of.
small group discussion with peers. They’re greatly • Listen well and pray with them.
influenced by their friends and want to be accepted. • Some children read better than others. Be careful
They look to friends for information and advice on about asking children to read out loud unless they
issues. They like humor and jokes and most understand volunteer or you know they can read well.
• Allow them to act out lessons. Most Juniors enjoy
this active involvement.
Age-Level Characteristics Overview
• 17
• Give them opportunities to be involved in missions • Make sure to walk the walk and not just talk the
or service projects. talk. They can spot inconsistencies, so it’s
• Challenge them to ask God to help them grow in important to walk worthy.
their love for him and his Word. Help them set up • Show interest in each child, helping them sense your
Bible-read- ing plans and encourage them to care and interest in them.
memorize passages of Scripture. • Be careful to speak accurately and truthfully.
• Show care and respect for your Bible and help them
see your love for it and for the Lord.

18 • Overview Age-Level Characteristics

 Tips for Managing a Group of Kids
Kids are fun, and kids have energy! Whether you are a group guide, a classroom teacher, or an assistant, be prepared to
con- fidently lead them using some strategies that follow.

Attention Getters » “If your first name starts with A–L, line up. Now, if
Call and Response—The teacher teaches the kids that your first name starts with M–Z, line up.”
when she says something, they reply back with » “If you are quiet, line up.”
something else. Practice the following ideas so they Let’s Be—When you are leaving a room, encourage
know your expecta- tions for responding to them. good behavior in the hallway by making a game out
» Teacher: Chimpanzees! of it. This works well with younger kids.
Kids: Everybody freeze! » “Let’s be mice and walk as quietly as we can.”
» Teacher: 1, 2, 3, 4 » “Let’s be robots. No talking—just stiff movements.”
Kids: Elephants, tigers, monkeys galore!
» Teacher: Pitter-patter, pitter-patter Proactive Tips
Kids: Raindrop, raindrop
» Teacher: Crisscross (they cross their legs) Be Prepared—One of the best ways to ward off
Kids: Watch for crocs! discipline problems is to be prepared. If you have
» Teacher: things well-orga- nized and have thought through
Rain Kids: your day so there isn’t downtime, it really helps.
Forest Keep things moving! This takes more time on your
Teacher: part but is very worth it.
Rain Kids: Active Participation—Keeping kids actively engaged in
Forest the lesson is perhaps the best thing you can do to
Teacher: Shh! keep the class from getting rowdy. The lessons are
written to be cre- ative, fun, and full of active
Rainstorm—Make the sound of a rainstorm that starts participation. Play the games, act out the Bible
softly with a light rain and gets louder. Start by having accounts, and do the other ideas listed.
everyone rub their hands together, then snap their Occupy kids’ minds and attention with good stuff!
fingers to get a little louder, then clap their hands Helpers—Involve the kids. Let them be helpers. Some
(not in rhythmic clap- ping), then slap their hands on kids just want to feel wanted, so giving them a
their legs, then stomp their feet. Go in reverse to get responsibility is a way to show you trust them. Try
back to a light rain. putting them in charge of a simple task like filling out
Countdown—Hold up five fingers and start to count the attendance roster as kids come in to VBS,
down from five to one. By the count of one, they need collecting name tags, carrying crafts, helping others
to be com- pletely quiet. learn memory verses, passing out papers, or holding a
Rhythm Claps—The teacher claps a little rhythm and the poster for the teacher. Sometimes a simple task can
kids try to clap the exact rhythm back. Vary the keep them busy and make them feel important!
clapping patterns. Pray—Some kids may never have had anyone pray for
Soft Talk—Start talking about something important them. Pray not only about behavior situations but also
very softly, or in a whisper. Kids will often get quiet about their eternal souls.
to hear what you are saying. Or share a command in a Notice the Good—Sometimes a poor behavior is an
soft voice, such as, “Anyone who hears me, clap once.” atten- tion-seeking device, so be proactive and give
Continue to share other commands. attention to that child so she doesn’t feel the need to
Flash the Lights—This is a good signal to listen up. act out negatively. Negative behaviors can be a cry
for love and attention.
Lining Up and Walking Through the Building Use Humor—Kids of all ages love to laugh! Have fun
If You—Say different categories for lining up in fun together. If you see a situation is getting tense or a
ways, such as the following: child is getting upset for some reason, try thinking of
a way to lighten the mood with humor.
» “If you are wearing red, line up. Now, if you’re
Distraction—When young kids are dropped off or
wear- ing blue, line up.”
start to cry, distracting them is a good technique to
» “If your birthday is during the summer, line
try. Ask them to tell you about something on their
up. Now, if your birthday is during the school
clothes (“Oh, what’s that on your T-shirt?”), get
year, line up.”
them talking about some of their favorites, or show
» “If you have a dog, line up. Now, if you have a
them an intriguing toy or puppet.
cat, line up. Now, if you have no pets, line
Keep Them Busy—If there is any downtime, fill it with
up.”
something productive! This could occur while waiting
for the next rotation or the assembly to begin, if craft
time ends a few minutes early, etc. Use the time to
practice

Tips for Managing a Group of Kids

Overview • 19
team cheers, ask questions, or go over memory
verses in fun ways (make up motions, make them Calming Rowdiness
into a rap, etc.). You may also want to play a quick Don’t Yell—Kids may respond at first if someone
game, like one of the following. yells, but they eventually dismiss it. Try some of
» Stone Face—Have a competition to see which these other ideas instead.
child can hold a frown for the longest without Separate Kids—Separate kids who misbehave around
crack- each other, but also encourage problem-solving when
ing a smile. possible. “What are some things we could do to help
» I Spy—Look for jungle things to spy out. you and get along?”
» Simon Says—Simon can say Bible-themed Give Choices—Avoid power struggles by giving choices.
things, like read your Bible (hands in front of you If a child is resistant to doing something you’ve asked
making a book), pray (praying hands), tell others of her, try your command another way. “You can
(cup hands around mouth), go to church (make a either sit with the rest of the group and listen to the
church with a steeple out of your interlocked teacher or sit with (leader’s name) at the back of the
hands), etc. room.”
» Quiet Mouse—Have a competition to see who is Praise in Public, Correct in Private—If someone does
the quietest in line. need correction, be careful not to embarrass him in front
» Follow the Leader—Play the normal version of his peers. If you need to talk to a child about a
or a jungle river cruise version. A jungle misbehavior, pull him aside at a time when the rest of
version uses rainforest animals and activities, the group is dis- tracted. Kids will be less defensive if
like the following: they don’t feel they have to “save face” in front of
their peers, and if they feel you really care and aren’t
Fly like a scarlet macaw (bird).
just coming down on them.
Crouch like a jaguar.
Know Church Policies—Know your church’s policy for
Crawl like a Goliath birdeater
severe behavior issues. Do you take the child to your
spider. Swim like a piranha fish.
VBS director? Do you alert the child’s parents? Do you
Run like a basilisk lizard (running upright).
involve other staff members? Be prepared.
Slither like an anaconda, the world’s largest
snake. Flutter like a blue morpho butterfly.
Jump like a red-eyed tree frog.
Trek through the jungle in your Wellington boots.
Kayak on the Amazon River.
Climb a tree to see a sloth.
20 • Overview Tips for Managing a Group of Kids
 PRIORITIES

First Things First

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of
sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his
law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its
fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1–3

To ensure that your VBS doesn’t take a detour down the

wrong path, work on deepening your relationship Take seriously the responsibility of finding a prayer
with the Lord before, during, and after VBS. As director, coordinator to head up a VBS prayer ministry. Copy the
your commitment to continual growth in your personal following page for your prayer coordinator and encourage
rela- tionship with the Lord is vital. This comes as you him to put together a combination of ideas that suits your
depend upon the Lord and eagerly follow after him. Daily situation.
prayer Devotions for each VBS day have
and Bible study provide fuel for your growth. The Lord also been provided. You may want to
tells us that “whoever abides in me and I in him, he it read through these together or
is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can encourage your staff to read them on
do nothing” (John 15:5). Encourage your staff to their own. Copies of the devotions can
regularly spend time fellowshipping with the Lord also be found on the Digital
through prayer and read- Resources, in the Helper Handbook
(12-0-007), and in the teacher guides
ing his Word.
for each age group.

Praying for Your VBS

Praying that the Lord will use this VBS program for his purposes is vital. Apart from him, we can do nothing. As you launch
your prayer ministry, choose from the following ideas.

Praying for Your VBS Priorities •

23
 Top 10 Tips for a VBS Prayer Ministry
“When God plans a great work, he first sets his people to prayer.”—Charles Spurgeon
1. Find prayer warriors. Enlist people who are willing
to pray consistently for VBS. Send each of them a 8. Pass out “Praying for You”
list of VBS prayer requests for which they can postcards (12-0-028) to willing
regularly be praying. See the Prayer Calendar and trustwor- thy church
Sample for ideas. members with instruc- tions to
2. Set up an email prayer loop. Use your church’s email write a quick note to a child,
prayer loop—or create your own—to pass along letting him know someone is
VBS prayer requests. praying for him. Collect the post-
3. Gather your VBS crew to pray. Pray at meetings cards the week before VBS
and encourage them to pray on their own. Write begins and have church staff
all VBS crew names on slips of paper and have address and mail them.
each draw a name of a fellow crew member to 9. People who may not be able to make it to VBS can
pray for and with. help by praying during the VBS hours from work,
4. Hold a weekly prayer meeting devoted to VBS. home, or wherever they are.
Pray over that week’s praises and prayer 10. When VBS is over, continue to encourage your
requests. church family to pray for the children who came
5. Encourage your group guides to pray through the to VBS. Ask God to continue to work in their
names on their class lists before, during, and after hearts and minds.
VBS.
6. Hold a dedication service. Encourage the pastoral
staff to include a time of prayer during the church
service the Sunday before VBS.
7. Print maps and prayer request sheets and
encourage your church family to walk the premises
and pray over every area of the building and
grounds.
24 • Priorities Top 10 Tips for a VBS Prayer Ministry
 Staff Devotions
Devotion 1: God Is the Good Creator
The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9

For a few moments, imagine yourself strolling through

a section of the garden of Eden. This beautiful abundance are just a few of the many who can’t comprehend the
of flora and fauna was just declared by the Creator to be good- ness of God because of what they see today.
“very good.” The creation was a manifestation of the Although all of creation shouts, “There is a God!”
goodness of the Creator. In your mind’s eye, how does (Romans 1:20), it has been marred with our sin.
this original para- dise reflect the goodness of God? Read Psalm 33:5. In what ways do you see the love of
Do the flowers fill the air with glorious fragrances? God still reflected in his creation?
Do the serpents hanging from the trees fill you with In what ways do you see the effects of our sin?
delight at their bright colors and silky smooth skin? Do Think about how you represent the all-good Creator to
you gently stroke the thick fur of the large bear to your those in your care. For example, are the “design
right? Do you gasp in awe at the towering sauropod as he features” you share with your children reflective of a
lumbers past? good God or a fallen creation?
Contrast this with the view that Carl Sagan held about As you present today’s C, do so in a way that
God and his creation: emphasizes the goodness of God. His original creation
“If God is omnipotent and omniscient, why didn’t he was complete and “very good.” It was full of life,
start the universe out in the first place so it would peace, and joy. He pro- vided light for us to see by (day
come out the way he wants? Why is he constantly 1), air for us to breathe (day 2), vegetation for us to eat
repairing and complaining? No, there’s one thing the (day 3), majestic arrays of stars to study before bed (day
Bible makes clear: 4), abundant fauna for us to enjoy (days 5–6), and a
The biblical God is a sloppy manufacturer. He’s not good creation for us to care for. He created for his glory.
at design, he’s not good at execution. He’d be out of Read Psalm 107:1, 15, and 119:68, as well as this Puritan
business if there was any competition” (Carl Sagan, prayer about the infinite goodness of the Creator.
Contact [New York: Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster, King of glory, divine majesty,
1985]). Every perfection adorns thy nature
In Sagan’s Eden, the flowers God created prick you and sustains thy throne;
with thorns when you bend over to inhale their The heavens and earth are
fragrance. The serpent slithering past your feet thine, The world is thine
inspires a fearful shriek. The lion creeping up behind the and its fullness
lamb suddenly takes a bite out of it. And the dinosaurs Thy power created the universe from nothing;
are nowhere to be seen because they died out millions Thy wisdom has managed all its multiple
of years ago. concerns, Presiding over nations, families,
What important factor did Carl Sagan fail to take individuals
into account? He believed that the world we live Thy goodness is
in today is the world God originally created. He boundless; All
didn’t understand that we now live in a fallen creatures wait on
world—a world that has been corrupted with sin. thee;
His view has been colored by the belief that the Are supplied by
world is millions of years old and that the fossil
thee; Are satisfied
record—filled with evidence of death, disease,
in thee
suffering, and thorns—is a record of the way
How precious are the thoughts of thy mercy and grace!
things have been for the past several million
years. How excellent thy lovingkindness that
Carl Sagan isn’t alone in viewing the Creator this draws men to thee!
way. Media mogul Ted Turner and even Charles Darwin —Arthur Bennett, The Valley of Vision
himself (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2005),
216.
Devotion 1: God Is the Good Creator Priorities
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