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BLUEPRINT
7
for
Following Up VBS
52
Shelby Baptist Association VBS Clinic: Spring , 2015
Tony Hough, Director of Missions
What IS the Point of
VBS?
52
Shelby Baptist Association VBS Clinic:
Spring , 2015
7
What IS the Point of VBS ?
 Teach the Bible to our children.
We achieve more in one week with VBS
than in the entire year of Sunday School.
 Show and tell children of God’s love.
Many kids receive no love anywhere else,
so VBS can serve as a great opportunity.
Many kids are both aware and ready to
receive Jesus. Concentrated VBS weeks
provide great opportunities.
What IS the Point of VBS ?
 Build positive relationships with kids & families.
Parents want their children to be loved.
Parents may feel loved when their kids do.
Families are hungry to be loved, too.
Telling unchurched families of Jesus is far
easier when they trust the church.
Trust arises from intensive VBS weeks.
What DOES Follow-up
Look Like ?
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Shelby Baptist Association VBS Clinic:
Spring , 2015
7
What DOES Follow-up Look Like ?
 Developing love and trust in the family by
learning their needs & responding in love.
People fear new situations, relationships, places.
We build trust by care & kindness.
 Modeling servanthood as Jesus lived it.
Our primary “content” must be readiness to help.
NOT “good theology.”
NOT (yet) articulating the “plan of salvation.”
NOT coercing a salvation prayer.
What DOES Follow-up Look Like ?
 Overlooking “unreadiness” of kids and parents.
Many do not understand how to behave, how to
dress, how to talk in a church context.
 Taking time:
 to teach Bible basics, or even how to read!
 to answer even “dumb” questions
 to model the loving way that God nudges us,
loves us, leads us, and strengthens our
resolve to follow.
What DOES Follow-up Look Like ?
 Praying a child and her family out of darkness.
Ultimately, people’s greatest needs are spiritual.
Our supreme tools are prayer and God’s power.
 Going where the child and his family are.
Sometimes not the most desirable situations.
 Expecting anger, suspicion, misgiving in family.
Life is difficult for everyone, especially those
without Jesus. They need someone to blame,
to absorb their anger at life & the Lord.
What DOES Follow-up Look Like ?
 Looking for others in the family’s “network.”
Everyone has relationships. Winning one can
open the door of welcome for many others.
 Teaching parents what a Christ-follower looks
like — by precept, example, & acceptance.
 Listening more than talking; heart-hearing more
than giving answers.
 Model that we are for them, not after them.
BLUEPRINT
7
for
Following Up VBS
52
Shelby Baptist Association VBS Clinic:
Spring , 2015