www.lifeway.com/kids • 1.800.458.2772 • LifeWay Christian Stores

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

Jerry Vogel jerry.vogel@lifeway.comVBSIs/Previews 2010

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

In 2008, over 2.8 million people were enrolled in Vacation Bible Schools.

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

Over 86,000 decisions to accept Christ as Savior were reported as a result of VBS.

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

More than 3,000 people committed their lives to church-related vocations during Vacation Bible School.

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

Over 37,000 people were enrolled in Sunday School as a result of attending VBS.

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

Vacation Bible School is the single largest outreach event for most churches.

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

About 25 percent of baptisms are the result of Vacation Bible School.

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

More people have come to know Jesus as Savior through VBS than through any other single outreach event!

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

So, is evangelism during VBS important?

YES!

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

Every aspect of VBS helps to lay the foundation for evangelism…

• Small group experiences in each room.

• Large group experiences in each room.

• Relationships built between students and leaders.

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

However, the majority of salvation decisions will still be made during an evangelistic service planned specifically for sharing the gospel with VBS attendees.

Each of these services most often concludes with an invitation. Let’s take a look at this pivotal time during VBS.

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

What are some of the WORST techniques that you have seen used during a VBS Evangelistic Invitation?

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

What are some of the BEST techniques that you have seen used during a VBS Evangelistic Invitation?

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

Taking into consideration this input, what might compose a list of DOs and DON’Ts related to evangelistic invitations during VBS?

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DON’T: Allow the service to go Allow the service to go too long beyond the too long beyond the understanding and “sit”ability understanding and “sit”ability of the children. Their attention of the children. Their attention span is span is very short.

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DO: Consider the age of Consider the age of children to be included in the children to be included in the evangelistic service. Keep it evangelistic service. Keep it brief.brief.

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DON’T: Use “high pressure” Use “high pressure” techniques….just for the sake techniques….just for the sake of numbers. Remember, God of numbers. Remember, God is the one who seeks out is the one who seeks out individuals and calls each into individuals and calls each into a personal relationship with a personal relationship with Him through Jesus.Him through Jesus.

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DO: Respect the work of the Respect the work of the Holy Spirit and remember Holy Spirit and remember ““YOUYOU do not save anyone!” do not save anyone!”

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DON’T: Just leave it up to each Just leave it up to each VBS room to do what the VBS room to do what the teachers feel is appropriate teachers feel is appropriate when it comes to evangelism.when it comes to evangelism.

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DO: Have a clear strategy for Have a clear strategy for the evangelistic service: one the evangelistic service: one large group; services by age; large group; services by age; individual presentations in the individual presentations in the VBS department rooms?VBS department rooms?

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DON’T: Jump to conclusions Jump to conclusions and give children more and give children more information than they need.information than they need.

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DO: Present the simple gospel Present the simple gospel message of message of God’s love for usGod’s love for us and his provision for and his provision for forgiveness.forgiveness.

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DON’T: Use so many Bible Use so many Bible verses that the children are verses that the children are overwhelmed. Make it overwhelmed. Make it personal.personal.

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DO: Use Bible content as a Use Bible content as a part of the evangelistic part of the evangelistic message and emphasize that message and emphasize that what is being shared is from what is being shared is from the Bible, God’s Word. Use a the Bible, God’s Word. Use a “child friendly” translation.“child friendly” translation.

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DON’T: Have everyone who Have everyone who “loves Jesus” raise their “loves Jesus” raise their hand or simply come hand or simply come forward and fill out a card!forward and fill out a card!

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DO: Consider using a Consider using a response card during the response card during the invitation.invitation.

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DON’T: Assume that all Assume that all counselors (including counselors (including deacons and Sunday School deacons and Sunday School teachers) know how to talk teachers) know how to talk with children about with children about salvation.salvation.

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DO: Provide training for Provide training for invitation counselors.invitation counselors.

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DON’T: Encourage Encourage counselors to just use counselors to just use “whatever” in reviewing “whatever” in reviewing the gospel with children.the gospel with children.

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DO: Provide specific Provide specific resources for counselors to resources for counselors to use during the decision-use during the decision-making time of the making time of the invitation.invitation.

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DON’T: Be fooled into Be fooled into thinking that one counselor thinking that one counselor can meet the needs of can meet the needs of multiple children at one multiple children at one time.time.

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DO: Provide enough Provide enough counselors to insure “one counselors to insure “one to one” counseling.to one” counseling.

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DON’T: Ask “yes” or “no” Ask “yes” or “no” questions.questions.

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DO: When counseling, ask When counseling, ask “open ended” questions.“open ended” questions.

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DON’T: Answer the Answer the question(s) for the child. question(s) for the child. Consider wording the Consider wording the question a different way question a different way for clarification.for clarification.

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DO: Encourage the child to Encourage the child to express his own ideas and express his own ideas and allow time for reflection.allow time for reflection.

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DON’T: Use a lot of Use a lot of “churchy” words…the “churchy” words…the language of Zion!language of Zion!

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DO: Avoid symbolic Avoid symbolic language.language.

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DON’T: Leave the child Leave the child hanging on issues like… hanging on issues like… “will I ever sin again” or “if “will I ever sin again” or “if I mess up does that mean I I mess up does that mean I didn’t do it right?”didn’t do it right?”

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DO: Anchor the memory and Anchor the memory and give immediate assurance give immediate assurance of salvation.of salvation.

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DON’T: Overlook an Overlook an opportunity that God has opportunity that God has given you to reach not only given you to reach not only the child, but, the whole the child, but, the whole family.family.

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DO: Have a follow-up plan Have a follow-up plan “after” VBS to get into the “after” VBS to get into the homes of those making homes of those making decisions. Consider asking decisions. Consider asking if the child can be enrolled if the child can be enrolled in Sunday School.in Sunday School.

www.lifeway.com/kids • 1.800.458.2772 • LifeWay Christian Stores

Leading an Evangelistic Invitation During VBS

Jerry Vogel jerry.vogel@lifeway.comVBSIs/Previews 2010

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