Why does Concordia Publishing House offer site-rotation VBS materials?

In response to strong customer demand and preference, CPH follows a site-rotation model of VBS. In our experience, churches that follow the site-rotation VBS find it much easier to plan, organize and implement a VBS program, particularly in circumstances where staff and resources are limited.

CPH offers only site-rotation materials because we believe this model offers the best answer to concerns many churches have about VBS.

In many surveys, customers have told us that getting, retaining, and keeping volunteers are top concerns about VBS.

Finding capable, qualified people to teach each age level is a challenge. Finding volunteers for any task is a challenge!

To reach out to your community, VBS needs to happen when the most children are available. In many places this means having a daytime program.

Some churches have shifted successfully to night or intergenerational programs. However, many also say that they have not had the outreach appeal they had with a daytime program since a nighttime VBS competes with summer sports leagues, concerts, park programs, and other activities for kids and adults.

So if a daytime VBS offers the best opportunity to reach the most children with the Gospel, how do you offer a program when it’s also when the fewest adults and teens are available?

Site rotation uniquely addresses these challenges!

• Volunteer recruitment is easier because you ask volunteers to work at a task that matches their interests and strengths, such as crafts, music, or snacks. Volunteers do what they love best.
• Recruitment is easier because volunteers have less prep work. Site leaders have one main job. Instead of asking a teacher to prepare for one to three hours of activities with kids, each site leader only prepares 20 minutes of activities. They may repeat these same activities several times throughout the day. Everyone works together to teach the lesson. Each site leader has a Leader Guide for easy, creative, and fun planning.
• Circle Guides have little prep work and enjoy building relationships. These leaders lead small groups of six kids to every site. Every church has people who are willing to help with VBS if they don’t have to do a lot of preparation. The Circle Guide role fits them perfectly! These leaders get to know six kids without having to do extensive preparation. Circle Guide Books give them everything they need to lead small-group activities

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