I spent a few hours tonight looking over the new Answers In Genesis VBS 2008. I was very pleased with what I found and wanted to share some of the highlights with you. You can check it out for yourself on their Answers VBS website. You can find information on about twenty VBS 2008 themes on my Vacation Bible School preview page.
Content: In terms of content, the Answers In Genesis VBS is definately leading the pack this year. Their ambitious program attempts to lay the entire foundations of a biblical worldview in a 5 day program. If you’ve read my website for long, you know I love content that challenges kids. The Amazon Expedition VBS 2008 explores the “7 C’s of History” while teaching them that the Bible is the true history book of the universe. The 5-Day, 7 C’s Adventure Includes:
- Day 1: Creation—Destination Creation
- Day 2: Corruption—The Fall of All
- Day 3: Catastrophe—Water, Water Everywhere
- Day 4: Confusion—The Babel Rabble
- Day 5: Christ, Cross, Consummation—Sad Turns to Glad
Translation: Using the New King James should open some doors into Independent churches.
Music: You can listen to samples for each song on their website. It was better than I expected from a freshman publisher, but it several songs still sound young for the children at our church. It is definitely workable. One big drawback - no demonstration DVD is listed in the package. This could be a major hang up for smaller churches.
Testing: I like to see they tested their curriculum in a large church. But sometimes I wonder how much money they spent. Will my VBS look that great on a much, much smaller budget?
Room To Improve: The cross isn’t until the last day of their program. While I appreciate their emphasis on creation and apologetics, I still am concerned that the Gospel might get overlooked in a typical Bible school. Having an extra session to present the Gospel earlier in the week would go a long way.
I would like to see PDF downloads to preview their material. It is difficult for many churches to break with their traditional VBS publishers. If Answers In Genesis made some sample lesson plans available via PDF it would help their cause.
You can find out more about vacation bible school on my 2008 theme review page.
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26 comments ↓
Looks cool! We need more teaching on creation to counteract the secularists who claim to have a corner on science.
A great way to get the Gospel in earlier in the series would be to discuss Genesis 3:15 (the first Messianic promise) in the corruption session.
I’ll be looking into this even more!
–Uncle Steve
It’s a shame that Answers In Genesis doesn’t make their materials available using the King James Bible. They believe God created the world, but they don’t believe he preserved his word.
I totally agree that it would be very helpful if AiG would make some previews available in PDF format. I really appreciate your comments on this program as I am seriously considering it for our small church. I like AiG and I really appreciate their focus on the TRUTH, which I know our kids aren’t getting in their homes and schools. Most of the kids we get we only have them for one week out of the year and we need to make a BIG impact on their lives in that short time! I look forward to your other upcoming reviews!!
I’ve checked this out as well and am certainly leaning in this direction for next year.
We’ve done God Always Wins by Children Desiring God in the past and also found that very solid.
Is your church planning to use the AIG materials?
Steve - We were thinking on those lines too. We just finalized plans to offer an adult class called Answers Academy from the AIG people at the same time for youth and parents.
Dennis - I don’t do KJV either. Most evangelicals believe that God has preserved his word via the critical text. Although I do really like ESV
Bev - the world view dynamic is so important, and creation is right at the heart of all the issues.
Gunny - We’ve just settled now to use AIG at our church. I really want to do the CDG stuff, but we are really focusing on creation and world view apologetics. We do CDG in most of our Sunday school classes.
That sounds like a good plan. We also use CDG for Sunday school, which actually inclines me in the direction of the AIG for a change of pace and emphasis.
Thanks,
Gunny
I think that you have a point that it would be good to maybe talk about the cross at the start of the VBS but Kids need more prove these days that God really does exsit. As much as I hate to say this but sometimes it’s not enough anymore just to say God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you. They need proof and facts to help them understand the big picture of God. We suger code the gosple for children these days and most of them don’t stay in the church.
We are leaning towards Amazon Expedition this year. It was noted above that the music doesn’t have a DVD, but I read on the promotional DVD that song motions are included. We usually use that instead of a live worship team. I have the rest of my team checking out all of the options for 2008 and I hope to have it finalized soon. The teachings here seem so much richer than the other options out there.
Allison - That would be good news. I should have my copy in hand by the end of the month, if you find out sooner let me know.
The demonstrations style DVD that you can directly run to lead the kids is big help. We have several volunteers who can do it, but having a full screen video backup really makes a better atmosphere.
[...] Preview the Amazon Expedition Vacation Bible School Curriculum [...]
My boys got to be in the “test market” this summer for Amazon Expedition. The writers’ church is close to our our home. We did 6 VBS’s last year. Out of all of them they still remember everything they learned from AE even now in cold January. We got to go to the Creation Museum and they taught me stuff I didn’t know! Why? Because they had learned it at “Amazon Expedition”. I can’t say enough good things about it.
Jackie - Thanks for sharing your experience, my AIG kit arrived this week and it looks top quality.
Tony, I’m anxious to hear your review of the AIG kit that arrived on the 20th! I just ordered a Super Starter Kit for our VBS this summer.
Your thoughts please!
Nice catch, Tony. Thanks. We’ll feature it shortly.
[...] If you haven’t head about it yet, you might want to read my review of Amazon Expedition Vacation Bible School. [...]
[...] drive is only an hour from our church and we’re doing the Answers In Genesis Vacation Bible School this year. So, I thought I would make the [...]
What is this adverb — deinately? (see quote below) Might want to check for typos. We are studying your materials as a Bible study on Wednesday at our church as adults. Great, at age 64, I am learning so much.
“Content: In terms of content, the Answers In Genesis VBS is deinately leading the pack this year. Their ambitious program attempts to lay the…”
When I called to order materials for the AIG VBS program this year, I asked if they are developing any more VBS programs? The Customer Service rep told me they have developed something which will be tested this summer with a planned release for fall ‘08!
Also, in terms of a previous post about being concerned as to whether the gospel is presented each day since the cross is not talked about until the last day. We have gone over the materials, and clearly child get the gospel message each day within the program.
Ruth - Thanks for the correction, I need all the help I can get!
Diana - Thanks for the info. I’m looking forward to seeing more from them in the future. I’m glad to hear that the Gospel is woven through the entire curriculum - that’s good news.
I am trying to get ideas to set up my registration table?? Also to decorate our stage.. Thanks Be blessed Karen
Karen,
Last year, I asked my brother to design a computerized photo
registration system for me. It utilizes barcodes, pictures and 3×5
cards to make a “top secret security clearance”. The main thing I was
after was the “cool” effect but we also built in the components needed
for a full registration system.
I tell the kids they need a top secret badge to be in the room and I
have had very little trouble with kids hiding or removing their badges
(name tags).
The kids think it’s really cool!
It’s run as a website so it can work on any computer platform. The
downfall is that (due to an unknown glitch) it has to run on a Linux
server.
You can check it out at http://badgeentry.sourceforge.net/ . It’s
free; we just want to help out!
Shame on Dennis (11-3-07) for making an idol of the King James Bible. The KJV is my favorite version of my twelve versions, but it is still only a translation of the earlier translations of the inspired originals! And Dennis couldn’t even read a copy of the original KJV from the 1600’s because the English has been revised so much since then. And he is absurdly deceived in making the statement that AIG does not believe that God has preserved his word- they certainly do believe that! His head is converted, but his judgmental heart does not seem to grasp his faith yet. That will come, hopefully. Our church just ended VBS using the AIG program, and it was the best we have yet seen. Even the kids who are sometimes “spaced out” got it and were faithfully repeating it to their parents and others. I would rate this program a “10.”
Dear Bob,
A) I have NOT made “an idol out of the King James Bible.” It is a translation, but unlike the modern versions, it is translated from the Textus Receptus (the received text), not the corrupt Hort-Westcott manuscript. I believe God preserved His Word.
B) You state, “his judgmental heart does not seem to grasp his faith yet.” I am amazed that you can JUDGE my spiritual condition based on one statement I made that you disagree with.
C) You also wrote, “And Dennis couldn’t even read a copy of the original KJV from the 1600’s because the English has been revised so much since then.” I didn’t say I could read the original KJV as it was published in 1611. The issue is the TEXT used by the translators.
It is still a shame that AIG doesn’t make their materials available in the KJV. Many Christians won’t use their materials because of this faux pas. I’ve always appreciated what AIG does, and I like their materials.
Tony,
This Amazon Expedition is new, right?
Somebody told me their church did it about 5 years ago, but I was under the impression this was a relatively recent release.
We’re doing VBS next week and using AIG’s AE, primarily based on your suggestion.
Thanks!
GUNNY HARTMANs last blog post..there is such a thing as manners, a way of treating people. These fish have manners.
Gunny, another publisher (Cooke) did an Amazon based program about 5-6 years ago. Your friend must have been thinking of that one. The AiG program is definitely new!
We finished up our AiG VBS a couple of weeks ago, and the kids AND teachers enjoyed learning new stuff!
In Idaho, we are rolling this week with the new curriculum for the kids; and I am having fun sharing verses and the AiG links on my blog.
And Dennis, doesn’t need to fear. I am using the KJV on my blog.
(though I love the NKJV translation as well)
Todd Woods last blog post..Berean’s VBS - Water, Water, Everywhere (Day 2, also)
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