New 2018 Answers VBS Program!

We’ve been counting down the minutes, and it’s finally time to announce our newest Vacation Bible School program! Over the years, we’ve adventured into the Amazon jungle, launched into outer space, dug up ancient Egypt, explored the Old West, enjoyed an amusement park, traveled around the world, climbed a tall mountain, charted the depths of the ocean, and explored the frigid Arctic. And now it’s time to prepare for a new journey with Answers VBS! In 2018, we’re headed into the lab with Time Lab: Discovering Jesus from Eternity Past to Eternity Present!

Wouldn’t it be amazing to travel back in time and witness epic events in history? Imagine the thrill of meeting great heroes of the faith like Abraham, Moses, or Gideon. Or the fun of experiencing life in ancient cultures like Rome. Or the fascination of watching famous inventors make discoveries that change the world.

Now imagine traveling through time and meeting the most important man ever—a man who was not just a man, but also God. One who turned the world upside-down. One who existed outside of time.

We’ll do just that as we embark on Time Lab from Answers VBS. We’ll use words beginning with C to help us remember that Jesus, our forever faithful, loving, caring, promise-keeping Lord, has been with us always!

Day 1 Creation—Did you know the Son of God has always existed? We’ll talk about his existence before time and his activity at Creation.

Day 2 Christophany—Kids will love learning this big, cool word that teaches the Son of God didn’t start as a babe in a manger but has been around forever, actively involved throughout history, including the Old Testament! They’ll study the biblical accounts of Abraham and Gideon that show appearances of the Son of God before he came to earth.

Day 3 Cross—This is when Jesus is actually given the name “Jesus.” And here’s where he lives, dies, and comes back to life. It’s the most epic historical account ever! Because of him, we can live forever, too! Although every day provides opportunities to present the gospel, this is the day we’ll present the gospel in all its glory.

Day 4 Clouds—After Jesus rose again, where did he go? He’s actively working on our behalf as he sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for us, protecting his church, and preparing a place for his children! Wow!

Day 5 Crown—We’ll end our tour through time at the new heaven and new earth, where Jesus and his children will live together in the most amazing place forever. Whatever your best day ever has been, a day on the new earth will blow it away!

Excitement will be running high from the first minute our time travelers arrive at Time Lab. They’ll start their day at the Atomic Assembly, a super-charged opening complete with entertaining welcomes, lively songs, a mission moment, and prayer. Then we're off to four fun rotation sites:

• Simulation Station: the teaching time. Here, time travelers discover Jesus through all the pages of the Bible, and realize he’s a joy and a thrill to find. We’ll also answer questions such as How do I know Jesus is God? How do I know he really rose from the dead? What do Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah show about Jesus? What is the Trinity?
• Bits and Bytes Snacks: the snack spot. Time travelers will enjoy having a “byte” of yummy brain food to eat!
• Quantum Leap Games: the recreation location. Time travelers realize every nanosecond counts as they race against time and encounter fun physical challenges and games from ancient (and not-so-ancient) time periods.
• Inventors’ Science and Crafts: the science, craft, music, mission, and memory verse spot. This location features a wide array of activities to choose from: electrifying science experiments to explore, creative crafts to invent, high energy songs to sing, fun memory-verse games to play, and a mission time with Children’s Hunger Fund (for those who want to spend more time than is given during the Assembly).

After finishing the day's rotations, everyone heads back to the Atomic Assembly for the closing that includes more singing, a Creature Feature, contest results, and the greatly anticipated daily drama, which is a highlight of the kids' day. The drama features an inventor tinkering in his lab as he works on his most important invention—his time machine. Will he get it to work? Will it go back in time? Forward in time? Many laughs abound and adventures await in this wacky and entertaining drama.

New! We are excited to announce that for our popular memory verse music this year, we are partnering with Seeds Family Worship to produce the songs and videos! We have been working with Seeds to bring you all-new songs and videos your kids will love. Check out the theme verse song here!

New! We are switching from the New King James Version to the English Standard Version for Scripture references! (As before, we will also have the verses available in the King James Version.)

Time sure will fly while we’re having fun. So head this way and get ready to launch into hyperdrive as we take off for Time Lab! Let’s go!