Adults who are only seen as workers, helpers, and chaperones during Vacation Bible School are missing out because, according to Steven Ruff, those adults aren’t actually “in” Vacation Bible School.
“Adult-focused VBS can work in South Carolina Baptist churches,” he insists.
Ruff should know. While serving as pastor of Port Royal Church, he is also a member of the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s VBS leadership team, focusing on adults and students. Prior to coming to Port Royal, he served in a similar role for the Florida Baptist Convention. His work with the SCBC makes him available as a resource and encourager to churches interested in pursuing adult VBS.
“I’m a VBS pastor,” he said. “It’s always been on my heart. Adults can benefit so much from being involved in VBS as a place for learning and building relationships with other adults.”
In 2010, his first summer at Port Royal, Ruff led the church to expand its VBS to include an adult track. “I wanted to give the adults a similar experience to what the children were having,” he said. The church’s adult VBS is led by Diane Heaton, Lynda Buss and Doby Sauls, who put the program together, promoted it, recruited teachers, and organized craft leaders.
Each evening, Sunday-Thursday, participants come together at 5:15 for dinner. At 6 p.m., everyone gathers for the worship experience, which is admittedly targeted to children.
“The adults sit in the back of the worship rally each night,” Ruff said. “The adults are able to see everything the children do, and I think adults benefit from being on campus when the children are here, seeing what they see, and capturing a vision for the church’s children’s ministry. The adults begin to see why we invest so much into children’s ministry.”
After the children file away to classes, the adults adjourn to their own space.
“The adults are self-contained for their Bible lesson (which follows the LifeWay VBS curriculum), their snack and their craft time,” Ruff said.
“We organize each night so there is a different teacher for the Bible lesson, and a couple is invited to lead the craft time, which really focuses more on hobby than craft,” he said. Last year, the adults used the week to build wind chimes. This year, they built bird feeders.
At Port Royal, the total 2011 VBS registration was 169, with 52 registered in the adult class. The average age, Ruff said, paralleled the age of the church and included members and non-members.
“We had several members who would say to friends, ‘If you will come to our class, I will stay in that class with you. You don’t have to drop your child – there’s a place for you.’ Most of the adults who enrolled were there all week,” Ruff said.
Ruff said he can point to those who have made a decision to stay at the church and some who are regular attenders. Because names are forwarded on for Sunday school follow-up, the adult VBS class has helped identify Sunday school prospects.
“Adult VBS requires a church to be very intentional,” Ruff said. “At Port Royal, we are intentional in how we promote it. Every time you mention children’s VBS, you must mention the adult VBS at the same time. They become one in the same – not two separate programs.” – SCBC