Millions of children attend VBS in the USA

By August 15, 2005

USA (MNN) — While more than three-million children will be attending Vacation Bible School this summer in the United States, there’s a major problem across the country.

A survey finds that many churches have quit offering VBS because of a shortage of available teachers. The Barna Research Group estimates that 38,000 fewer churches are conducting VBS this summer than in 1997. Those most likely to still offer VBS are Southern Baptist and mainline churches, black congregations and congregations with more than 250 adult members.

Since a doctor’s wife came up with the concept in 1898, VBS became an important way for Protestant churches to evangelize. Within the Southern Baptist Convention, for example, more than a quarter of baptisms are prompted by VBS.

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