Lost: Vacation Bible schools nationwide

The importance of children in a marriage for making that relationship work is plummeting, and a children's organization says churches apparently are reflecting that change in priorities, with tens of thousands fewer congregations now offering vacation Bible school.
The concerns are being expressed by officials at National Children's Day, who promote the second Sunday in June as Children's Day each year.Since its beginnings in the 1920s, when Standard Publishing of Cincinnati became the first publisher to create a full-scale vacation Bible school program, the institution has been part of many communities' summertime outreaches. However, new studies show that the number of churches and ministries offering VBS has been dropping.A report from The Barna Group of Ventura, Calif., noted that between 1997 and 2005, there was a 15 percent decline in the percentage of churches offering vacation Bible schools, those usually week-long summer intensives of Bible lessons – and cookies and fruit drink-for children.The drop was from 81 percent of churches surveyed, to 69 percent."That represents about 38,000 fewer churches offering VBS than eight years [earlier]," the report said.The assessment noted the most common reason for not offering VBS was a lack of teachers."Those most likely to offer VBS were Southern Baptist and mainline churches, congregations with 250 or more adult attenders, and black congregations," the evaluation continued.John Ross, advocate for "Children's Day" and part of a growing movement spear-headed by the National Childrens Day outreach, lamented the loss."The church played a vital role in the beginning of 'Children's Day' and now again needs to reaffirm its commitment to children by initiating, continuing, and expanding VBS," he said."Now more than ever, children need the church to step to the plate."Children are in direr need of spiritual and moral guidance. VBS reaches beyond denominational boundaries.It's a great tool for spiritual formation and community outreach.I hope all of America's churches can make that commitment,"he said. "That's what 'Children's Day' is about... commitment."
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As in the days of Noah....