Larry Clements, Editor in Chief

Jesus commanded fruitfulness of His followers. He wants believers to plant seed, sow the gospel and reap the harvest. In John 15 Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit” (verse 8 ) and, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (verse 16).

Every year Vacation Bible School provides an opportunity for churches to cultivate soil, plant gospel seeds and reap great harvests of souls. VBS offers a unique opportunity for a church to reach into its community of lost and unchurched people with the saving message of Christ. But are you careful to preserve the fruit? The Lord wants to see fruit that remains. He longs for fruit to glorify Him. All fruit has the ability to reproduce. Physically and spiritually, fruit contains the very seeds of reproduction.

If you preserve spiritual fruit from the Vacation Bible School harvest, you must prepare long before the event.

So how can you preserve VBS Fruit?

• SIGN UP – Make sure the teacher or assistant teacher fills out a VBS Registration Card for every student. Bogard Press VBS Registration Cards include helpful information like the student’s telephone number, e-mail address, home church, parent’s name, parent’s cell phone number, work number, allergies or medical conditions, emergency contact and names of persons other than parents authorized to pick up the child.

• SPEAK UP – Instruct every teacher to teach the gospel clearly. Every lesson includes God’s plan of salvation that should be shared with the students each day. Many students may only attend one or two days but still need to hear God’s message of salvation. Don’t wait until the final day or closing service to share the saving gospel.

• FOLLOW UP – Begin visiting every VBS guest within two weeks of your closing service. Knowing the name of the student, the parents and siblings, make follow-up a lot easier to do. Many VBS attenders do not regularly attend church, but because they attended your VBS and have had a great church experience, may be more open to God’s leading. VBS follow up can be the foundation on which a spiritual relationship may be built. That relationship can lead to salvation or to preserving fruit.

If you will Sign Up, Speak Up, Follow Up – you can Own Up to your responsibility as a steward of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and preserve the fruits of VBS!