NASHVILLE, Tenn.
— “Amazing Wonders Aviation: Encountering God’s Awesome Power” will be the 2012
Vacation Bible
School theme for LifeWay Christian
Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
A LifeWay news release June 6 noted:
Amazing Wonders Aviation: Encountering God’s Awesome Power takes participants to some of the most beautiful God-made creations in the world. |
“Think vintage aviation from the 1930s and 40s: biplanes and bomber jackets.
“Children, students and adult VBS participants will fly to some of the world’s
greatest natural wonders as they encounter an awesome God and His amazing
power. They will take off each day from the Amazing Wonders Aviation airstrip
and visit some of the world’s most beautiful and marvelous God-made creations: Victoria
Falls, the Northern Lights, Paricutin Volcano, the Great
Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, and the Matterhorn.”
The theme is taken from Psalm 147:5: “Our Lord is great, vast in power; His
understanding is infinite” (HCSB).
The June 6 announcement coincided with a live online VBS announcement event
from Nashville featuring Jeff Slaughter, creator of all things musical for
LifeWay VBS; Jerry Wooley, LifeWay’s VBS specialist; and others who introduced
the theme from a vintage airstrip/hangar.
“This year we changed things up a bit,” Wooley said. “In the past the VBS theme
has been based on one location or idea. This year, the theme is based on six
beautiful God-made natural wonders.”
Decorating will be easy for the aviation-themed VBS because each location is
the site of one of the rotations, Wooley said.
The rotations, as noted in the news release, will be:
- “Bible Study at Victoria Falls — located in Africa
in both Zambia
and Zimbabwe,
it is the world’s largest waterfall based on width and height.
- “Missions under the Northern Lights — This natural phenomenon can be seen
from many places in the world, with gorgeous multicolored lights dancing across
the nighttime sky.
- “Snacks at Paricutin Volcano — This volcano in Mexico
is the youngest volcano in North America and is
considered a natural wonder because mankind witnessed its birth.
- “Crafts at the Great Barrier Reef — Found off the coast of Australia, the GBR
is the largest coral reef system on the planet and hosts some of the most
amazing and beautiful sea life anywhere.
- “Recreation at the Grand Canyon — Located in northern Arizona,
the Grand Canyon is recognized for its overall size and
beautifully colored landscape.
- “Music at the Matterhorn — Located in Switzerland, the Matterhorn has a
four-sided pyramidal peak, with each side facing the four compass points – a
real wonder!”
“We want everyone who attends VBS to know the power of our awesome God,” Wooley
said. “He has the power of create these awesome natural wonders, but He also
has the power to make an awesome impact on our lives.
“We want them to know they can rely on God’s power to do whatever He wants them
to do.”
VBS is one of the most effective evangelistic activities within the SBC.
For 2009 (latest figures available), more than 25,000 churches hosted VBS. More
than 2.8 million children, students and adults were enrolled and more than
88,000 people made professions of faith in Christ.
The 2012 VBS Previews — events that sell out every year — will be Jan. 6-7 at
LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina; Jan. 13-14 at Travis
Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas; Jan. 26-27 and 27-28 at LifeWay’s
headquarters in Nashville, Tenn.; and Feb. 17-18 at First
Baptist Church in Kissimmee, Fla. Discounts
are available for those who register early.
Continuously updated information about the 2012 VBS can be accessed at
(EDITOR’S NOTE — House writes for LifeWay Christian Resources.)