VBS 2024 - Outback Rock from Group Publishing

I'm delighted for the opportunity to once again share Group's weekend VBS with you . . .  Outback Rock. The idea with this resource is to provide two affordable 2 1/2 hour sessions, plus a one hour celebration which churches could use over one weekend . . . or over three weekends . . . or they might be able to spread it out for one Saturday a month for a Summer of fun! And, if you do not mind repeating games and focusing more on the same Bible Adventure, you could stretch it for a week of VBS.

Outback Rock
Group Publishing

http://www.group.com/vbs/outback-rock

1. God is with Joseph - Genesis 37-45
2. Jesus dies, comes back to life and appears to His followers – Matthew 26:26-28:20

Setting – Australian Outback

Message – God is always with us!

Focus – Evangelism, Application, Serving, Content

Strengths –

• The Outback Rock kit provides all the resources, information, and help you need to plan and present an effective VBS. For example . . . 
• You will find a complete Director's Manual. It even starts with the basic info - helpful for everyone - scope, what you will find in your kit, the things which make Hometown Nazareth unique, and how to make it work in your unique church.
• These basics and a walk through the Outback Rock starter kit are easy to understand.
• I like how Group clearly explains how Outback Rock is not your "typical" VBS resource.
• "Fieldtest Findings" and "Roo's News" are full of helpful information - be sure to read these in the margins.
• Everything you need to plan, prepare, recruit, and train your volunteers.
• Excellent info to help volunteers lead children to Jesus, make certain your pay attention to health and safety, and how to help engage children with special needs. 
• Follow-up resources are excellent.
• I LOVE the focus of Outback Rock - how children will learn the truth of how God is always with them.
• Operation Kid-to-Kid project for this year - children raise money to help provide clean water for people in Honduras. Here in the USA clean water is something we do not even think about. We are most blessed. It is not this way everywhere. In far too many places children do not have access to clean water. Group Publishing teamed up with World Vision to involve children in showing love to Honduran people by raising money to provide clean water. Excellent!
• Outback Rock has amazing, creative and engaging Bible lessons with a very, very strong evangelism focus!
• I love the Project with a Purpose! Once again this year, Group gives churches the option of choosing from three two-day service projects for their children to work on to serve families in their church, community or world! Another huge “plus” for this is how affordable the projects are!!! Thank you Group for keeping it affordable!!!
• “Huddle and a Prayer” time is great – love the way it helps children see their crew leaders are praying for them!
• Group once again has excellent and engaging Opening and Finale – with lots of energy and an abundance of creative ways to engage children! Love it!
• I really appreciate the price point - this is an affordable option for most churches
• Provides options for churches where a traditional five-day VBS just doesn't "fit" their ministry
• I really love the idea of the "Sunday Celebration" for the children, families and the entire church!
• Love the songs - children will LOVE them, too!
• I love the setting - it is fun and children will love it, too!

Once again, these are just the things I liked from looking through the Director's Book! When I looked more closely through each Teacher's Book, I liked the following things . . .

• In the Rock-Solid Bible Adventures, I love how each day's drama begins with a schedule, helpful information, and a devotional to help everyone understand what they are teaching and why it matters. This station is a very engaging place where children will be able to experience familiar Bible accounts about Joseph and Jesus in a new, engaging, and memorable way. Children will not forget or be bored by these Bible Adventures! Excellent.
• In Projects-with-a-Purpose volunteers will find all the information they need to lead children in making a project which they will be giving to someone in need. While absolutely fun, the Bible point is solidly woven through the time children spend making their project so they will learn while having fun!
• Even the time in "Outback Games" is not wasted as children continue to learn while playing games!
• The Music & More and Rockin' Wrap-Up will equip leaders to open each day with fun, but most importantly with purpose and then close the day with connection and by engaging children so they will remember why they were there - the God-sightings and point for the day - this is why Outback Rock is well worth using in your ministry.

Would like to see –

• A daily "live-it" activity for kids to go do and tell about the following day

Group says, "On this Aussie adventure, kids explore God's monumental love and discover what it means to have an unshakable faith." I love the focus in both lessons; God is with us, He loves us and we can love others! Certainly this is a message children – and adults - need to hear. Outback Rock is a great option for a VBS with a strong focus on creatively engaging children in every learning station, solid evangelism, strong Bible content and application! I absolutely LOVE their "Projects with a Purpose" - creative, engaging and fun way to get kids to focus on serving others! Excellent!

You could expand this for a week of VBS by focusing on each of the Bible Adventures for two days, making additional service projects/ crafts and repeating or using games you might not use with just one day. Present the Bible adventure the first day, then review it with a drama which involves the children the second day. Use the Celebration for day five.

If you are looking for a VBS option for just a weekend, or one you could spread over a month - or even the entire Summer - with a focus on engaging children and has a strong evangelism focus; most certainly take a look at Outback Rock from Group!