KINDLE Servant Leaders

Year after year, this is my favorite Vacation Bible School photo.

I remember the early days of my ministry. I had responsibility for Vacation Bible School, but I didn’t much care for it. FOR SURE, I didn’t like getting ready for it. So much work, so much recruiting, so many days wringing my hands because we were short teachers, or helpers or goldfish crackers or whatever.

Somewhere along the line, my whole attitude shifted. I caught a vision for VBS as a servant leadership development process. We use a “crew leader” rotation system for our Vacation Bible School each year—the picture above was taken just yesterday of the army of crew leaders—mostly middle and high school kids with a few adults thrown in. These crew leaders are responsible for a small group of children during VBS each day. Some of the servant leadership skills they develop:

• Building community in their crew (KINDLE Practice 11: Build the Community)
• Leading a small group discussion
• Modeling participation in the activities and songs (KINDLE Practice 1:Set the Example)
• Greeting and engaging parents
• Concern for the safety of those they are leading
• Working out disagreements in their crew (KINDLE Practice 14: Manage Anxiety and Conflict)
• Telling their kids the daily Bible point several times a day (KINDLE Practice 19: Witness Willingly)

This list is only a few of the literally HUNDREDS of other ways Servant Leadership skills are developed with crew leaders (and other volunteers!) before VBS during training and as VBS week unfolds. Can you see why the crew leader photo is always my favorite VBS photo?