Welcome to another fun episode of The Collide Kids Podcast! In this episode, host Christen Clark dives into the wonderful world of Vacation Bible School (VBS) with a special guest, Amy Fenton from Orange. Amy, who boasts 30 years of experience in kids ministry, plays a crucial role in creating and directing of VBS curriculum and providing support to churches across the nation. The episode explores why Amy prefers to call VBS  "VERY BEST SUMMER", and how it offers a week filled with fun, fellowship, and faith. The historical evolution of VBS is discussed, tracing its origins from the late 1800s to today's dynamic and inclusive programs designed to celebrate Jesus and create memorable experiences. Amy shares personal insights and heartwarming stories from her extensive involvement, highlighting the significance of VBS in fostering community and helping kids make pivotal decisions to follow Jesus.

You will get excited and inspired to participate in VBS this Summer. And don't miss Christen's special Mother's Day poem write by ChatGPT! Plus Kids Only Segment featuring Blake!

Go to thinkorange.com/vbs to learn how your church can Start the Party!

Special Thanks to our editor Jay Lee from provisionpods.com.

Clip Finder:

**Exploring Faith Through Fun**: "VBS is a super fun week during the year for kids to come to your church and to have a blast with a big group of friends. They get to learn about Jesus. They get to play games, eat snacks, watch some cool bible stories acted out on the stage, just hang with their friends."
— Amy Fenton [00:08:07 → 00:08:28]

Impact of Childhood Religious Experiences: "But my mom was always super passionate about VBS because that's when she became a Christian at VBS, when she was a little girl. And she still, to this day, if you asked her, she is 70 years old, and she will still tell you, that was such a special moment in her life and what an impact vbs had."
— Amy Fenton [00:11:30 → 00:11:50]

Importance of Fun in Children's Lives: "I think fun is the most important thing in a kid's life, especially in the summer."
— Amy Fenton [00:13:13 → 00:13:18]

**Inspiring Youth Leadership in Community Programs**: "They weren't there as a helper. They truly led my kids really, really well."
— Amy Fenton [00:21:45 → 00:21:51]

Adapting Education for Modern Kids: "I mean, that's the question we even ask ourselves every year is like, okay, is the way we did it this year still relevant for this new wave of kids, this new audience? Because I feel like we always have to be willing to change and adapt for the kids that we're leading."
— Amy Fenton [00:23:25 → 00:23:42]

Spiritual Celebrations: "That's the day where we always present the plan of salvation and tell kids how much God loves them, and we want to celebrate the good news of Jesus."
— Amy Fenton [00:26:07 → 00:26:16]

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