VBS 2012 Stock-Out List

(Last updated 7-10-12)
VBS publishers are running out of more and more product! If you need last-minute supplies or have not ordered VBS yet (we sure hope that's not the case!), please visit Shop VBS to order now.

If your VBS is later in the summer you may be able to benefit from sold-out items in returns, as we will begin receiving VBS returns from churches whose VBS was earlier in the summer. But bear with us, our warehouse is in full swing and we may not be able to check in returns as quickly as we normally do. Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-233-4443 to have us check on any product you might need.

The publishers are out of the following products. We may have some of these items still in stock, but they're going fast. Once our supply is gone we can't get any more unless we happen to receive returns. Be sure to order now! Shop VBS.

Gospel Light's SonRise National Park VBS

OUT OF STOCK from publisher:
Water Bottles
Pennants
National Park Wall Mural
Silly Bands
Children's Medium T-Shirt
Adult Park Ranger Medium T-Shirt
Adult Park Ranger XX-Large T-Shirt
Wall Cutouts
Carabiners
Photo Frames
Fridge Magnets

BACKORDERED from publisher:
Skitter the Squirrel Puppet - expected after August 17 (in time for fall Sunday School)

Gospel Light's SonSurf Beach Blast VBS

OUT OF STOCK from publisher:
Publicity Poster
Child's Medium T-shirt
Paddle Out! Student Magazine, Grades 3-4, Ages 8-10
Big Question Boards
Catch a Wave! Student Magazine, Grades 5-6, Ages 10-12

Group's Sky VBS


OUT OF STOCK from publisher:
Blue raspberry fizzies
Apple cider fizzies
Blue glow sticks
Purple glow sticks
Green glow sticks
Sky carabiners
Plastic fish
Sky Logo outdoor banner
Test Tube Talk starter kit
Flicker lights
Fizzy Fliers
Blue talk beads
Orange talk beads
Water bottle
Sky and Cloud corobuff
Propeller beanie
Crew cap
Tissue hot air balloon
Sky Box
Red glow sticks
Orange glow sticks
Parachute
Cocoa fizzies
Operation Kid-to-Kid poster pack
Sky banduras
Sky Squawker
Watch for God Wristbands
Adult T-shirt XL
Name Badge Holders
Buddy Fly
Rocket Set
Sky Plastic Backdrop
Kite Balloon

On BACKORDER from publisher
Adult T-shirt Medium
Buddy Fly

Group's Babylon VBS

OUT OF STOCK from publisher:

Babylon carabiners

Moss
Babylonian fez
Rainbow mosaic tiles
Cylinder seal kit
Decorating posters
Flute kit
Tribe of Benjamin bandura
Plush lion
Adult shirt XL
Metallic nameplate
Child’s t-shirt SM
Stone wall corobuff
Adult t-shirt Medium
Hidden Message Medallions
Hand warmers
Tribe of Asher banduras
Babylon sticker sheets
Tribe of Joseph banduras

Group's Rocky Point Lighthouse VBS

OUT OF STOCK from publisher:

Adult t-shirt LG

ON BACKORDER from publisher:

Flashing Neutron Ball
Tissue Crab
Plastic Lobster
Giant Paper Lighthouse

Standard's Adventures on Promise Island VBS


OUT OF STOCK from publisher:
Site Names Poster Pack
Bucket Hats
Small Group Solutions for Kids
Planning DVD
Promise Island Stickers
I Help Change Lives! Notepad
God's Promises Stickers
Promise Island Bookmarks
Rainbow Writer Pencils
Bible Memory Post Pack/KJV
Outdoor Banner
Cooper Skits CD
Water Bottle
Pass-Along Music CDs
Crew Leader's Bag
Follow-Up Photo Frames
Seaside Celebration Dual CD Set (Music & More)

 RBP's Bug Zone VBS


OUT OF STOCK from publisher:
NKJV Starter Kit
NKJV Pre-Primary Activity Sheets
NKJV Middler Activity Sheets
Explorer Pouch
Theme Banner (3' x 6')
Bugs and Flowers Sticker Scenes
Bug Key Chains
Going Buggy! Foam Stamps
Butterfly Fuzzy Magnets
Magic Color Scratch
Sun Catcher Glitter Paint
Butterfly Magnets
Glow Stick Fireflies
Butterfly Suncatcher Photo Frames
VBS Song Transparency Packet
Just Buggy! 3D Bug Set
Butterfly Inflatables
Butterfly Clings
Jumbo Tissue Butterflies
Butterfly Whirls
Butterfly Punch-Outs
Butterfly Cutouts
Bugzone Friends Cutouts
Butterflies Border
Upper Scene Setter (Sky)
Butterfly Garden
Reversible Caterpillar to Butterfly
Bugzone Pencils
Mammoth Insects
Caterpillars
Bug Wall Walkers
Bug Clickers
Wind-Up Flipping Ladybugs
Bug-in-a-Box
Butterfly Sandbags
Insect Stampers
Bug Stickers
Bugzone Notepads
Bug Catching Set
Bug Catchers
Catch the Bugs Parachute Set
Bugs & Blooms Coloring Books
Bugzi Puppet Set



Make sure you grab all the VBS supplies you need before they are backordered or stocked out for good! Shop VBS >

VBS Follow-Up: All Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs

Are you winding down your VBS program? Or maybe you're looking ahead to what will happen after VBS. If you're looking for a way to invite those same children back to your church for another exciting event, take a look at All-Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs. There's a Bible club program for children from age two through grade six. Plus, eChurchDepot.com has downloadable programs for middle school and high school with the reproducible Bible Basics and Christian Basics curriculum.

All-Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs are designed to help churches and parents teach children to know God, to believe in Jesus as their Savior, and to live for Him. All-Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs help children to feel loved and accepted so they, in turn, can share the love of Jesus with their friends and families. Researchers say that 43% of people who are Christians accepted Christ as Savior before the age of 13! We want to help you reach that 43%...and more!

Bible clubs also offer a non-threatening place for children who might never attend a regular church service or Sunday school class to learn about Jesus in a fun, casual atmosphere. In a whole where children are exposed to a variety of bad influences coming from all directions, All-Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs are places of love and encouragement, where kids can safely learn how to say no to those bad influences and learn how to live a victorious life in Christ!

God loves his children. He commanded parents to "train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6). We want each child to know that he or she is a star in Jesus' eyes, no matter what the child's skills and abilities are. Jesus loves children just as they are. Share that love with the children in your community. Begin a Bible club program at your church or in your neighborhood. It's easy to get started.

So...what exactly IS All-Stars for Jesus?

All-Stars for Jesus provides everything you need for an exciting ministry to children!

All-Stars for Jesus is:

• A multi-use Bible curriculum in a fun club environment for age 2 through grade 6, with an optional awards program.
• A program that provides solid Bible teaching in a fun and interesting way for kids—one that directs them to know and follow Jesus.
• Curriculum that is easy to teach and includes helpful options for teachers, giving you maximum flexibility.
• Age appropriate memory verses to help children hide God's Word in their hearts.
• Bible- and curriculum-based, rather than activity-based. Each part of the lesson focuses on God, Jesus, and God's Word.
• Age appropriate and fun for kids of all ages.
• Bible-centered—every activity helps kids focus on God's Word and begin to share what they learn with others.
• A way to help churches reach the children and families in their communities for Christ.

The All-Stars for Jesus Bible Club program is designed to lead children from age two through sixth grade to a personal faith in Jesus, to teach them about God's love and care, to encourage them to grow spiritually, and to give them a solid biblical foundation for their lives.

All-Stars for Jesus partners with churches to extend their outreach from just Sunday school to mid-week, Sunday evening, or other times children can gather to learn about Jesus. All-Stars meetings are fun, less formal time with a variety of interesting and fun activities to direct the child's attention to God's Word. The optional awards program offers a further way to extend the Bible learning into the home.

What unique features does All-Stars for Jesus have?

Each All-Stars for Jesus age-level Flex-lesson Leader's Guide has everything you need for two meetings a week—to use for Sunday morning and mid-week, Sunday evening and after-school Bible club, or whenever great Bible lessons are needed. Or, you have extra options for one meeting a week!

• Easy-Trac meeting plans direct the leader step-by-step through each weekly program, and let you see at a glance which activities and materials to use.
• The optional awards program provides more opportunities for kids to learn about Jesus by completing Bible learning activities in their award books at home. When each activity is completed, children earn colorful awards to place on a cap or pennant. Plus, each child could have ALL first-year awards for as low as 82 cents per week!
• All-Stars for Jesus offers not only five age-level programs for children age 2 through grade 6, but also the All-Stars Explorers program for combined grades 1 through 6 in one classroom and the Preschool All-in-One Kit for combined ages 2-5 plus reproducible activity sheets.
• There are no membership fees, dues, or doctrinal requirements—just fun, Bible-based, solid Christian learning.
• The All-Stars Kick-off Kit offers great resources to promote your clubs: award samples, promotional posters, clip art, fundraising ideas, and club kickoff plans!
• All-Stars for Jesus offers lots of colorful "fun stuff" as gifts, awards, and promotions.
• All-Stars for Jesus is an affordable program. The Flex-Lesson Leader's Guide provides two lessons a week!
• Christian Ed Warehouse offers Standing Orders on All-Stars for Jesus quarterly curriculum so you don't even have to remember to order! Plus, all orders over $99 receive FREE shipping.
• There is no requirement that you use all available materials—just choose the options that will work best with your group and your budget.

Does all this sound like something you would like for your church? Visit eChurchDepot.com and order your Starter Kits for a 60-day risk-free review!

May God bless you as you lead children and their families to a personal relationship with Jesus!

VBS Stock-Outs Update

We hope you've heard our cries to order your VBS supplies! Dozens of items have gone out of stock at various publishers this week. Don't wait any longer! Shop VBS.

We may have some items that the publishers are out of, but we cannot guarantee we'll have sufficient quantities. Please refer to the Stock-Out Update below.

Remember we offer the guaranteed lowest prices from leading publishers like Gospel Light, Group, Standard, Regular Baptist Press, and Go Fish Guys plus FREE shipping on orders over $99!

Please note that in our effort to give you outstanding service, we do our best to update our stock-out information and mark items as "sold out" on our website when they are no longer available. But because of the huge VBS demand, sometimes items sell out before we are able to update. We will contact you if we are unable to fill your entire order.

If you're ready to order, SHOP VBS HERE >

Gospel Light's SonRise National Park VBS

OUT OF STOCK from publisher:

Water Bottles
Pennants (pkg. 12)
National Park Wall Mural
Silly Bands (pkg. 25)

BACKORDERED from publisher:

Wall Cutouts (pkg. 28) - expected soon
Skitter the Squirrel Puppet - expected after August 17 (in time for fall Sunday School)

MOST POPULAR ITEMS (not backordered, but going fast)

Student Guides (all ages)
Connection Cards
Iron-on Transfers
God Loves You! Salvation Booklet
SonRise Stickers
Publicity Posters
Following Jesus! Discipleship Booklet
Skin Decals
Bible Teaching Poster Pack
Name Tags and Name Tag Holders

Gospel Light's SonSurf Beach Blast VBS

OUT OF STOCK from publisher:

Publicity Poster
Child's Medium T-shirt

Group's Sky VBS

OUT OF STOCK from publisher:

Sky Logo Outdoor Banner
Sky carabiners
Fizzy Fliers
Test Tube Talk-Starter Kits
Blue Talk-Starter Beads
Orange Talk-Starter Beads
Propeller Beanie
Crew Leader Caps
Sky Banduras
Aviator Hat
Sky Boxes
Sky Water Bottles
Sky & Clouds Corobuff
Tissue Hot Air Balloon
Electric Campfire

Adventures on Promise Island VBS

OUT OF STOCK from publisher:

Site Names Poster Pack
Bucket Hats
Small Group Solutions for Kids
Planning DVD
Promise Island Stickers
"I Help Change Lives" Notepad
God's Promises Stickers
Promise Island Bookmarks
Rainbow Writer Pencils



Make sure you grab all the VBS supplies you need before they are backordered or stocked out for good! Shop VBS >

Preschool VBS Programs

Many of you have most likely debated over whether or not you should include preschoolers in your VBS program—and you're not alone! If you do include preschoolers, you'll want to be sure they have their own age-appropriate programming, which some programs don't include.

Preschoolers are wiggly, giggly, and filled with enthusiasm. We've created 2 specially-designed VBS preschool programs with these characteristics in mind. Each one will work as a stand-alone program, or along with whatever VBS program you're using.

The Jesus in Nazareth Preschool VBS is a five-day VBS program including Bible stories, snacks, crafts, and games with reproducible student sheets and colorful visuals. Your little ones can travel to the Marketplace and enjoy the stories of Jesus written at their own level. Crafts and games in the Preschool Leader’s Guide are preschool-friendly. The preschool VBS program is completely flexible.

This VBS program is a great way to include your younger children with activities written just for them.

Each day, preschoolers will:

• Hear a Bible story about Jesus written for their age level 
• Learn short Bible memory words 
• Do coloring activities 
• Play games 
• Make a simple craft to take home 
• Have yummy snacks (suggestions are given in the Snack Leader's Guide, or you may choose to use some of the snack ideas from the marketplace in your elementary VBS program)

The Jesus in Nazareth Preschool VBS includes everything you need to give children ages 2-5 their own VBS. More information & samples >

This Joseph in Egypt Preschool VBS is also a great program to supplement your elementary VBS program this summer (or use as a stand-alone Preschool program). Written especially for 2- to 5-year-olds, this five-day VBS program includes Bible stories, snacks, crafts, and games with reproducible student sheets and colorful visuals. Your little ones can travel to the Marketplace and enjoy the stories of Joseph written at their own level.

The Preschool Leader’s Guide includes decorating ideas, tips for working with preschoolers, a suggested rotation schedule, and a preschool sign-in sheet. The download contains separate job descriptions for your Snack Leader, Bible Story Leader, Games Leader, and Crafts Leader. You can print instructions for the leaders each day of your VBS so they can collect any needed supplies and decide which options to use.

This program also includes registration cards, safety tips, a course overview, coloring pages with NLT and NIV memory verses, “How to Lead a Child to Christ,” recruiting tips, and lots more.

The Joseph in Egypt Preschool VBS includes everything you need to give children ages 2-5 their own VBS. More information & samples >

Whichever program(s) you decide to use, you may want to begin each day of your VBS with elementary children and preschoolers together for a time of opening music. Be prepared to have one or two helpers take the two-year-olds to your preschool classroom for free play if the large group setting becomes overwhelming. We recommend ending each day with a prayer time especially for your preschoolers and then letting the preschool children have free play until their parents arrive.

You can shop all VBS programs in our VBS Store. We guarantee the lowest prices, plus you'll receive FREE SHIPPING on order of $99 or more. Shop now >

What Kind of Leader Are You?

Most teachers agree that some children can be a real challenge to work with. Yet they also agree these years are a critical time when it is important to help students get established in their faith, their church, and their lifestyle.

Some of your VBS students probably grew up in your church and are from Christian families. If they ever decide to leave the church or their Christian beliefs, many children's workers feel the seeds of departure and of rebellion will be sown during the junior high and middle school years. One Christian educator said, "Kids walk in the front door of the church when they are four, and out the back door when they are 14!"

How can you, their leader, catch those students before they get out the back door, or, better yet, how can you make the Christian life and fellowship in the church so meaningful and attractive to every student that they won't even head for the exits?

To some extent, you have already answered that by your willingness to serve as a leader—VBS, Sunday school, Bible club, or other type of group leader. Yet it is important to nurture and develop in yourself the qualities and skills you need to relate in a helpful way to children.

Here are ten questions to ask yourself:

1. Do I love students?

People who minister successfully—to people of any age level—appear to have few behavioral, physical, educational, or other kinds of characteristics in common. They are from many backgrounds and come in all shapes and sizes.

In face, you don't have to look young, own a sports car, or be the best at video games to communicate with young students. It's not necessary for you to like their music, their food, or to keep up with them physically. People who minister effectively to students are of every age and every personality, and the methods they use to achieve results are wide-ranging.

Yet they all have one thing in common: they love students. So ask yourself, do I love young students? If you're going to reach a young person for Christ, that's a necessity!

 2. Do I like students?

To some extent we can love someone and yet not like him. The Christian leader, however, must not only love the students he is trying to reach for Christ, but he needs to work hard at liking them too.

There might be students in your group who don't smell very good, don't talk very well, have bad habits, and do things you don't approve of—but you're going to have to like them if you're going to reach them—and keep them—for Jesus Christ.

In fact, friendship is one of the most important things you can do. Your young students will respond to your friendship long before they will respond to what you try to teach them.

3. Do I expect something good to happen?

Are you excited and optimistic about your work with students? Do you have vision? Are you determined to accomplish something for Christ with your students? Do you realize your results may take a long time to happen?

If you're after instant results, you'd better microwave some brownies or order a pizza; working with children requires a vision for the future and the willingness to trust God to bring about results in His timing.

4. Am I eager to take responsibility?

Being a leader requires willingness to take responsibility and get involved. Although they may never admit it, young students are looking to adults for leadership, guidance, and caring; they will respond when adults show they care and want to be involved in the lives of the students.

Even when the going is rough, a servant leader needs the ability to persevere and keep going. You can't fall apart when no one shows up for a party—or when twice as many come as were expected! Make the best of the situation. When you do, the Lord will use your willingness and service to make something good out of the circumstances.

As a VBS leader you are influencing students in many important ways, some of which you will never know. Don't count on everything happening immediately; realize that some seeds you are sowing in the lives of your students may not bring about visible results during your VBS—it may take years! 

5. Am I innovative and creative?

Creative ideas are valuable only when they are actually implemented. A creative children's leader must be able to dream up ideas as well as make those ideas happen. In addition, creative leaders must be able to take someone else's idea and make it a reality in their own group.

There are many ways to get good ideas. Most VBS programs are designed to provide you with simple, easy-to-use ideas. In addition, it is very important to listen. Listen to the students. Listen to the parents. Listen to other children's ministry workers. And from what you hear, you should be able to adapt the Bible Club materials to work with your group.

Always be open to new ideas or new ways of doing things. Just because you haven't seen something work, don't assume it won't work. Even if you tried something before and it didn't work, be willing to give it a second chance.

6. Am I happy with myself?

VBS leaders who have committed their lives to Christ and are reasonably happy with themselves won't be devastated when the first student acts up. And they won't give up the first time something doesn't go as planned. Furthermore, happy leaders won't manipulate students to achieve "manufactured" results; they will minister to the students for Jesus' sake.

7. Am I hungry for spiritual results?

The effective leader has a drive to accomplish and an urge to compete against the world for the attention of young students. You should have an insatiable hunger to see young people brought to a place of personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Develop a hunger for more spiritual growth in your own life as well as in the lives of those to whom you minister.

8. Do I use common sense?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing." Anyone who works with other people must realize that the key to success is not intelligence; the key to successful relationships is awareness of others, a willingness to learn, the ability to cope with the unexpected, and genuine interest and caring for others.

These attributes are vital to successful leadership of students. Use common sense. Be flexible. Learn to respond to the needs and moods of your students, as well as to the situations they face and the environments in which they live. Help them cope with the situations in their homes and show them how to deal with the mistakes they make. One of your most important responsibilities as a leader is to minister to the everyday needs of your young students.

9. Am I tactful?

Effective Christian leadership calls for tact, persuasiveness, and humor. You'll need these attributes to overcome resistance to change and because you'll work with many different people. Some leaders become so wrapped up in their "mission" that they become tactless, abrasive and disruptive, to the point they simply run over people in a rough-shod, uncaring manner. Your true goal and mission must be to respond to the needs of each individual student in kind, loving, tactful ways.

When you take the time to tactfully sell your ideas, to laugh a little (even at yourself, if necessary) and show you care, you will be more fun to be around, your students will notice, and you will be able to accomplish a great deal for the kingdom of God.

10. Do I have courage?

Any role of leadership demands courage. To succeed as a leader, you have to take risks. Probably some of your meetings won't be great successes. You might face some touchy situations you wish you hadn't gotten into. It will take courage to go to a parent regarding his or her child. It will take courage to help your students deal with difficult issues they might face.

Molding a child's life is truly an awesome responsibility, but Jesus provided powerful encouragement when He said, "It is not the will of your Father...that one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:14) Although some of your students may not be so little anymore, this promise proves that the person who is committed to nurturing the spiritual life of a child or teenager is working in cooperation with the will of God! You can be assured then, the Lord will direct you and guide you as you seek to guide children to love and serve Him.