This week was VBS week at Salem, Farrar, so that’s my excuse for why this is being posted later in the day (not that I haven’t been this late before without such an excuse!).

This got me thinking, though, about the history of Vacation Bible School. While I participated in it my entire childhood and have either directed or helped with it most of my adulthood, I really didn’t know anything about how it began and developed over the years. So, as is often the case when you have a question to answer nowadays, I took to Google to see what I could find. I was rather surprised by how long the concept has been around. Here is the fruit of my searching:

Early Beginnings

• 1894: The first VBS was established in Hopedale, Illinois, by D. T. Miles, a  public school teacher and wife of a Methodist minister. She created a daily Bible school to teach children during the summer, enrolling 40 students for four weeks.
• 1898: Virginia Hawes initiated the “Everyday Bible School” in New York City to serve local children, particularly immigrants. This program was held in a rented beer parlor. These early days of VBS were described like this: “The vacation church school was started to gather idle children into unused churches where unoccupied teachers might keep them busy in a wholesome way in a wholesome environment.” “These summer programs in the eastern part of the country reportedly lasted five weeks and included not only Bible content but also worship, music, open-air games, ‘expressional activities’ like sewing, weaving, basketry and hammock-making, plus talks on patriotism and hygiene.”

Expansion and Formalization

• 1901: Robert Boville, inspired by Hawes, began promoting VBS in Baptist churches. He established several summer schools, enrolling over 1,000 students in one summer.
• 1922: Boville founded the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School, further formalizing the movement.

LCMS Involvement: Building a Lutheran Identity

By the 1920s and 30s, LCMS congregations started to recognize the potential of VBS as a powerful tool for both outreach and Christian education. The Synod’s strong emphasis on catechesis and biblical literacy made VBS a natural fit. Early LCMS VBS programs focused on memorization of Scripture, Luther’s Small Catechism, hymnody, and basic biblical narratives. During this time, materials were often created locally by pastors and teachers, but as VBS grew in popularity, the need for standardized, doctrinally sound resources led to a more coordinated effort from the Synod.

The Role of Concordia Publishing House

In the mid-20th century, Concordia Publishing House (CPH), the publishing arm of the LCMS, began producing dedicated VBS materials that combined solid Lutheran theology with engaging activities. CPH VBS curricula offered something unique in the wider Christian VBS market: a confessional Lutheran approach to teaching the Gospel through Bible stories, crafts, music, and skits.

A Ministry That Endures

The legacy of Vacation Bible School in the LCMS is a testament to the church’s commitment to teaching the faith to the next generation. Rooted in Scripture, centered on Christ, and grounded in Lutheran theology, VBS continues to be a joyful expression of the church’s mission: to make disciples of all nations, beginning with its youngest members.

A commitment to teaching the faith to the next generation … sounds like the legacy started by the Saxon immigrants lives on in churches throughout the country!

Have a favorite VBS memory? Share it in the comments below!