Themes from VBS Past

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Here’s a walk down memory lane for all you veteran VBS directors out there. How many of these do you remember? Here we are attempting to put together a list of as many of the past VBS programs we can remember. This is just a start. We’re still missing the Group programs from the 1990’s

Can you help us add to the list of past VBS programs?

Lifeway VBS Themes

Lifeway VBS themes by year:

1988: Living for Jesus 1989: Let’s Gather for Vacation Bible School 1990: Share Hope 1991: Celebrate Jesus 1992: Fantastic Journey 1993: Summer Shine 1994: Trail of Treasures 1995: Windows on the World 1996: Go For the Gold 1997: Good News Stampede 1998: StarQuest
1999: Mt. Extreme 2000: Ocean Odyssey 2001: Truth Trackers 2002: Amazon Outfitters 2003: The Great Kingdom Caper 2004: Rickshaw Rally 2005: Ramblin’ Road Trip

2006: Arctic Edge 2007: Game Day Central 2008: Outrigger Island 2009: Boomerang Express 2010: Saddle Ridge Ranch 2011: Big Apple Adventure 2012: Amazing Wonders 2013: Colossal Coaster World 2014: Agency D3 2015: Journey Off The Map 2016: Submerged 2017: Galactic Starveyors 2018: Game On!

Group Publishing VBS Themes

Group Publishing VBS themes by year:

1990: 1991: 1992: 1993: 1994: 1995: 1996: Vacation Bible Ship 1997: Wild Frontier 1998: Space Mission Bible Camp 1999: Treasure Hunt Bible Adventure 2000: HolyWord Studios 2001: Polar Expedition 2002: Bug Safari 2003: SCUBA 2004: Lava Lava Island 2005: Serengeti Trek, Jerusalem Marketplace 2006: Fiesta, Bethlehem Village 2007: Avalanche Ranch, Galilee By the Sea 2008: Power Lab, Jerusalem Marketplace 2009: Crocodile Dock, Rome

2010: High Seas Expedition, Egypt 2011: PandaMania, Hometown Nazareth 2012: Sky, Babylon 2013: Kingdom Rock, Athens, Hayday 2014: Weird Animals, Where Jesus’ Love Is One-of-a-Kind, Wilderness Escape, Where God Guides & Provides, Blast Off, Launching Kids on a Mission of God’s Love
2015: Everest, Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power, Cross Culture VBS, Thailand Trek, Outback Rock, Where Kids Venture Into Solid Faith, Hometown Nazareth, Where Jesus was a Kid
2016: Cave Quest, Following Jesus, the Light of the World, Egypt, Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace, Cross Culture VBS, Expedition Norway, Pets Unleashed, Where Jesus Cares ‘Fur’ You 2017: Maker Fun Factory, Rome, Passport to Peru 2018: Shipwrecked, Babylon, Polar Blast 2019: Roar 2020: Rocky Railway 2021: Treasured 2022: Monumental 2023: Stellar 2024: Scuba

Other VBS Publishers

We first started this list with the intention of only recording LifeWay and Group themes, but the response has been overwhelming. Thanks to our super smart customers and friends, we’re gonna start our list of other VBS themes from all the publishers we can find. Comment below to add your memories and favorites to this ultimate list of VBS themes from years gone by.

Cokesbury VBS Themes
2013: Everywhere Fun Fair, Where God’s World Comes Together
2014: Workshop of Wonders, Imagine & Build with God
2015: G-Force, God’s Love in Action
2016: Surf Shack, Catch the Wave of God’s Amazing Love
2017: Hero Central
2018: Rolling River Rampage

Concordia VBS Themes
2014: Gangway to Galileo, Amazing Grace Adventures
2015: Camp Discovery, Jesus at Work Through Us
2016: Barnyard Roundup, Jesus Gathers Us Together, ¡Sopresa!, El Camino del Perdón
2017: Mighty Fortress
2018: Splash Canyon

Standard Publishing VBS Themes
1989: Joy Trek, A Journey with Jesus through time and space
2000: Road Rally Praises
2005, Construction Zone, Building Character Like Jesus
2007: Take the Plunge with Jesus
2012: Adventures on Promise Island, Where Kids Discover God’s Lifesaving Love!
2013: God’s Backyard Bible Camp, Under the Sun/Under the Stars
2014: Jungle Safari, Where Kids Explore the Nature of God
2015: Bible Blast to the Past, Discover God’s Everlasting Love
2016: Deep Sea Discovery, God is With Me Wherever I Go

More VBS themes from Gospel Light, Answers, RBP and other publishers

Gospel Light VBS Themes
1991: Sonward Ho
1992: Son Mountain
1993: Amazing Journey to Bible Times
1994: Son Farm
1995: Sontown
1996: Kingdom of th Son
1997: Sonrise
1998: Sonlight Island
1999: SonCastle Faire
2000:
2001: Soncreek Junction
2002: SonCanyon River
2003: SonHarvest
2004: SonGames
2005: Kingdom of the Son ( repeat)
2006: SonTreasure Island
2007:
2008: Sonworld Adventure Park
2009: SonRock Kids Camp
2010:
2011:
2012:
2013:
2014: SonTreasure Island, SonWest Roundup
2015: Son Spark Labs, Discovering God’s Plan 4U=Jesus!, SonRise National Park

Answers VBS Themes
2014: International Spy Academy, Agents for the One True God
2015: Camp Kilimanjaro, An Epic Expedition Through Proverbs
2016: Ocean Commotion, Diving Into Noah’s Flood
2017: Operation Arctic
2018: Time Lab

RBP VBS Themes
2014: Arrow Island, Choosing God’s Way
2015: To The Edge, Encounter the God of the Universe
2016: Cow-A-Bungalow Farm, Growin’ With Our Faithful God
2017: Over the Moat
2018: Camp Moose on the Loose

Bogard Press VBS Themes
2014: Cross Canyon Trail
2015: Camp Courageous
2016: The Conquerors
2017: The Redeemer2018: Jungle River Adventure

Abingdon Press VBS Themes
2015: Shining Star, See the Jesus in Me
2016: Joy In Jesus, Everywhere! All The Time!
2017: Super God! Super Me! Super Possibility!

Spanish VBS Themes
2015: Underwater Quest

Mega Sports Camp VBS Themes
2014: Game Plan
2015: Get Ready
2016: Epic Moments
2017: Conquer the Day
2018: Team Spirit

Jeff Slaughter VBS Themes
2014: Scavenger Hunt
2015: Run Run
2016: Tree House

VBS Mission Project VBS Themes
2016: VBS Missions, Change For Life

Go Fish Resources
2014: Shine
2017: Victory

Orange VBS Themes 2017: Gadgets & Gizmos
2018: Amped ‹ Thanks VBS Shirts Thanks for the great VBS picture. › Grab your backpack, grab your tent
God’s creation is a big event

Which past VBS themes do readers remember?

Readers remember these past VBS themes, shared in the comments.

Mid to late 90’s

1998- Hooked On Jesus
1999- We Shine For Jesus
2000- In The Race with Jesus
2001- Jesus To The Rescue
2002- Faith Mountain
2003- Treasures Of The Nile
2004- Jesus Helps You Power Up
2005- Construction Zone
2006- Trading Places
2007- Take The Plunge
2008- God’s Big Backyard
2009- Studio Go! Game Show
2010- Hero Headquarters
2011- Inside Out and Upside Down on Main Street
2012- Adventures On Promise Island
2013- God’s Backyard Bible Camp (not to be confused with 2008 lol)
2014- Jungle Safari
2015- Bible Blast To The Past
2016- Deep Sea Discovery

Side note: I have all the music for these except 1999, 2000, and 2002. If anyone has copies of these I’d love to get a copy 🙂

After 2016 we switched over to Answers in Genesis. I’ve been directing VBS since 2015, hard to believe it’ll be 10 years in 2025!!

ANYBODY RECALL THIS ONE?
ANYBODY HERE GO TO AWANA AS A KID IN THE 90S?

b b b Believe that Jesus is God’s only son
C c c commit your life to the Lord above,
ask him to fill you up with his love!

Anyone know the name?

C, Confess your faith in Jesus Christ”

More specifically, I remember Journey off the Map being the only one to have repeated letters like “a a Admit….”

I hope this helped!

C commit give your life to the looorrrd and ask him to be your, Savior.
Becoming a Christian as easy as can be, all you gotta do is learn your ABC’s

1992-Team Up With Jesus
1993 or 1994 (Come to the Party) Celebrate Jesus

1986: SonLight Mountain
1987: SonShine Patch
1988: Wonderfaire
1989: SonSeeker Safari
1990: Island in the Son
1991: Sonward Ho!

2006- Treasure Cove
2007- Quest for the Truth
2008- Power Lab

Probably way to late to help you but here you are.
Barbara S

RBP 2004 Castle Kids: Choosing to Serve the King
RBP 2008 DinoDetectives: Digging for God’s Truth
RBP 2009 Polar Extremes: All Out for God
RBP 2010 SeaQuest: Diving for God’s Treasure
RBP 2011 Rev It Up: Full Throttle For God