A whimsical and wonderful world of food? Sounds delightful! But the secret sauce of VBS contains so much more than a delicious theme. These three non-negotiables make Crave VBS truly appetizing this summer.

Crave is kid focused

Here at Group, we have a very high view of children. We’re just following Jesus’ lead! So when it’s time to cook up another year of Easy VBS, we start by asking:

“What are kids like today?”

We notice they’re busy. Brave. Some are bashful. Some curious. Creative. Caring. Friendship-focused. Tech savvy. Giggly. Mindful. Neurodivergent. Sensitive. Overexposed. Undervalued. Overextended. Underwhelmed by life beyond screens. Wondering how and why faith matters in daily life. These cool kids have it all, and yet, more than ever, they need the main ingredient for a truly abundant life—friendship with Jesus!

Which leads to the next non-negotiable:

Crave is Jesus-centered

Once we’ve re-familiarized ourselves with the kids we serve, we ask two just-as-important questions:

What do these incredible kids need from their forever friend Jesus?

And how might the Holy Spirit work through VBS to stir up an insatiable hunger for Jesus in kids’ hearts and minds and lives?

Jesus called himself the bread of life. At Crave, kids enjoy the goodness of Jesus. They’ll taste and see why Jesus satisfies our deepest cravings—beyond tasty food. They’ll hear stories from Jesus’ life and discover these key Bible truths that truly matter in life as kids.

• Jesus gives purpose when wondering kids crave a reason.
• Jesus gives joy when discouraged kids crave delight.
• Jesus knows what they need when dependent kids crave help.
• Jesus gives forgiveness when imperfect kids crave another try.
• Jesus gives peace when worried kids crave calm.

Our goal: to honor kids and nourish their hearts. To create space for them to meet and grow closer to Jesus and his other friends. Yes, we want kids to have a blast. (And they do!) Yes, we want kids to discover Bible truths. (And they do!) But we know that the best VBS recipes include more than fun and games and prizes. That’s why every ounce of Group VBS has one goal in mind: to help kids (and their leaders) grow closer to Jesus and each other.

Crave is field tested—and kid (and leader) approved!

We promise you this: Group VBS is created by real people who love Jesus and honor kids. We’re writers, designers, and videographers. But we’re also parents, teachers, children’s ministry directors, seminary graduates, aunts, uncles, and mentors. We’ve been doing this for a long time, yet we still delight in designing a brand-new VBS each year.

That’s why we partnered with a local church to taste-test Crave with real-life kids. We coordinated schedules, noted allergies, and assigned mixed-age Crews. We taught and tweaked and addressed all the blunders and boo-boos so you don’t have to. We listened to leaders, noted their adaptations and insights, and baked their feedback into the Crave content you’ll share with kids in your community this summer.

It’s true! We’ve loved cooking up this fun and meaningful VBS for you.

Taste and see that Crave isn’t just another VBS theme. It’s a one-of-a-kind, delectable discipleship opportunity for your church to enjoy. Together, let’s stir up a hunger for Jesus!