Frequently Asked Questions
What is WOW, VBS?
WOW is a 4 episode, four-day Virtual Bible Spectacular Event. This "Live Stream" broadcast event will feature different hosts from around the world, kidmin guest artists, and celebrity cameos. Kids and families will view a fun, engaging, interactive program of worship, Bible stories and teaching, magic, fun, games, and a presentation of the gospel message. Each 30 -40 minute program is prerecorded in a "life event" style. Churches may host watch parties and create a shared VBS experience for their kids.
When is WOW VBS?
WOW will stream live beginning on Monday, June 22 - Thursday, June 25, 2020.
WOW will repeat streaming on Monday, June 29 - Thursday, July 2, 2020
How does my church host the WOW VBS for kids and families?
Just press the easy registration button. All you need to do is register your church, and we’ll send you everything you need including complete instructions for promoting and hosting WOW VBS for your church families.
What does the host church do?
Just two things. First, promote and invite your kids and others to the event. Using the promotion resources we provide, just share and invite your kids to show up and watch. Next, host a watch party. Hosting a watch party is the best way to experience the event together as a group.
What are the lesson themes for WOW VBS?
Episode 1 - God Gives Us Courage
- The Story of Peter Stepping Out of the Boat. When the waves are high and the next step feels impossible, Jesus reaches out His hand.
Episode 2 - God Gives Us Hope
- The Story of Lazarus. Two sisters had lost their hope until Jesus came and brought life to Lazarus.
Episode 3 - God Gives Us Help
- The Story of Good Samaritan. No matter what our differences, God calls us to help one another.
Episode 4 - God Gives Us Love
- The Story of the Prodigal Son. The son who ran away from home returns to the loving arms of a forgiving father.
What does it cost?
We ask each church to consider a small donation in support of WOW VBS. This donation would be a tiny fraction of a typical VBS budget; however your support will make a difference. Your donation will help to cover the production cost, support the many “out of work” kidmin artists who share, and raise funds and awareness for our mission partners.
Is WOW an excellent way for my church to do VBS?
Absolutely. The WOW VBS live stream is an excellent centerpiece for your church’s online VBS. Add zoom parties, craft and game activities, and anything you can imagine to provide your families with a fantastic, one-of-a-kind VBS event.
Does WOW replace VBS for my kids?
Good question. The answer is yes, no, and maybe. WOW can be your online VBS. WOW can also be one of the great things you do for your kids online this summer. Even if you already have an online VBS that you are hatching, you can still do WOW. Just keep it a simple watch party that you provide your kids and families. It’s totally up to you to do what works best for your situation.
How does my church share the WOW VBS live stream?
Three ways to share the live stream:
1. Facebook Watch Party on your private Facebook Group Set up a Facebook group for your kids and families. You will link the WOW live stream to your party, and then as a host, you will be online with your kids. This gives you the ability to chat with your kids as you watch WOW. It's great to invite your kids into private Zoom parties after each WOW broadcast. This is a great place to follow up and keep your WOW VBS going. We will provide you with ZOOM party ideas for each program.
2. YouTube at FaithKidz TV Share the live youtube link to your families. You will need to remind your families with text prompts and calls to make sure they don't miss the live stream. It's great to invite your kids into Zoom parties that you host and organize following the broadcast. This is a great place to follow up and keep your WOW VBS going. We will provide you with ZOOM party ideas for each event.
3. Facebook Live Each WOW broadcast will be Live Streaming on the FaithKidz ministries page. Just share the link with your families. As always, we encourage you to invite your kids into private Zoom parties after each WOW broadcast. This is a great place to follow up and keep your WOW VBS going. We will provide you with ZOOM party ideas for each broadcast. https://www.facebook.com/Faithkidzministries/live/
How long is the program?
Each program will be approximately 30-40 minutes. The live stream will begin 15 minutes before the main program begins.
When do I watch the event?
WOW VBS is a live streaming event. The WOW VBS event will be streamed live every hour. You simply connect to the stream that works for your time zone.
Who is producing the WOW VBS?
WOW VBS is being produced by Steve Pennington & Rev. Scott Humston. Steve is the project director of Faithkidz ministries, a project of New Dimensions Evangelism.
ABOUT STEVE
Director, Faithkidz Ministries
Steve Pennington has for more than 40 years, given his life's work to creating and presenting programs that encourage, inspire, and motivate and communicate the good news of the gospel to kids and parents.
In addition to his work as a children's minister, Steve is a storyteller, a writer/director, a video producer, a puppeteer, and a performer.
Steve is a storyteller; his children's television efforts have earned him three regional Emmy awards.
Steve is a writer; he has written shows for theme parks such as Six Flags, Opryland USA, and Silver Dollar City.
Steve is a puppeteer; he was the master puppeteer for Walt Disney World's "Legend of the Lion King," "The Voyage of the Little Mermaid", and "Beauty and The Beast on Broadway."
Steve is a performer; his Pro-Kids Family Show has been presented in more than 2000 elementary schools and also performed at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
Steve is a director, he served for five years at Saddleback Church as program director for children's ministries and is currently serving as children's pastor of Trevecca Community Church, Nashville, TN.
Steve is a husband and father. Steve lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Danielle. He has two daughters and three grandchildren.
ABOUT SCOTT
PRESIDENT, NEW DIMENSIONS EVANGELISM, INC
Rev. Scott Humston has led an extraordinary life.
Overcoming a speech related birth defect to become a full-time speaker and performer, Scott now devotes his life to the art of educating through entertainment. Scott holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and Dramatic Arts, and has received professional and community awards for his encouragement to young people.
Touring more than 40,000 miles a year— not including flying—he's been seen coast-to-coast and abroad—even three shows at The White House! He has over the last 25 years entertained, motivated, and inspired people of all ages. More than 3 million people have seen his live shows! In addition to his "on stage" time,
Scott is President of The Motivation Resource Group, a company that produces live events sharing encouragement and wonder with people of all ages. He is also is CEO of New Dimensions Evangelism, a 501c3 organization that partners with faith-based organizations to connect with their communities. He is an associate editor of The Linking Ring Magazine, a trade publication for the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He also currently serves as a Territorial Vice President for that organization. And Scott is a member of the prestigious Magic Circle in London, England.
For more than twenty-five years, Scott has #sharedwonder in every major church denomination in the United States…and many para-church organizations. He's also partnered with mission outreaches in Turkey, Belize, and the United Kingdom.
He's also has worked with hundreds of companies, like Southwest Airlines, LEGO, and the BBC, sharing Wonder and adding impact to their projects.
He's partnered with faith-based organizations like Saddleback Church, The Church of the Nazarene, and the Salvation Army.
Scott's first book, part memoir, part inspirational roadmap, Sharing Wonder is is a conversational collection of stories about a boy who was born with a speech-related birth defect, how he became a master magician and what he learned about the real magic of Wonder along the way.
However, even more, important he and his wife Debi have been married 25 years and are have four children, ages 21, 19, 13, and 12. When not on the road, Scott and his family reside in beautiful Mount Dora, Florida.
Statement of Faith
God: We believe that God is love. That God is three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - in eternal loving communion together as one. We believe that God created out of love, breathed life out of love, forgives and extends grace out of love so that we might live with God in loving relationship forever.
Jesus: We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God. Fully God, yet fully human. Christ is God incarnate, God with us. It is through his sacrificial love on the cross and resurrection from the dead that we are forgiven, extended grace, and welcomed into the kingdom of God.
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Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is God’s presence in and for the world. Promised to us by Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us and leads us into faithful, loving relationship with God and neighbor alike, opening our eyes to see where the world and our lives are not as they should be in order to compel and empower us to join with God in the work of remaking the world and our lives as they should be.
Salvation: We believe that people aren’t perfect, but God loves us anyway. We believe that through the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth God has extended salvation to all of creation. It’s a free gift available to whoever will accept their place in the kingdom of God.
The Bible: We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the God-breathed story of God’s people, given to us so that we might better understand who God is, hear the good news, and become the people of God that we have been called to be in and for the world.