Illustrated Ministry

Progressive Faith Resources for the Church & Home

You are here: Home / Blog

Blog

Compassion Camp: The Progressive, All-in-One Vacation Bible School Curriculum

Leave a Comment

Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School

When it comes to picking out Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs, finding a curriculum that’s both theologically progressive and comprehensive can be daunting. For years, churches have had to figure out how to piece together various materials to develop a VBS experience that aligns with their values. Enter Compassion Camp, a breath of fresh air in the VBS curriculum world, offering a complete curriculum designed for today’s progressive churches.

A Singular, Comprehensive Package

What sets Compassion Camp apart is that with one purchase, you get the entire curriculum. When you choose Compassion Camp for your VBS program, you’re choosing simplicity and completeness. With your one purchase, you receive the whole curriculum—there’s no need to buy additional materials or supplemental add-ons. 

Theologically Progressive and Engaging

Compassion Camp: What Every Living Thing Needs is an earth-care curriculum focused on the more-than-human world. While humans are a part of God’s creation, we aim to explore the needs of every living thing for shelter, food, water, air, and community through awareness, gratitude, wonderment, reciprocity, and kinship, and specifically, practice ways humans can have compassion for the more-than-human world regarding those needs.

With Compassion Camp, you won’t have to completely rewrite the Bible content or discussion sections. The material is engaging, relatable, and appropriate for kids of all ages. Learn more here.

Engaging, Lively, and Meaningful

“In my twelve years of doing VBS here at First Pres Santa Monica, I can’t remember a VBS program more engaging, lively, meaningful, and loved by children, parents, and staff than Compassion Camp.”

–Peter Earhart
Director of Children’s and Family Ministry
First Presbyterian Church
Santa Monica, CA

The curriculum includes a Director’s Guide with over 400 pages of material, activities, games, sheet music, and more, ensuring a well-structured and engaging Vacation Bible School program. Leader guides for each component of Compassion Camp, including a five-session version for youth, provide clear instructions and creative ideas to facilitate each session effectively. Learn more here.

Music and Lyrics to Enrich the Journey

Compassion Camp’s Theme Song: A Creation Hymn

Music is vital to any VBS program, and Compassion Camp excels in this area. The Director’s Guide contains chord charts and sheet music for six original songs, also available on popular music streaming platforms. Additionally, lyric videos, including instrumental versions, are accessible on YouTube, adding an audiovisual dimension to the VBS experience.

Flexible and Adaptable for Your Church’s Needs

Flexibility is a cornerstone of Compassion Camp. Whether planning a traditional 5-day Vacation Bible School program or looking to spread it out over several weeks, Compassion Camp adapts to your church’s unique needs. Its versatility also makes it suitable for family camp weekends or as part of a church-wide program. Learn more here.

20% OFF through Cyber Monday

In the spirit of making Compassion Camp accessible to more churches, we’re excited to announce a special offer. From now through Cyber Monday, Compassion Camp is available at a 20% discount. This is an excellent opportunity for churches to embrace a progressive, comprehensive VBS curriculum at an unbeatable value.

But don’t wait too long – the sale will end in:

High Praise from Experienced Vacation Bible School Leaders

The impact of Compassion Camp is best highlighted by those who have experienced it first-hand. Peter Earhart, Director of Children’s and Family Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, CA, shares, “In my twelve years of doing VBS here at First Pres Santa Monica, I can’t remember a VBS program more engaging, lively, meaningful, and loved by children, parents, and staff than Compassion Camp.” Read more testimonials here.

Take the Next Step: Download a Free Sample

We understand the importance of experiencing the curriculum before making a decision. That’s why we invite you to download a free sample of Compassion Camp. This sample will give you a glimpse into the rich content, progressive approach, and practical resources that make Compassion Camp a leading choice for VBS programs. You will receive the entire first session to review and show to your colleagues and other decision-makers in your community.


Compassion Camp combines theological progressiveness with comprehensive content. Its one-purchase, all-inclusive nature, coupled with the engaging and dynamic materials, makes it an ideal choice for churches seeking a meaningful and impactful VBS experience. Take advantage of the limited-time discount and download a free sample today. Embrace a VBS curriculum that aligns with your values and simplifies your preparation process. Choose Compassion Camp for your next VBS program. Learn more here.

A New Youth Ministry Resource: Coloring & Conversation

Leave a Comment

Youth at Living Waters Christian Church coloring our Stations of the Cross Coloring Posters

Many of you have been avid fans of our coloring posters and pages over the years.

And since the beginning of Illustrated Ministry, we’ve had many ask us some version of this question:

“When are you all going to start making youth ministry resources?!”

After a few months of listening to youth workers and surveying hundreds of youth pastors and leaders, we’re thrilled to bring you some fantastic news: we’re ready to launch our first youth ministry product!

And since we know that so many youth ministries have used our coloring posters and pages in the past, we’re introducing a product that will add new life to your coloring experience: Coloring & Conversation. 

Coloring & Conversation

The title says it all—while you immerse yourself in meditative coloring, this new resource will spark engaging conversations.

Coloring & Conversation is divided into three sections: Look, Listen, and Learn. Begin your creative journey by looking at and naming images you see in the coloring illustration. Then, we encourage you to listen to some of our musical suggestions found in each lesson. We are also working on curating a Spotify playlist that we will make available as soon as it’s ready. Finally, the heart of Coloring & Conversation lies in the thought-provoking quotes and questions specific to the theme to encourage conversation and learning. 

Youth at Christ Church Cranbrook coloring our Stations of the Cross Coloring Posters

Our first Coloring & Conversation perfectly complements our new Advent Coloring Posters and Advent Coloring Pages. It includes four lessons on hope, peace, joy, and love. While they align well to be used during the Advent season, the beauty of this product is that it can be used to encourage meaningful discussion all year long. 

The possibilities are endless with Coloring & Conversation, whether it’s a vibrant youth Sunday school curriculum during Advent, an intergenerational activity after church, a stress reliever for college students during finals, or a dynamic addition to your young adult small group gatherings. 

So, how exactly does it work? Order your Advent Coloring Posters or Advent Coloring Pages, and use the Coloring & Conversation guide to walk you and your group through a time of looking, listening, and learning. For example, as the group is coloring the Hope coloring page/poster, have your leader or designated individual read through the lesson and discussion questions, pausing for reflection and connection.

We are genuinely excited about this new product and can’t wait for you to dive into the world of Coloring & Conversation. We’d love to see your pictures and hear about your experiences when you do.

Young people at First Lutheran Church coloring our Stations of the Cross Coloring Posters

Additional Advent & Lenten Resources for Youth

If you are looking for additional resources to use with your youth or college ministry during Advent or Lent, check out some of the devotionals below:

Advent:

Lent:

All Saints’ Day Youth Resource

3 Comments

All Saints' Day Youth Resource

Freebie: Download our All Saints’ Day Youth Resource here

All Saints’ Day, observed on November 1st, is dedicated to celebrating the saints and the deceased faithful. In the Catholic tradition, it commemorates canonized Saints—those exceptional Christians who exemplified remarkable faith. Protestants, on the other hand, recognize all followers of Christ as “saints.” Thus, All Saints’ Day celebrates this inclusive “communion of saints,” referenced as the “cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews 12, who stand in solidarity and support with us as we seek to follow the way of Christ.

All Saints’ Day honors not just biblical figures—like Abraham, Deborah, Thomas, and Junia—but also beloved family members. And don’t forget the Dolly Partons and Nelson Mandelas of our time can all be considered and represented on All Saints’ Day.

All Saints’ Day Youth Resource

Considering celebrating with your youth group? Our All Saints’ Day Youth Resource is here to help. It offers:

  • An All Saints’ Day introduction
  • Insights into historical and modern-day saints
  • The significance of ancestors
  • Reflection on grief, loss, and All Saints’ Day
  • A guided spiritual meditation
  • A take-home page for families

This All Saints’ Day Youth Resource is adaptable for various group sizes and settings, be it Sunday morning or evening gatherings.

On All Saints’ Day, it’s also crucial to address the grief stemming from the death of loved ones. Understand that grief isn’t linear and doesn’t abide by time. Before delving into such topics, be aware of any youths who’ve recently experienced loss, and possibly inform their families in advance. As a leader, it may also be helpful for you to examine your relationship to your ancestors, your understanding of the saints, and your experiences with grief.

Whether All Saints’ Day is a novel or familiar tradition for you, we trust our All Saints’ Day Youth Resource will enrich your experience.

If you work with children, we also have more information on how you can experience All Saints’ Day with younger ages here: 3 Wondrous Ways to Celebrate All Saints’ Day with Kids.