Dear Pastors, Christian Education Leaders, and Bible Camp Leaders,

We hope you aren’t too busy to consider some long-range planning for summer ministries.  We want to be prepared!  AFLBS and Home Missions have goals to plan our future events early so that our summer ministries can be thoughtfully planned out without last minute scheduling.  Some of you have already written to us with possible dates for having a summer team.

There are twenty-one seniors and seventeen junior students serving on the nine summer teams being sent out by the Bible School, Home Missions, and the ARC. Pray for each of these teams as they minister in various congregations and Bible Camps, sharing in concerts and teaching Vacation Bible School, and counseling at Bible Camps and the Free Lutheran Youth Convention.  Listed below is the name of each team which you can click on for a link to their itinerary.
    Ambassadors
    Majesty
    Cornerstone
    Joshua
    Foundation
    Timothy
    Northern Barnabas
    Southern Barnabas
    ARC 

Team Training is planned at the end May each year.  Teams will be typically available for ministry from May 31st to mid-August. 

Each year, VBS materials will be studied and the best material chosen by late February.  The teams will be trained in this material and prepared to teach, or assist with teaching in your congregation.

Please realize the uniqueness of each team.  The Ambassador team performs musical concerts and drama, and leads worship.  The Majesty team emphasizes music and puppets.  Cornerstone, Foundation, Timothy and Barnabas teams focus on puppets and drama in their VBS presentation.  Each team can share testimonies with your congregation.  Unlike our music teams, VBS teams don’t do concerts or church services.  Please use them for testimonies or devotions, but we advise churches not to plan on them for specific hour-long programs.  Their main emphasis will be the preparation and teaching of Vacation Bible School, sharing testimonies, building relationships, etc.

What We Need to Know…
Please contact us using the enclosed form, letter, or e-mail no later than Friday, January 30, 2009 to request a team.
Send three possible dates (hopefully more!) when your church could use a team.  The team schedule is a week, Sunday-Friday, with Saturdays for traveling.  Our difficult scheduling process requires a minimum of three weeks to choose from.  (Team training is May 26–29, the commissioning service is Friday, May 29, at 7 p.m. and team commitment ends on August 14.)  Some churches have made our job easier by saying that “any week in the summer is fine!”
Let us know if you have a preference for a Bible School team or Home Mission (Barnabas) team. (The Home Mission Congregations have first priority for Barnabas Teams).
Bible Camp Leaders:  If you are the dean of a Bible Camp this summer, please let us know when and where your camp will be held.  We have it as a high priority to provide teams for camps.  We need that information before we can plan the rest of the VBS itinerary.

Request a team online or mail your request to the address(s) below. 

For a Bible School team:        (Ambassadors, Majesty, Cornerstone, Foundation or Timothy)

For a Barnabas Team:

Teams and team members will be finalized in February.  Please pray that, in the next few months, many AFLBS students will prayerfully consider this important ministry.  We pray that you will have discernment from the Lord as you choose all of the possible dates for having a team.

Sincerely,

 Mr. Sam Nash & Pastor Paul Nash

Matthew 9:36-38