Operation Restoration is rooted in its mending theme: mending our own connections to God, mending relationships with others, and mending God’s creation. Inspired by the gentle and poignant illustrations of Pastor Dan, Operation Restoration provides a welcoming space to gather, learn, and build community together after the traumatic, challenging years of the pandemic. We think many VBS Directors will welcome a program that is different—less stressful, less frenetic, and less layered—so they can focus on what matters. That’s why you won’t find the typical parts of many VBS programs. There are no mascots, zany puppets, plastic toys, theme songs, memorization prompts, or complex visual environments. The mending theme and five Bible stories form the heart of this VBS, with Pastor Dan’s illustrations inviting everyone into the experience together.

One More Thing: We know this approach may not be for everyone, but we hope it’s for the VBS Directors who are wondering “Is there a different way to do this?”

You don’t get far in reading about Operation Restoration before coming across the name of Pastor Daniel Erlander, whose published books provide the basis for this VBS program. If you have never heard of Pastor Dan before, keep reading.

Who is Pastor Dan?

Pastor Daniel Erlander is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Now retired, Pastor Dan has for decades provided the church with publications that promote a grace-filled welcome and hospitality. His message has always been grace, communicated with both wisdom and whimsy.

What has Pastor Dan published?

He is the author and illustrator of seven self-published books that have sold hundreds of thousands of copies over the last three decades.

What is Pastor Dan’s illustration style like?

His style of writing books by hand and illustrating them himself with cartoon-like characters is familiar to many across the church. Erlander has said “I think in pictures” and has been “drawing and drawing” since kindergarten. For much of the print world, words lead and pictures and illustrations follow. For Pastor Dan, the pictures have always led. Throughout Operation Restoration, his illustrations appear in every resource.

What about Pastor’s Dan’s biblical understanding and theological point of view?

Theologians and pastors have used Dan’s work for many years. Seminary professor Dr. Barbara Rossing has used his work titled Manna and Mercy: A Brief History of God’s Unfolding Promise to Mend the Entire Universe as a textbook in the Bible class she teaches because of its “rigorous and excellent scholarship,” but also because of its “humor and whimsy.” Another colleague commented on Dan’s giftedness as a teacher, stating that he could teach a class with theologians and laity in the room, and both would leave with new insights. “Teaching to such a broad spectrum is a truly rare talent.”

Why are we publishing a VBS based on Pastor Dan’s work?

More than two decades after Erlander began publishing his delightful and engaging resources, we’ve expanded his work by creating additional resources to support his original books. Since 2018 we’ve published dozens of classes for children, youth, and adults based on four of his books, along with animated videos, mini Bible studies, retreats, intergenerational events, and six board books for young children.

These additional resources have been embraced by those already using his books in their congregations. We decided to design a VBS around his published works and underlying theology of God’s dream for mending all of creation. We believe that many churches are ready to offer VBS program that focuses less on fictional environments and decorations and more on the message of God’s redeeming love and grace for us and our response to share this love in the world. We think that empowering kids and people of all ages to claim the role of mender may be just what you’re looking for.

In Conclusion

For decades, Pastor Dan’s handwriting, illustrations, and message have drawn people into his simple, yet profound, understanding of Christianity. If you are new to his work, welcome! We hope you find that the simplicity, visual appeal, and mending message of Operation Restoration is a great fit with your church’s plans for VBS.

The Starter Kit provides what you need: a Director Guide, all five Activity Guides, and 10 copies of the Interactive Book for Kids. Once you choose your activity centers and finalize the number of kids, purchase these resources:

• Additional Activity Guides to distribute to each center leader so they each have their own guide
• Additional Interactive Books so each kid has one, plus a few extra (you never know who will show up on Day 2!)

One More Thing: The Digital Downloads at the Operation Restoration website provide dozens more resources you can use during your program.

No. Operation Restoration describes art activities and other projects that can be made from the provided templates and patterns along with easy-to-obtain supplies that are low-cost and low-waste. Part of the message about mending is using what we have and reducing our impact on God’s creation.

One More Thing: Check out the Art Activity Guide for examples of projects that highlight the process of art-making rather than the everyone-gets-the-same-results crafts.

No way. We want all participants to create art that is beautiful, expressive, and harm-free.

No. Operation Restoration includes several music recommendations, along with encouragement to use songs from your own context. The only screen time kids experience is when they watch images from each day’s Bible story.

One More Thing: Check out the Music Activity Guide in your Starter Kit to see how kids learn songs during VBS that they’ll sing during worship for the rest of the year.

That’s a definite No. While Pastor Dan is a Lutheran pastor, his body of work is inclusive and welcoming of all Christian traditions. Operation Restoration is designed for all kinds of churches, with encouragement to use songs from your own tradition. If you choose to carry out mission and servant projects, you can choose from the options within your denomination.

One More Thing: Methodist, Presbyterian, and other churches have been using Dan’s books for decades!

Operation Restoration can be carried out as a weeklong program form Monday through Friday. Churches who use it for five consecutive weeks (on Wednesday evenings, for example) will be able to easily adapt the material for this format. We recommend planning a full 5-day program so that all participants can benefit from the theme for the fifth day: rest!

One More Thing: Operation Restoration doesn’t need to stay a summer program. You may find you can adapt it for five weeks in your fall programming, use it for Lent, or another innovative way.

No. During the pandemic we witnessed churches demonstrating remarkable innovation and creativity in creating hybrid VBS programs. We decided to create Operation Restoration as an in-person experience for all participants so they could benefit from being present together.

One More Thing: Several churches have discovered new uses for their outdoor spaces during the pandemic. You could plan to have check-ins, Small Group Time, and several of the center activities in your outdoor space.

Yes. Every activity center includes an All Kids describing how younger and older kids team up together for activities. Just make sure you have a Small Group Leader for every 5 or 6 kids to help relationships develop throughout the week.

One More Thing: When reviewing the All Kids activities each day, your center Leaders may find they want to use the activity for Lower Elementary or Upper Elementary kids with some minor adaptations. Go right ahead!

Since the pandemic, we are seeing a rise in churches hosting events where all the generations can come together and participate in faith formation activities together. (This is different than grown-ups helping kids do something.) Whether you’ve been planning intergenerational ministry for years or are trying this out for the first time, Operation Restoration can support this kind of program.

One More Thing: If you do decide on an intergenerational VBS, you’ll still need to recruit volunteers. Give those youth a time to shine while leading people two or three times their age!

That will depend on your context, but here’s a list to get you started:

• Registration Lead who welcomes kids and families and checks them in
• One Small Group Leader for each group of 5-6 kids
• Large Group Opening team members (you’ll need an emcee, skit actors, and one or more music leaders)
• One Leader for each Activity Center, plus at least one additional volunteer per center
• Snack Lead and a few volunteers (if you’re serving a snack)

One More Thing: You’ll read about Youth Leaders and Center Helpers in the Activity Center Guides. Those terms are used to describe the volunteers who help the Director and other leaders.