Much blessing has followed in the lives of many children from the time VBS began in india. The beginning, however, was very humble. Mrs. Mary E. Hamilton came to India and joined as a staff of South India Bible Institute (now the South India Biblical Seminary-SIBS). The institute began in 1937 as a movement of WGM. Mary Hamilton had a deep concern for the children on the streets in the hot summer and she thought of reaching them for the Lord. And so, she endeavoured to do something for these children. Some gifted young people like P. Samuel, Sam Kamaleson, Theodore Williams, Fred Gokavi, Ms Edith Morgan and few others from South India Biblical Institute galvanized her concern into action and organized a program for 75 children at Kovilpatti (a village in Tamil Nadu) and taught them stories from the Bible. Thus, the first VBS was born in 1952. Steadily but surely, it had become very popular among Churches in Tamil Nadu.

Watching the impact of VBS on Children, the South India Bible Institute gave cognizance to this movement, by making it a part of their applied activities, and making it into a branch of their programs. Mrs. Mary Hamilton gave shape and features to this moment. She produced the first syllabus, trained the SIBS students and formed teams to different parts of India, besides involving herself in VBS training in different States.

When the VBS began to expand and several more churches found the attractiveness of the program, the need for a systematic curriculum arose. At this point Ms Esther Faulkner (later Mrs. Esther Williams) and Rev. Dr Theodore Williams wrote a three-year curriculum for all age groups. A few things marked the shape of this curriculum –

- The whole curriculum from the Beginner class to the Senior class had compressed in a simplified form, for the level of a child, the Biblical subjects covered for a seminary student.

- The three-year curriculum was designed to be rotatory. Each child would be for three years through a single class. And a three-year curriculum meant that there would be no repetition of content.

- The material had incorporated mission and evangelism into VBS syllabus. Thus, many great leaders of integrity and mission focus were the outcome of this movement. In fact, the formation of several missionary movements like Friends Missionary Prayer Band, India Evangelical Mission, Kanyakumari Missionary Movement of CSI and many more arose because of VBS.

The first Indian to become the Director of VBS was, Mr. J. D. Arulmani, in 1969. He coordinated the designing of the student workbooks. He also expanded the Ministry in Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal, Nagaland and Nepal. During this time VBS also partnered with other child agencies (like the Scripture Union) to promote the need for meeting children with the Word of God. After him Mr.R.C.Ghunakumar, Mr. S. C. Emmanuel, Mr.Lloyd D.Thomas, Rev.John Kirubakaran, Rev. Isaac Manohar, Mr.Sam Selwine and Mr. K. J. Andrews served as its Directors. Presently Rev. Noel Prabhuraj serves as its Director. The ministry continues as a department of South India Biblical Seminary. It has now spread in South Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka and even in the Middle East.

The VBS curriculum, originally is a 10-day module. Now, a new curriculum is under development to meet the need in Urban areas with a shorter 5-day module.

To help children to respond to God, to live as His disciples and to cooperate with God by participating in His action in the world.

Every year, the VBS material is produced and supplied in more than 11 Indian languages to touch the lives of around 2 million children, both in urban and rural settings, across India and in other countries in South East Asia and in the Middle East. Hundreds of Sunday school teachers and volunteers are trained and equipped to be effective in Child Education – these Training Programs are conducted in 175 towns and cities of our country.

We function mainly through churches and Christian Organization and our purpose is to –

- Provide a systematic and intensive Bible study through fun-filled learning activities for 10 days. Every year, new biblical themes and songs are written and activities are suggested to meet the contemporary needs of children in different parts of the country.

- We are launching a new concept – 5 days VBS for Urban children.

- Create opportunities for children between 4 to 18 years to respond to God and to the reality around, in a definite and in a personal way.

- Establish healthy environment for children to grow mentally, emotionally and socially by involving them in group dynamics.

- Give a memorable and fruitful yet lighter leisure for children during summer, a much-needed alternative parents desperately look for.

- Complement the work of the other agencies of Christian Education in the Church like Sunday School and Youth Fellowship.

- Function as an outreach of the Church to reach out any child in need of God.