“Waves of mercy, waves of grace. Everywhere I look, I see Your face!” 🎵

Admit it- you just sang that in your head, didn’t you? And let’s be real, you probably did the hand motions too. 🙌

For those of us who grew up in church, Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a core memory: the goldfish, the games, and of course, the music!

Sometimes, I randomly find myself remembering the dances we made up to TobyMac and for KING + COUNTRY songs. My church was known for its wildly random themes. From the Amazon rainforest to skater parks, video games, and one year, even an entire “Under the Sea” theme called “Fisher’s of Men” (fun fact: that was the week I gave my life to the Lord at age 7).

Some of these songs are simply timeless. We can’t let the kids forget about these classics. And if you’re currently planning a VBS, you can never go wrong with the nostalgia-filled throwbacks. Some of these songs were hard to track down on YouTube (seriously, it took FOREVER), so grab your headphones, sing along, and let the memories wash over you.

1. Big House | Audio Adrenaline

The song is legendary among all children’s church programs. Did anyone else have little phrases you would shout out in between lyrics? Bonus points if you shouted “TOUCHDOWN!” after “a big big yard where we can play football.”

2. Every Move I Make | Hillsong Kids

Na na na na na na na 🎶 You know you love it. It’s peak 2000s worship energy.

3. Church Clap | KB

The hype song of all hype songs. It works at the start, middle, or end of your VBS day. Bonus: watching pastors completely butcher the choreography is half the fun.

4. O Happy Day | Jesus Culture ft. Kim Walker Smith

Okay, this one’s a little more niche. But my church wasn’t afraid to throw in a few Sunday morning worship tracks into the VBS mix.

5. Pharaoh Pharoah | Frank Aragon

“LET MY PEOPLE GO—HUH!” You haven’t truly lived until you’ve screamed this at the top of your lungs with 50 other sweaty kids in a church gym. Took some real digging, but here it is.

6. Dive | Steven Curtis Chapman

You’ll never hear a group of kids sing the verses right (they’re way too fast), but everyone joins in for the chorus. Perfect for VBS themes involving water, fish, or, well… diving into faith.

7. I Am A C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N

One of the all-time classics. The real challenge was trying to spell and say it faster than your friends. (Honorable mention to “I’m in the Lord’s Army” and “I’ve Got the Joy.”) Enjoy this VeggieTales version.

8. One Way | Hillsong Kids

More Hillsong. More puppets. More energy. Does anyone else remember when every church had a giant mascot costume? One year my mom dressed up as a horse for our farm-themed camp. She said the inside of the mask smelled like armpit. But, the kids loved it.

9. Made to Love | TobyMac

Another one where the verses are fast, but the chorus gets everyone singing. Honestly, whatever TobyMac released that year, we used it. And it always worked.

10. Friend of God | Israel Houghton

This one had me strutting down the church hallways singing, “I am a friend of God!” on repeat. So singable—so good.

There’s something magical about vacation Bible school. It always felt like summer camp with the perk of sleeping in your own bed. Whether you were raised in church or not, these songs made a lasting impression, and they’re perfect for sharing with a new generation.

Do You Remember These Youth Group Worship Songs | Song Battle ft. Jeremy Camp and Passion