Vacation Bible School continues to be the most effective tool a local church has in the areas of evangelism, outreach, extended ministries, training, and nurturing.
1. PRAY
Spend the month of January praying for God to reveal what He wants for your summer programming. God knows the best way for reaching children within the sphere of your church's efforts. Ask Him!
2. DECIDE YOUR PURPOSE
Put in writing your purpose for conducting VBS. Ask: "Why are we doing what we're doing?"
3. SET THE DATE
Set the date for the school, and put it on the church calendar.
4. ORDER CURRICULUM MATERIALS
5. PRAYERFULLY ENLIST STAFF
If VBS is God's work, you can count on Him to provided the needed help. List all needed positions and have the church as a whole pray for people to respond. Rather than a general call from the pulpit (anyone interested in working in VBS see so-and-so after church), contact people individually. Ask specific people for a specific job. Avoid appearing out of nowhere with a help request! Build relationships first.
6. PROVIDE CLEAR, DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Many potential workers misunderstand the task they are asked to perform. No one can satisfactorily function in a given role unless it is clearly understood what is expected. Included in the job description should be some indication of what the worker may expect from the church, as well as what the church expects from the volunteer.
7. RAISE VISIBILITY OF VBS THRROUGH PROMOTION
The more excited people become, the more likely they will want to be involved.
8. TRAIN YOUR STAFF FOR SUCCESS
Training helps ensure that what you delegate will get done because your volunteers will know how to do it. Plan individualized training sessions, if necessary. Have seasoned teachers mentor new ones.
9. MAKE PLANS FOR KEEPING YOUR CHLIDREN SAFE
Regarding safety of the children, put on the registration form a section saying, "Who will pick up your child at the end of the day?" Parents receive a letter 1-2 weeks before VBS saying you will need to park and come in the building to pick up your child/children from specified rooms. To avoid confusion as to where to go, send a map of the church to the parents clearly labeled as to where to pick up the different grade levels. Maps and signs all over the church also eliminate confusion.