Category Archives: VBS

Vacation Bible School requires a lot of detailed preparation in the months leading up to it. Then, at the last minute, comes a flurry of activity to set up and decorate. During the VBS program, people enjoy a Bible lesson, games, snacks, crafts and perhaps a general assembly time which all require time to prepare. Afterward comes clean-up and follow-up. With so much to do, certainly there’s a place for near all spiritual gifts in VBS.

An Effective VBS Takes a Lot of Organization and Coordination

Think of all that needs to be done: recruiting, delegating responsibilities, choosing curriculum, promoting, scheduling, planning the most effective use of the facilities and church grounds, working with the budget, etc. — Someone with the spiritual gift of administration can provide the organization needed for this ministry event.

As director of VBS, this person would do well to co-direct with someone having the gift of leadership to help him/her think outside of the box, to see all Vacation Bible School could be. People with the gift of administration could also be ones to coordinate specific aspects like crafts, games, snacks, etc.

A Variety of Spiritual Gifts are Needed to Accomplish All the Details

One person, or even a handful of people, cannot do it alone if we want to experience an effective Vacation Bible School. Since spiritual gifts are God’s power for serving, it only makes sense that the more we pull on people’s gifting, the more effective VBS will be. Delegating to a broad base of people according to their spiritual gifting, should increase the potential impact of VBS.

The Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use, includes a page that suggests the spiritual gifts that may best fit the various tasks that need to be accomplished in VBS. The handbook is a helpful tool for determining who to recruit in other ministry areas as well, fulfilling different ministry needs.

The Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual describes some of the staffing needs for an effective VBS along with some tips for recruiting and training these volunteers. The resource also helps with praying for VBS, planning, curriculum, and follow-up.

Vacation Bible School can consume a lot of time and energy that can yield minimal eternal good if we don’t effectively prepare for VBS. Effectiveness doesn’t come through picking a great theme, a lot of fun activities, enthusiastic teachers and workers, etc. but rather by the power of the Lord at work in and through it. Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing of eternal value (Jn. 15:5). Because He is the Vine and we are the branches, we find our sustenance and strength in Him to bear fruit. He must therefore be a critical part of our preparation if we want VBS to truly be effective.

4 Critical Steps to Effectively Prepare for VBS Through Prayer

When we truly believe what Jesus said, that apart from Him we can do nothing, then we will take steps to make sure seeking after Him in prayer becomes a part of all we do. Consequently, these four steps will be the most critical steps you can take in preparing for Vacation Bible School.

STEP 1:  Envision what VBS can be through prayer.

STEP 2:  Envelop the whole process in prayer.

Step 3:  Enlist the prayer support of others right from the start.

Step 4:  Engage the entire congregation in praying for VBS.

Wherever you are in the planning process for this year’s VBS, it isn’t too late to implement these critical steps.

Get Help Planning Your Vacation Bible School

Check out the Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual for some specific points under each of the above steps. This resource will help you have a more impacting VBS with prayer as a core need. It also give six other suggestions to maximize the time and effort put into this program.

Are you having Vacation Bible School this year? You will have some work ahead, some prayer to invest, some workers to recruit and materials to prepare, as well as promotional efforts. Though time intensive and energy consuming, trusting God to use it should bring an excitement and joy to your soul.

The following poem of anticipation is included in the Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual. This resource looks at seven steps that will lead to a more impactful VBS, to make what you read below a reality.

‘Twas the Morn Before VBS : Anticipating VBS

© 2022 Ministry Tools Resource Center, MinTools.com (permission to print for ministry use with copyright info included but not on another website)

Need help preparing for your VBS?

• VBS Curriculum
• VBS Timeline
• Other Vacation Bible School Resources
• Coloring, Crafts, Games, & Skits (Drama) Resources

Vacation Bible School can be very consuming of time, resources (people and financial), and energy. A lot of effort goes into a short blast of ministry. VBS … Is it worth it?

Suggestions to Help Make VBS Worth It

You’ll need to look at your particular situation to answer that question.  Here, however, are some suggestions that will maximize your effort.

1) View prayer as critical.

2) Have a clear purpose and diligently pursue it.

3) Plan well enough in advance.

4) Choose your curriculum wisely.

5) Recruit and strategically.

6) Train and equip staff adequately

7) Take time to follow-up.

Check out the Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual for input on each of these suggestions. If followed, it  could very well tip the scale on whether or not VBS is worth it for you because you go beyond simply having a nice program that is an end in itself and stresses out its workers. It becomes something God is in and is able to bless that leads to an even greater purpose and that people find rewarding.

Often you will find helps on which VBS curriculum to choose but not much seems to be written about when to choose it so let’s begin with that.

— WHEN TO CHOOSE VBS CURRICULUM —

Normally by the end of summer or beginning of autumn, most of the major curriculum companies announce the next year’s theme.  While you usually cannot order the material at that time, you can start comparing what is going to be available.

It used to be I would go to the local Christian bookstore when the curriculum was in stock and spend a number of hours checking out the various programs.  Now, with the Internet, you can do much of the research online and much earlier.

The earlier you begin the process, the more potential for your “creative juices” to start flowing to imagine the possibilities of what you could do with the various themes.

The earlier you decide, the sooner you can start praying more specifically and even dropping hints to build excitement.

— WHICH CURRICULUM TO CHOOSE —

In choosing VBS curriculum, pray for God’s guidance as you ask the following questions:

How does it meet the basics?

How does it fit our setting?

How will it interest our people?

How will it provide support for successful implementation of the program? 

You might not find a Vacation Bible School curriculum that aligns perfectly as a good fit for you in all these areas.  Make sure, however, that it at least measures up in the basics and then do your best to make it work in your setting, trusting God to use it to His glory.  Remember, the earlier you choose your curriculum the more time you will have to pray about it and tweak it to make it a better fit.

Get help answering these questions  about VBS curriculum with added input in the Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual. It also includes a two-page Curriculum Evaluation form you can use to assess various VBS curriculum publishers. This resource looks at six other pertinent steps to having an effective VBS.

For VBS Curriculum Currently Available: Vacation Bible School Curriculum & Theme Supplies

The title of this post is inaccurate.  Vacation Bible School is never over.  Well, perhaps the actual program is, but the “follow-up” that ought to be taking place, keeps it going.  Various kinds of follow-up can be implemented to help make this year’s VBS even more spiritually successful as well as set the stage for the next VBS.  While everything is fresh in people’s mind, it’s time to start planning for the next year.

Follow-Up Ideas for When VBS is Over

The following ideas provide some broad suggestions for what you can do for follow-up. Specifics for implementing these suggestions depends on your setting but in some way could be a part of your plan.

1. Take Home Follow-up
2. Contact Follow-up
3. Discipleship Follow-up
4. Parent Follow-up
5. Prayer Follow-up
6. Report Follow-up
7. Evaluation Follow-up
8. Staff Follow-up
9. Reunion Follow-up
10. Outreach Follow-up
11. Projecting Forward Follow-up

If your VBS program is long over and you haven’t done any follow-up, you can still implement some of these ideas.

More Help With Vacation Bible School

You’ll find brief input about each of the above means of VBS follow-up in the Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual. The resource looks at six other steps, in addition to follow-up, to having an effective VBS.