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Summer is just around the corner and that means it’s time to start preparing for Vacation Bible School (VBS). We’ve put together some guidelines for your church to help this year’s VBS be the best one yet!
Here are a few tips to help you simplify your planning:
1. Pick Your VBS Theme
You may have already decided on your VBS theme and curriculum, but if not there’s still time to find something. There are several online suppliers to choose from that usually offer discounts on starter kits. And Christian bookstores, like Lifeway, often have complete kits in their stores so you can see the material firsthand.
After choosing your theme and getting your startup materials, you can begin focusing on volunteer recruitment and training.
2. Recruit Volunteers
It’s not always easy to find willing and excited VBS volunteers, so begin recruiting as early as possible. And remember you can never be too careful when it comes to protecting children. While selecting volunteers, make sure to secure your ministry with background checks. easyTithe Plus offers advanced integration with Protect My Ministry to streamline & simplify your background check process.
After you’ve assembled your all-star VBS team, you can start developing lesson plans and training your volunteers to ensure they are comfortable with the material and excited about teaching it. While developing your curriculum, make sure to take note of the supplies and volunteers needed for each activity.
Figure out the cost of all the items you’ll need and make sure it aligns with your total budget. If you find that you’re running a bit short on funds for supplies, there are several things you can do raise funds to cover expenses. Hosting events like Bible trivia nights and pancake breakfasts are good ways to cover any costs that don’t fit within your budget.
3. Promote Your Program
Promoting your VBS program beyond your church is crucial to reach those not attending church in the community. Use social media to expand your reach and encourage your members to share posts and invite friends and family. Also, make sure to update your website with all of the details and make it easy for parents to sign up their children by offering online registrations.
People are more likely to sign up for something if the process is simple! So, consider using a solution like easyTithe that enables online event registration and process payments for programs like VBS.
4. Use Every Resource Available
During the week before your program starts, you should be ready to go; just putting the finishing touches on volunteer training, assigning children to classrooms, and decorations.
The day your VBS starts, make sure to have extra volunteers on hand to help children check in and find their classrooms. A great way to simplify this process is using the easyTithe Plus Child Check-in feature. You can set up multiple check-in stations that connect to label printers for a safe and convenient drop-off system. Parents can also check in their children via Mobile App before they arrive!
Having the right tools and plan in place makes your VBS planning easier. To ensure your VBS runs as smoothly as possible, take a closer look at easyTithe and easyTithe Plus to find out how you can spend more time focusing on your VBS ministry and less time on administrative tasks.
