How to Organize Your Church's Vacation Bible School 2023

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a fun and educational summer program.

Churches across the world host it for children to deepen their faith. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to reach out to the community and connect with families.

Vacation Bible School programs are during the summer. This is because it’s usually the time when kids are out of school. And so, parents are looking for ways for them to stay active and engaged.

But organizing a Vacation Bible School can be challenging. There’s a lot to consider, especially regarding logistics.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide.

This can help you plan and execute a successful Vacation Bible School in 2023.

Create a Vacation Bible School 2023 Team

Create a team for your Vacation Bible School 2023.

This ensures that you have enough people to handle different tasks and responsibilities. It also ensures that everyone is working towards a common goal.

When building your team, have a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities that need to be present.

You’ll need to have volunteers to assist with various tasks. This includes registration, decoration, teaching, snacks, and games.

You can consider recruiting teenagers or youth groups to help. This allows them to serve and grow in their faith.

Share Faith created a guideline on who you should include in your Vacation Bible School 2023 team.

Aim for those who have a passion for serving Jesus, have a positive attitude, are open to learning, and love children.

Moreover, take into consideration their specific gifts and abilities. Aim to assign them roles that match.

Set a Date for Your Church’s Vacation Bible School 2023

Set a date for your church’s Vacation Bible School 2023 during the planning process.

Select a date that works well for both the church and the families who will be attending.

Make sure it doesn’t conflict with other summer activities.

Also, consider the weather and other potential events that could impact attendance.

Avoid scheduling it at the same time as Christian summer camp or Christian conferences.

Share Faith suggested that it’s also helpful to reach out to other churches.

Find out when they are holding their Vacation Bible School. Then, select a date that does not conflict with theirs.

Set Your Goals

Have clear objectives. Without it, you won’t know where to focus your efforts and how to measure success.

Share Faith stated to connect your goals to the purpose of the event.

For example, your primary goal is community outreach. That said, aim to have a percentage of attendees that come from outside of your church.

Moreover, consider what you hope to achieve through the program.

Then, make them specific, measurable, and achievable.

Once you’ve set your goals, communicate them to your team and volunteers.

Make sure everyone understands what they’re working towards. Let them know how their efforts contribute to the event’s success.

Determine Your Audience

In relation to your goals, determine your audience.

Lifeway suggested to ask yourself the following questions:

Who are you hoping to reach with this event? Is it preschoolers, elementary-aged children, or teenagers?

Are you looking to attract children from your church? Or are you hoping to reach those outside of your congregation?

Afterward, tailor your program to meet their needs and interests.

For example, you’re targeting preschoolers. And so, ensure that the lessons and activities are age-appropriate and engaging.

If you’re hoping to reach out to those outside of your church community, consider partnering with other community organizations.

It’s also essential to consider your audience’s cultural and socioeconomic background.

What types of activities and lessons will resonate with them? Are there any language barriers you should address?

After answering the questions related to your audience, expect how many of them will enroll.

This allows you to plan for too many or too few.

Choose Your Vacation Bible School 2023 Theme and Curriculum

Your Vacation Bible School 2023 theme should be engaging and exciting.

Meanwhile, the curriculum should be age-appropriate and align with the goals of the event.

There are many different themes and curriculums available.

Take the time to research and choose one that is right for your specific needs.

Share Faith stated that you can consider factors such as theology, media, ease of use, and price.

Start this planning process early. Afterward, get materials from the publishers.

Determine Your Budget

The budget helps to cover the necessary expenses for the event. This includes curriculum materials, snacks, decorations, and other supplies.

To determine a budget, there are a few factors to consider. This includes the number of participants, the duration of the event, and the type of activities and materials needed.

According to Lifeway, once there’s a set budget, hand it to your church. Afterward, they could give their approval.

Recruit Your Church’s Support for the Vacation Bible School 2023

Financial support is important. But it is not the only factor that contributes to the success of the event.

Ministry to Children stated that there are other forms of support. This includes donations of supplies, facilities, and prayer partners, are equally important.

And so, check the level of support available from your church.

This can help determine the approach to take in terms of the Vacation Bible School 2023 schedule and activities.

If the support is low, consider a shorter schedule. You can also collaborate with another church to pool resources.

On the other hand, if the support is high, consider expanding the event. This can be through an extended schedule or a community-wide VBS.

Create a Class Schedule and a Chart for Room Assignments

The class schedule should be well-planned. It should have age-appropriate activities, worship sessions, and snack and lunch breaks.

Meanwhile, the room assignments chart should be organized.

Create a room assignment that helps avoid confusion. It should provide a smooth flow of activities throughout the day.

Typically, Vacation Bible School programs involve teams of children who move from one station to another during the day.

According to Kids Sunday School Place, each station offers a different activity.

This includes listening to a Bible story, working on a craft, learning a song, or having a snack.

The number of volunteers required for each station depends on the number of children in each team.

Usually, Vacation Bible School lasts for five days. Moreover, teams consist of five to 20 children.

Four teams can accommodate 20-80 children. This number can be doubled to eight teams for a larger attendance.

Determine Your Strategies for Promotion

When it comes to promoting your Vacation Bible School 2023, consider a variety of strategies to get the word out to your community.

First, start with your church members. Ministry to Children stated that you can encourage them to invite others.

You can provide them with promotional materials. This may be flyers and posters they can distribute.

Second, use social media platforms. Post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote the event.

Third, consider partnering with other churches or community organizations.

You can offer to promote their events in exchange for them promoting yours.

You can also reach out to local schools or community centers. See if you can hang up flyers or distribute information to their students or members.

Finally, consider hosting a kick-off event or open house to generate excitement and interest.

Moreover, this can be a great way for families to learn more about your program. They will also get to meet the volunteers and leaders.

Publicize the Event and Open it for Registration

After all the planning and preparation, it’s time to publicize the event and open it for registration.

You can use online registration tools to simplify the process.

Make sure to provide clear instructions on how to register. This includes deadlines and payment options.

Moreover, remind parents and guardians to complete any necessary forms, such as medical or liability waivers, before the event.

Adjust and Follow-Up

As with any event, even the best-laid plans will require adjustments along the way.

It’s important to remain flexible and willing to make changes as necessary during Vacation Bible School week.

Communication among volunteers is also key. Make sure everyone knows their roles and is ready to adapt to any changes that arise.

After the event is over, don’t forget to follow up with contacts made during the event.

This is especially important for children who have made decisions for Christ.

Ministry to Children suggested to enroll them in Sunday school. This is to continue their spiritual growth and provide ongoing support.

You should also keep in touch with attendees and their families.

This can help build stronger relationships with your community. Moreover, it can potentially bring more people to your church.

Organizing your church’s Vacation Bible School 2023 can be a joyful and rewarding experience.

However, it requires a lot of hard work and planning.

But with the right strategies in place, it can be a successful event that impacts the lives of children and families in your community.

Do the steps outlined in the article. And, remember to adjust and follow up as necessary. This ensures that you maximize the impact of the event and create lasting connections with the participants.

That said, God bless your journey to a successful and uplifting Vacation Bible School 2023.

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