How to Start a Vacation Bible School at Your Church
Vacation Bible school (VBS) is an excellent experience for kids of all ages during the summer months. VBS provides fun, day-long activities centered around the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. It gives kids a chance to get out of the house during the summer months and connect with other Christian kids their own age. VBS can have a deeply spiritual impact on the attendees' lives. Starting a VBS at your church isn't very difficult if you simply plan and acquire the appropriate amount of the volunteers needed to facilitate the event.
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Instructions
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Start a VBS
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Talk with your pastor about your desire to start a VBS at your church. Determine how long you want it to be, how many volunteers it would require and a few suggestions on curriculum. Provide as much information as possible to demonstrate your leadership ability to lead the VBS program. Gain approval from your church leadership before moving forward with the planning process. Ask the church leadership for a budget to work with so you can begin planning.
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Develop a VBS staff that can help you handle the work load and preparations. Make prayer a priority from the beginning with your staff. Delegate various responsibilities to different people such as a volunteer coordinator, arts and craft director and worship/service leader. Meet on a weekly basis to talk about ideas and make important decisions.
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Decide if you're going to purchase a VBS curriculum or if you're going to write it yourself. Purchasing a curriculum will save you a lot of time in the planning and executing process, but writing your own gives you the freedom to teach whatever topic you desire. Narrow down the curriculum to three choices and document how much money each one will cost to purchase.
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Discuss the curriculum choices with your leadership team and vote for one that everyone agrees on. As the date approaches, have the church announce the need for volunteers to teach and facilitate the VBS. Provide a sign-up sheet and a person to answer questions in the back of the church after the service.
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Provide training for your volunteers a week before the event begins. Leadership training is essential to having a successful VBS experience. Be sure to make the rules and regulations for the children obvious and plain. Talk about discipline procedures and emergency plans. Preparation brings peace, so the more you prepare, the more smoothly your VBS will go.
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