The onset of warm weather and the end of the school year signal, for many of us in ministry, an end or break from regular activities and programs. Summer, however, is a gold mine of opportunity for evangelism and outreach. It is the perfect time to reach out to children and families who are looking for fun summer experiences.

One of the most successful evangelism tools that a corps can offer is Vacation Bible School. If you have only a few children in your corps, VBS can attract attention and bring in children. If you have a lot of children, VBS offers an opportunity to develop relationships, teach leadership skills and deepen the spiritual growth of your young people.

Use some of our resources to help you plan your VBS program! Contact Jennifer Whitehouse for more information.

• Enlist the prayer support of interested people to pray for the VBS. A thriving VBS begins with a leader committed to first seeking God's wisdom and direction in prayer.
• Plan early. Use a step-by-step calendar (most kits include this) of the tasks that need to be accomplished, who will be responsible for each task, and deadlines for the completion of tasks.
• Recruit. A person is more likely to volunteer if they know what role you see them filling, so stress the importance of their job. Some people are intimidated when asked to work with children, so provide volunteers with some tips on how to manage and reach children (available in the training section of most kits). Ask some parents to be part of a Vacation Bible School Committee. There is a greater likelihood of success if you have parental support and help.
• Purchase the kit early. Read all of the material so you can understand how everything works together. Adapt the program into a format that will meet your church's needs.
• Be organized. The more organized you are, the more smoothly your VBS will run. But, expect the unexpected and be flexible. Have a few back-up plans in place for illness or rainy days.
• Encourage your staff. Find ways to encourage and show appreciation for those in ministry with you. Have a staff dedication during the Sunday meeting before your VBS begins. Consider recruiting a prayer partner for each member of the VBS staff.
• Advertise your Vacation Bible School. Let everyone in your church and community aware about VBS. Use personal invitations to encourage your corps kids to participate. Advertise in your neighborhood. Use your youth group to pass out flyers or pick a special night for your church members to pray for the neighborhood as they walk around and pass out the flyers.
• Follow-Up. Not following up with families is like planting a field of corn and not bothering to harvest it. A successful VBS is measured not by how many children attend or how many volunteers you have, but by how many lives are impacted for Christ.