One of the best things to do while your VBS is going on is to find out how well you are reaching your kids. During your VBS, you’re ministering to (hopefully) lots of children who may never have heard “the word” or even been in a church before.
Even if you think your VBS is one for the ages, its important to document the good and bad of your VBS and make it even better for next year. But what do you do after VBS ends?!
Did you use CallingPost for your VBS communication and organization? We hope you liked it and hope you’ve give us some feedback below. Didn’t try CallingPost for your VBS? Sign up for our Free Trial and use it to send a “Thank You” message to all your volunteers, parents and campers.
It’s the Day After VBS….
Here are 5 great action steps to take.
5 Action Steps for the Day After VBS
This guest post is from Tony Kummer at Ministry-To-Children.com
You feel tired and your feet hurt.
Your ears are still ringing.
You’re feeling a little sad it’s over, but it’s to move on.
Wait-wait, it’s not over yet! We have a few details to cover before the VBS books are closed. These last five tasks matter just as much as all the work you’ve already done. Simply print off this list and cross the finish line with a smile.
1. Pray through your attendance and volunteer rosters.
Don’t forget to thank God for the children and adults who showed up. Pray for each of them by name and look for where God is working. This is the time to discern where you should focus your outreach efforts.
2. Send a simple (paper) thank you note to every volunteer.
Keep it simple and just write a few honest lines. “Thanks so much for serving in our Vacation Bible School. There are no small jobs in the Kingdom of God. I hope this week inspired your faith and helped you grow closer to Jesus.” If you’re busy, or the list is too long, get help addressing the envelops.
3. Send follow-up letters to guest families.
Now is the time to carry out the final stages of your outreach plan. At a minimum, send a basic letter saying thanks for coming and letting them know about other ministry offerings. If you’ve posted VBS pictures or video online, let them know where they can find that too.
4. Gather and dispose of VBS materials.
Don’t let those items sit idle for weeks and months after the program. Seek out other churches that are using the same VBS theme. Arrange for the transfer as early as possible. Anything not passed on, or saved for reuse, needs to be in the dumpster by Tuesday. Clutter is your enemy.
5. Debrief and evaluate improvements for next year.
Take a few minutes to write down obvious strong points and failures in your VBS plan. Think through each station and brainstorm what to improve. At this point, lay aside any ego and just figure out what worked and what was broken. Ask a few trusted volunteers or your leadership team to do the same. File all this away in the file for next summer’s Vacation Bible School.