Congratulations! You are planning for VBS 2021!

If you follow the Good News Movement (@goodnews_movement) on social media you may have seen a video this past week of a school aged girl receiving news that she would be returning to in-person learning. Her tears of relief and joy were heartwarming and heartbreaking. Our kids NEED social interaction with other children and with adults. We are hard-wired by God for connection with people.

Can I just encourage you: whatever you must do to get children and families together this summer, do it! I understand that geographical location impacts what this will look. I am in Missouri where churches are filling up more and more each Sunday and people are regularly going out to eat. Dear friends of mine are in Massachusetts and they have not eaten in a restaurant or attended in-person church since March 2020.

Regardless of where you live, the need for social connection amongst kids is constant. How churches meet said needs will vary and that is ok!

The VBS programs that are available through Christianbook come with many helps on how to meet the need safely and successfully for family and student connection. Some of these helps are from our team and other helps are directly from the publishers.

Resources are available to help you plan for:

1. In-person VBS
2. Hybrid VBS (in-person and virtual)
3. Virtual or At Home VBS

There are so many great tools and resources in 2021 to come along aside VBS directors. Thank God for the good things coming your way!

As you decide which approach to take, allow me to offer 2 suggestions:

1. Decide to host VBS in 2021 – Go ahead and commit to something. Many schools in the country have successfully had in person learning. Schools that were remote only are opening up either to a hybrid model or full time. You can learn from schools or camps in your area on what protocols to take or wording to use when communicating with the community. Bottom line – you can do VBS this year!

2. Decide with vision – I hope this does not sound too harsh. Hear me out. Your volunteer team needs to hear vision, excitement, and commitment to meeting the real needs of families in your community. People like to get behind vision and passion. Don’t be surprised if a half-hearted enthusiasm for VBS is met with a half-hearted commitment from your volunteer team. Jump in to VBS with both feet! VBS is something we GET TO DO.

VBS leader: we believe in you! And we believe in the power and strength of God to see you through this year.

– Holly Trewern, VBS Product Editor at Christianbook

The post Decide to host VBS in 2021! appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Guest post by Katie Mason, Children’s Pastor at Abundant Life Church in Maryland.

In September of 2019, the staff at Abundant Life Church in Glen Burnie, MD gathered together to plan the year 2020. Little did we know all those plans would evaporate faster than water on the hot summer concrete. Like most of you, ALC Kids has had to adapt, change, and rewrite plans last minute to try to minister to kids in a helpful way during the chaos of coronavirus and quarantine. And then of course, there was the looming question of VBS. Do we cancel VBS? Try to have it in person? Do we move it online?

At first, we began to plan for an all virtual VBS, but no one was in love with the idea. Screen fatigue was real, and our kids were less engaged with our video calls each week. As the cases in Maryland went down, we thought about trying to have a modified in-person VBS, but none of us felt comfortable with the risk factors involved with the kids, volunteers, and older members of the congregation. And then a foghorn sounded across the misty cloud of 2020; what if we did both? We’d have the large group portion online in the morning. Then kids could meet in their small groups of ten or fewer outside at different times during the day. And so the hybrid of a virtual and in-person VBS was born.

By moving our large group worship services for preschool and elementary online, we are able to limit the amount of exposure our kids would have to others and limit their ability to spread Covid-19 to others should they unknowingly be carriers. Our kids are used to online worship services as we moved all of our ALC Kids worship services online in March to help limit the spread of the virus. Thanks to the digital age, we were able to worship and learn about the Bible together safely from a distance. Still, we knew our kids were desperate for some safe in-person interaction.

We knew that if we could manage to do at least part of our VBS in-person, we’d have greater interest from our kids as well as the kids in our area who didn’t have a church home. Yet, we knew that whatever we did had to be safe for everyone, which is why our small groups will be meeting outside in groups of ten or fewer in a tiered system that allows no more than two small groups on church grounds at a time. Additionally, we are offering an online small group option for children who are high-risk or live with people who are high-risk. Kids who choose this option will be able to pick up a box of supplies for their crafts and games. We want everyone to feel included.

According to the CDC, the main way the virus spreads is through prolonged person to person contact. By limiting the amount of people on church property at a given time, we vastly limit the ability for the virus to spread, but we are also able to provide kids a time to enjoy being with one another and their small group leaders. There is no way to eliminate all the risk, but we are doing our best to be wise and give kids hope and joy during this difficult time.

Throughout the entire planning process, my team and I have asked one question: How do we give kids hope this summer? It has often been a difficult question to answer, but it is one that we come back to time and time again. We believe that VBS provides a time of fun, joy, and learning that kids can take with them as they grow and learn. This year, our goal is to remind our kids that God is still good, and there is still hope and joy to be found, even in 2020.

Guest post by Katie Mason, Children’s Pastor at Abundant Life Church in Maryland.

Follow at @alclivemd on Instagram

The post Creative Solutions for VBS 2020 appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

As we navigate our way through the challenges of VBS 2020, let’s take a look at the long and successful history of VBS for a little inspiration…

1866

The first origins of Christian Bible education to children (that eventually grew into vacation Bible school) is traced back to Boston just after the Civil War by Wheaton University education Professor C.B. Eavey. (1)

1873

Early roots of VBS date to the 1870s, when the Methodist Episcopal Church offered summer Sunday school institutes to the general public near Lake Chautauqua, New York. In 1873, Bishop John H. Vincent proposed the movement should include educational and cultural programs, and soon other Christian groups across the country followed suit with their own summer retreats, many of them offering services for children. (2)

1877

Other reports indicate beginnings of a summertime Bible program for children took place in Montreal, Canada. (3)

1894

D.T. Miles, a public school teacher and wife of a Methodist minister, wanted more time to teach the Bible to students, thinking the school system failed to provide enough time. In response, she started a daily Bible school to teach children during the summer. She enrolled forty students and it lasted four weeks in duration. Children paid one dollar to attend and the American Bible Society provided Scriptures to those who did not have a copy. (4)

1898

Virginia Sinclair Hawes (often identified as “Mrs. Walker Aylett Hawes”), director of the children’s ministry at Epiphany Baptist Church in New York City began an “Everyday Bible School” for immigrant children. Her first location was a rented beer garden behind a saloon during the mornings (324 East 71st Street, NY, NY) and it lasted six weeks. (5)

Professor C. B. Eavy described the early days of VBS like this:

“The vacation church school was started to gather idle children into unused churches where unoccupied teachers might keep them busy in a wholesome way in a wholesome environment.” (6)

“These summer programs in the eastern part of the country reportedly lasted five weeks and included not only Bible    content but also worship, music, open-air games, “expressional activities” like sewing, weaving, basketry and hammock-making, plus talks on patriotism and hygiene.” (7)

1900

Howard R. Vaughan, a Congregationalist pastor in Elk Mound, Wisconsin began a shorter summer program for children in the western U.S. that was shorter in duration and focused primarily on Bible teaching. (8)

1901

Dr. Robert Boville of the Baptist Mission Society, became aware of Mrs. Hawes’ summer program and recommended it to other Baptist churches. Boville established a handful of summer schools which were taught by students at the Union Theological Seminary (NYC). During one summer, one thousand students were enrolled in five different schools. (9)

1907

After the program spread to other cities, including Philadelphia and Chicago, Boville established a national committee. (10)

1912

While not under the title of Vacation Bible School, Dr. Abraham L. Latham of the Third Presbyterian Church in Chester, Pennsylvania initiated a five-week, four hour per day summer Bible school in 1912 which at its peak had 650–700 students. This has been claimed to be the world’s first summer bible school. (11)

1920s

Vaughan’s approach inspired a 1920 teacher’s manual published by Abingdon Press, The Vacation Religious Day School. (12)

1922

Nationally, 5,000 summer Bible schools were established and most lasted five weeks long. Dr. Boville founded the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School.

1923

Standard Publishing produced the very first printed VBS curriculum. Enough material was provided for a five-week course for three age levels (kindergarten, primary, and junior). (13)

1950’s

An estimated 60,000 vacation Bible schools existed, teaching approximately 5 million students, and including 500,000 volunteers. (14)

1997

Estimated 80% of churches offer Vacation Bible School in the contemporary format (According to a Barna group report in 2013)(15)

2013

An estimated 67% of churches offer Vacation Bible School (16)

2017

According to one VBS publisher alone:

■ 21,376 churches reported a VBS

■ 2,494,059 people enrolled in VBS

■ 65,301 salvation decisions from VBS

■ 835 decisions made for vocational ministry at VBS

■ 160,926 prospects discovered through VBS

■ $7,012,010 given to missions during VBS

■ 78% of churches use VBS as their largest outreach to unchurched kids in a given year (17)

2020

Another year of lives changed for life and eternity! For about 140 years, God has worked through VBS to impact the eternal destination of children all over the world. Much has changed. Much more remains the same.

References:

1. “A Brief History of Vacation Bible School”, Chris Gehrtz, June 20, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2020. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2017/06/vbs-brief-history/
2. “From Beer to Bibles to VBS”, Steven Gertz, June 2, 2003. Retrieved May 21, 2020. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/juneweb-only/6-30-43.0.html
3. Gerhtz
4. Gerhtz
5. Gerhtz – also http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/EpiphanyBapt.html Retrieved May 21, 2020.
6. “In the beginning: The connection between a 19th century beer garden, VBS”, Jennifer Cohron. July 21, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2020. http://mountaineagle.com/stories/in-the-beginning-the-connection-between-a-19th-century-beer-garden-vbs,12315
7. Gerhtz
8. Gerhtz
9. https://happytoknowhim.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/the-history-of-vacation-bible-school/ Retrieved May 26, 2020
10. Gerhtz
11. http://www.oldchesterpa.com/churches/thirdpres_bible_school.htm Retrieved May 26, 2020
12. https://happytoknowhim.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/the-history-of-vacation-bible-school/ Retrieved May 26, 2020
13. “The Legend of VBS” by Mike. January 13, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2020. https://lookoutmag.com/2013/the-legend-of-vbs/
14. Gerhtz
15. “Why Fewer Churches Offer Vacation Bible School”, Abby Stocker. July 21, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2020. https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2013/july/barna-why-fewer-churches-offer-vacation-bible-school-vbs.html
16. “The State of Vacation Bible School” Research Releases in Family & Kids, July 9, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2020 https://www.barna.com/research/the-state-of-vacation-bible-school/
17. “It’s Worth It Presentation Outline” Lifeway Publishing, adapted from It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One week Can Transform Your Church, Landry Homes, Lifeway Publishing, 2019.

The post History of VBS: Summers with Jesus appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

There are many qualities you might look for in your volunteer team or staff. Qualities such as their love for Christ, commitment, loyalty, fun, team player, creative, problem solver, or willing. But one quality often left off that list is ‘appreciated’. A quality you as the pastor or leader have direct impact on.

Ask yourself this question honestly: does your team feel appreciated? An under-appreciated team member may become disgruntled, feel their work does not matter, may underperform or give just barely enough. They may even be bitter or difficult to work with and ultimately, they may not stick around for long.

On the other side of the coin, an appreciated team member, a team member that feels valued and feels their contribution is noticed, understands they are part of a bigger picture. Such team members are not only a joy to serve with, but their service has a greater impact.

So, what are some ways you can show your deep appreciation for your team? I’m happy you asked. I’ve got a few ideas for you to take and use in your own church. Or perhaps my thoughts will spark a different idea in your mind! That’s one of the beautiful things about collaborating on ideas… it gets creative juices flowing for everyone!

Tip #1 Write thank you notes 

Download FREE Thank You Postcards Here! 

Ok, yes I know. Simple. A no brainer idea. But in a world that is mostly digital and fast paced, receiving a thank you note in the mail with a handwritten message is powerful. Set out time in your calendar to once a month or once a quarter write out thank you cards to members of your team appreciating them for their service. Highlight something specific you’ve seen them do or a character attribute you see in them to make it extra personal.

Tip #2 Take advantage of holidays on the calendar

New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter, 4^th of July, first day of fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are some of the times in the year when you can use the holiday to say thank-you. Deposit seeds of appreciation all throughout the year to your VBS team. Some ideas:

1. Valentine’s Day: ‘Thank you for making this team great!’ – include a small treat.
2. Easter: A chocolate bunny with a note that says, ‘there is no bunny like you on this team – thanks for serving during Easter!’
3. 4^th of July: A sparkler or glow in the dark necklace with a note that says, ‘you make our team sparkle!’

You get the idea – have fun – search out Pinterest and creatively say thank you to your team. You’ll communicate they are valued and make them smile.

Tip #3 Volunteer Appreciation Meal

This can be cheap or elaborate depending on your budget. When I was a children’s pastor we did a ‘breakfast for dinner’ thank you dinner with our team. It was a blast. We had big griddles for pancakes, eggs, & bacon – a waffle station, fruit, coffee and juice. During the meal we played games, laughed and got to know each other more. As our time concluded I publicly honored each team member by sharing a quality they possessed and thanking them. For months after, my team told me how much it meant to them to be publicly affirmed. This was a cheap event to pull off that had a big impact.

Tip #4 Create rhythms in their service to your team

I fully believe ministry life is less about balance and more about rhythms. There are seasons that are just flat out busy and there is no way around it. Easter, VBS season, Christmas are times when we give a lot and we ask our teams to give a lot. After busy seasons, work in a season of rest. This is good for your personal life and it’s good for the life of the church. There is this pressure to keep things rolling at a fast pace ALL the time but it’s just not sustainable. Build rhythms of rest into your culture. That might look like scheduling time off for your regular volunteers

Tip #5 Care about who your team members are as people… more than what they do for you! 

This is a really important way to appreciate your team. Take the time to develop your team. Invest in their character, in their personal walk with the Lord, in their family. This takes time on your part but the pay-off is worth it. The goal should never just be to get volunteers to carry out your vision. The goal should be to carry out the vision of the church while simultaneously developing those on your team. It’s not either or but it’s both.

Tip #6 Volunteer of Month 

Utilize social media or your team e-newsletter to highlight a volunteer of the month or week, depending on the size of your volunteer team. When you highlight them, share their picture, how long they have served, a specific thing you appreciate about them, and then maybe a fun fact. Two things are accomplished here: your team member feels valued AND other volunteers learn a little about their peer.

Good luck as you create a culture of appreciation with your team! Be assured, the work is worth it! Appreciated people are some of the best people to work with.

– Article by Holly Trewern, Church & VBS Product Editor at Christianbook 

The post VBS Volunteer Appreciation Tips appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

The world is battling a pandemic with the Coronavirus. There seems to be a lot of information floating around the internet causing great concern. It’s not just the virus itself that is concerning, but the large amount of information that comes with it – what is true and what is false?

While we might not have any answers to the important questions surrounding COVID-19, we would like to provide some ideas on how you can proactively approach the situation in your children’s ministry and wider community circle. How can you, as a volunteer and leader, come alongside your circle of influence – your parents, students, and church leaders?

Here are some thoughts and resources that might come in handy.

Tip #1 – Remain Informed

If you lead a faith community, we encourage you to read what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published on their website. They have made three documents available:

1. Interim Guidance
2. Cleaning & Disinfection Recommendations
3. Checklist for Community and Faith Leaders

We recommend you take a look at their recommendations and, out of an abundance of caution, take proactive steps to ensure your church is ready to stop the spread of the virus. You can use this as a time to encourage and appreciate those whose responsibility it is to clean your church!

Tip #2 – Be cautious, not fearful

Author Alicia Cole says ‘fear distorts reality’. The context for this quote relates to our spiritual maturity, but it applies in this setting too. Fear over COVID-19 can distort reality. With those you lead, take time to remind them to remain cautious and continue to take preventative measures to stop the spread of disease – but not to be ruled by fear. The Bible is clear in 2 Timothy 1:7 – God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind.

Tip #3 – Provide Helpful Resources & Articles

Resource your parents and leaders with helpful tools should they find themselves with extra time at home with kids. We’ve included some links from our friends over at Homeschool Compass.

1. Seasonal Activities
2. Tips for establishing new routines with kids
3. Home organization and management tips
4. How to entertain little kids at home
5. Free downloadable coloring pages

We’d love to hear from you! What are you doing to educate, prepare and encourage your team during this unprecedented time in history?

The post Preparing Your Kid’s Ministry for Coronavirus appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

How do I build a fantastic budget for my Vacation Bible School? If you’re leading a VBS, you can really start planning until you know what funds will be available to you.

You can check out our post on planning VBS on a budget here. Raising funds for many is challenging.

How do I ask? Who do I ask? I’ve seen many a people get shy when it comes to asking. Here are 8 tips to help you with the ‘how’…

Believe in What You’re Asking For

Do you believe in kid’s ministry? Do you believe it is important? Do you believe Vacation Bible School will change the lives of kids and families? I hope the answer is a resounding, YES! If you wholeheartedly believe in the cause you are asking for, that passion will shine through when you are asking for help. Write out all the reasons why VBS is important, why you believe in it, the impact the program has had, and why you are excited to be a part of it. Your belief in the program will be felt by those you are talking to.

Join our community of KidMin volunteers over on our Facebook Group ‘Everything KidMin’! 

When Possible, Ask Out Of Relationship

Many good things flow out of relationships. We don’t build relationships so we can get things – but a perk to already being in a relationship with an individual or business is that you have established credibility and rapport with them. Network throughout the year with people and businesses in your community because you care. As you care about others, usually they care about your.

Ask for Partners Not Just Money

When you ask people to financially invest in your ministry, appeal to them as partners. ‘We are asking you to partner with us… because you give, you are part of the success of this program… with your partnership we can feed XX kids breakfast before VBS etc’. Connect the donor to your why and allow them to share in the success of what you are building.

Set a Goal and Share Your Goal

This is a big one! Set a goal and share your goal. How much do you need to raise? Don’t be afraid to share that number with your team and your potential partners. Sometimes people shy away from sharing a goal because, what is we don’t meet it? Don’t ket fear keep you from sharing your goal. Something powerful happens when we put words to our vision and openly share it – you never know who will catch your vision and partner with you.

Be Direct

Once your share your vision, your goals and desire to become partners, be direct in ‘the ask’. Don’t beat around the bush and hint at your request. Come out and directly ask for what you need. ‘We need to raise $250, would you partner with us by giving to the ministry of Church?‘. Or if you’re looking for product donation, ‘We would like to feed breakfast to 50 kids Monday through Friday, could you supply us with 100 doughnuts one day of the week?’

Assume Good… But Be Prepared For a ‘No’

Assume that people and businesses want to work with you. Assume they want to partner and want to give. That assumption will influence your demeanor when you make your presentation. Assume good, but be prepared for no. Don’t take rejection personally. Practice how you’ll respond if no is the answer you receive. You can say something like, ‘I understand. Thank you so much for being generous with your time and hearing me today. I look forward to continuing our relationship in the weeks/months to come.’

Thank You. Gracias. Obrigado. Je Vous Remercie.

Say ‘thank you’ many different ways. Thank you’s matter. A thank you builds on the relationship beyond the gift given. Mail a thank you note right away and then also follow up after your event with a thank you. Because you are working on a partnership, connect your partners to the success of the program. Give them stories and stats they can be proud of. Use phrases like, ‘because you gave, we accomplished…’ or ‘your generosity meant 75 kids ate breakfast each morning…’ or ‘little Jonny was thrilled each day to take his craft home to his family. Your giving made this possible’. 

Will Your Partner Donations Be A Tax Deduction?

Know the answer to this question before it is asked by a potential giver.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

Use our FREE resources to help you build your budget. We have sample budget pages, sample fundraising request letters and sample fundraising thank you letters.

Now that you are a bit more confident in how you will ask, what about who? Who should you ask if you’re looking for donations for your VBS? Pray about who to ask and then start with who you know. As stated earlier, many good things flow from relationships, personal and professional. Many businesses want to give a certain dollar amount each year to non-profits or charitable organizations.

If you’re looking for product donation, obviously you need to look for businesses that have the product you want. I’ve heard of local grocery stores giving gift cards to their grocery store, bakeries donating day old baked goods, and craft stores donating inventory they haven’t sold and they are getting ready to pitch. Are there individuals in your community that believe in the next generation that would be thrilled to give back with a monetary contribution?

Good luck and don’t forget, Philippians 4:19 – God gives everything we need. Pray about the need. Ask for help. Work hard. And trust that God is supplying for what you need this season. 

The post How to Ask for VBS Donations appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Guest Post by Giselle Ryan, Children’s Pastor at Radiant Church – Surprise, Arizona

There’s nothing like a couple of kids and a week of VBS. Something magical happens when time is set aside to creatively engage kids of all ages, pointing them to the story of Jesus. I’ve seen nothing but good things come out of doing VBS. Not only are kids impacted but parents see the effects. Conversations are sparked in the home centered on Jesus. Curiosity is created in kids to ask questions regarding faith and how it relates to themselves. The wonderful volunteers that help to run the show are as well impacted by being a part. They get to be in the discussions and work to form relationships with the kids. It is so satisfying for volunteers to teach kids about their Creator and have a blast while doing it.

When I first helped to direct a VBS I was rather overwhelmed. There is so much work involved in accomplishing a big feat such as VBS. From creating the coolest games that engage kids to preparing the snacks for each day to coordinating with every volunteer making sure they know what they’re doing, VBS is quite the task to take on. Amid getting everything accomplished it’s easy to get lost in the details and the deadlines and forget the reason why you started it all in the first place. The countless hours put in at the church and with the help of many volunteers, we were able to complete it all in time.

Need help selecting your VBS? Click here to discover FREE resources and helpful guides!

Once the first day started, I quickly remembered all the hard work was for a purpose. The excitement in the kids mixed with all the activities we plan for them and the incredible truth we get to teach is magnetic. By the last day I was filled with a mixture of exhaustion and utter fulfillment giving all I had to this special week. To hear the feedback from volunteers on how impactful this one week had on them was rewarding. The volunteers made special connections with kids, other leaders, and saw the importance of investing in the next generation.

At our church we call VBS Kids Week and we look at it almost like a summer camp experience without having the kids overnight. We get the kids for the first half of the day and by noon they are ready to be picked up. We have different themes for each day so everyone can dress up like crazy hair day. The last day is always water day, a day everyone looks forward to. We play all the games outside and the kids get soaked. It’s a day full of sunscreen, snow cones, and laughter.

I love to create exciting moments for kids and then tie it all back to Jesus. When you love on kids, they’ll listen to what you have to say. It’s through relationship where transformation takes place. And that’s why I love VBS because it helps to create genuine relationships for kids. Most importantly their relationship with God is better understood and then they make connections with others which gives them someone to further their growth in faith with.

I can’t wait to see what this year’s VBS has in store.

Guest Post by Giselle Ryan, Children’s Pastor at Radiant Church – Surprise, Arizona

The post Why I love directing VBS appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Every investment made into the life of a child is important and never wasted. As you plant seeds during a child’s formative years, truly only eternity will show us the impact being made. You – mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, Kid’s pastor, VBS director, teacher, volunteer – you are coloring their world. You are helping to shape their perspective on God and his goodness. What a child believes to be true about God directly impacts every other area of their life.

Don’t grow weary in the journey – keep on keeping on with grit, determination, grace and love. Galatians 6:9 in The Passion Translation says this, “And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!”

We’ve got a fun download for you this Valentine season – FREE Valentines that can be printed on cardstock! Ideas on how to use these Valentines:

1. Add a piece of candy and give one to each child the Sunday before Valentine’s Day.
2. Make these Valentines available to parents to take and distribute to their child’s school class, make it your gift to them!
3. Print a small label to stick on the back inviting recipients to come to church on a Sunday or an upcoming special event.

From all of us at Christianbook, Happy Valentine’s Day! What you do matters, you are doing a great job, and you bring God great joy!

[ CLICK TO DOWNLOAD ]

[ CLICK TO DOWNLOAD ]

The post Valentine’s Day Download: You Color Their World! appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Happy New Year! Can you believe we are entering a new decade? We pray that regardless of what 2019 brought your way personally and professionally, that you finished the year knowing Jesus in a more intimate way. He is indeed the Good Shepherd, working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

As you begin 2020 with a fresh calendar and a newly sharpened pencil in hand, we wanted to make you aware of a few FREE resources we have to help you plan your 2020 Vacation Bible School. “VBS, VBS VBS all the way. Oh what fun, it is to plan Vacation Bible School, oh!” (sing to the tune of Jingle Bells) Ok ok, too much cheesiness for your day. I get it.

Here are the freebies!

First, we have two resources to help you select which curriculum to use. We have a brief comparison chart, giving you a side by side glance of each VBS theme available. We also have a longer VBS Guide, giving you more details for each program but still all in one place. Decide early on your curriculum so you can shop the sales after New Years, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter!

Second, we have some budget planning tools: a top level budget sheet – guiding you in planning big picture ideas and a detailed budget – guiding you in breaking down the nitty gritty details.

Third, we have a Donations Listing chart. This is just a simple guide to help you think through what donations to seek out and to help you keep track of them.

Join our community Everything Kidmin with Christianbook over on Facebook! 

Fourth, we have a Planning Calendar. The planning calendar is a great tool to utilize starting as soon as 9 months in advance. Advance planning is a key component in pulling off a great VBS! We hope you find this helpful.

Fifth, our website is full of information for each curriculum. After you peruse the comparison chart and guide – you may still have questions. Head to christianbook.com/page/vbs for more information to help you make your selection. Here you’ll be able to read more details, see samples, listen to music, watch promo videos and more!

Sixth, call our Customer Service Experts at 1-800-CHRISTIAN. If you still have questions, we have an incredible team at Christianbook ready to answer any questions you have. We even have Vacation Bible School experts! Woo hoo!

Lastly, stay connected through Facebook and our blog! Over the next few months we’ll be posting several articles, free downloads, and tools to help you with EVERYTHING KIDMIN.

Again, Happy New Year from your EVERYTHING KIDMIN team!

The post Free VBS 2020 Resources appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

As you approach your 2020 planning season for Vacation Bible School, it’s important to establish a budget early on. Working with your VBS and church leadership teams 6 to 9 months in advance to create a budget will enable you to plan to succeed. Nothing is worse than having a grand idea but not having the budget to see it to fruition because you didn’t plan well. So, plan – plan – plan!

One thing I know from church ministry is you could always use more money to carry out the mission! While that may seem discouraging, it doesn’t have to be. One of the beautiful things about KidMin is you get the opportunity to partner with God to be creative, think outside the box, collaborate with others, and have fun doing it.

If you find yourself in 2020 needing to plan your VBS on a shoestring budget, take heart! You can do it! As you think about your budget I encourage you to…

begin with the end in mind!

Gather with your VBS leadership team and start your VBS planning by thinking of the end. When VBS 2020 is over, what do you hope to have accomplished? Are you looking to increase attendance? Do you hope to decorate your space more? Is your target demographic church families or unchurched families?

After you’ve spent some time praying about and thinking through the end goal, plan for the non-negotiables, meaning – what are the must have items in order to accomplish your end goal? If increased attendance is a priority, you need to plan to allocate more money toward marketing. If creating a more aesthetically pleasing environment is a goal, plan to allocate more money toward décor. You get the picture – build your budget with the end in mind. Plan for the big purchases first. Once you have done that, here are a few ideas to help you cut costs.

Download our FREE VBS Budget Spreadsheet!

This VBS budget spreadsheet includes three sections – a top level budget; a detailed level that also calculates over/under budget; plus a donations tracking list.

1. Partner with another church

Do other churches in your community host a VBS? Perhaps you could partner with one by offering the same theme and sharing some of your resources. Not only is this a way to save money, it is also a great opportunity to build relationship with other faith based organizations in your city. While you may work at different churches, you are all on one team loving people with the love of Jesus.

2. Pinterest is your best friend!

I’m convinced there is nothing new under the sun. And when it comes to decorating a kid space around a theme, there are so many ideas to give you inspiration! Did you know we have Pinterest boards for each of the VBS theme that are full of ideas to decorate your space? VBS_TopLevelBudget_2019Many of the curriculums also offer very affordable backdrops for you to start with and build on. Here’s the deal with KidMin & Pinterest… you’ll find many DIY projects that, while they may be cost-effective, will be time consuming. If you plan for time consuming projects, no big deal. If you don’t, bring some ibuprofen and coffee!

3. Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose

Get creative! Think about what you want your space to look like. Now, think about how to make that happen with what you already have, what a friend already has, or what you might be able to purchase second hand for cheap (think yard sales, Goodwill, Savers, etc). Maybe you struggle because you feel you aren’t creative enough? Recruit to your weakness and look for a volunteer that has that crafty eye. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

4. Ask for donations

Ask for help from both those in your church and outside your church. Is there a local bakery that gets rid of products at the end of the day?  Perhaps they would consider donating those to you the week of VBS to use for snacks. Another idea is to make a list of supplies needed, cut out handprints with those supplies written on them and post those at the door of your Sunday School classrooms. Then you can ask parents to ‘lend a hand by taking a hand’ and purchasing the item they select. Finally, many businesses donate a certain amount of money each year to non-profits, look into those resources locally. When you’re working on a budget, every little bit helps. Don’t forget, if you ask for help – say thank you! Take the time send a thank you card, tag the donors on social media and give them a shout out, or follow up after the event letting them know what their contribution helped you accomplish.

Click here for a handy (and free!) VBS Budget Spreadsheet

This VBS budget spreadsheet includes three sections – a top level budget; a detailed level that also calculates over/under budget; plus a donations tracking list.

5. Keep the main things the main things

This is huge. Think back to begin with the end in mind. I hope for each of you one of your main end goals is to love children well! With that in mind, think about what it takes to love a child with the love of Christ. The décor, the fun crafts, the delicious snacks are good but they will never replace an environment that has been prayed over and leaders that are walking in the fruit of the Spirit and caring about a child’s heart. Keep the main things the main things. Kids will remember how you make them feel more than how cool the decorations and crafts were.

Good luck, friends! We pray VBS 2020 is a year where you see your vision come to life. Tag @christianbook on social media and show us what your VBS program is up to. We want to see your creativity in action!

To shop all things VBS 2020 click here! 

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