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#1 PLANPlanning for VBS should start, at a

minimum, 3 to 4 months before the date of yourschool. Things to consider in planning--type ofschool (night school, day school), dates, curriculumand theme, age range, staff, financing,

etc. CaJ,tngfJllKidst~ ." .', .f.

#2 PUBLICIZE~:"" '_.~.~G t th d t t ~/y, ~"-'.. .;;-~

e e wor ou 0 your ..,: i";:d (c';.tf'."community! There are many ways ~I ,\1)i?to do this: word of mouth, door to door, . - -

flyers, radio and newspaper advertisements, a sign infront of the church.

~#3 STAFF WAITED

Several months before VBS .introduceyour theme, along with dates,in a Sunday morning service. Ask one of last year'sVBS staff members give a testimonial of whatparticipation in VBS meant to him/her. Provide asign-up sheet which includes all activities of VBSthat you will need volunteers for. Also include onthe sign up sheet a place for volunteers to indicate ifthey are willing to be in charge of the activity. Havethe sign up sheet located strategically so that peoplecan easily sign up as they exit the service. If you donot get enoughvolunteers with the first appeal, makeanother appeal about one month later.

#4 PRAYA "successful" Vacation Bible School will

be a result not only of good planning and a good staffbut also one that has beencovered with much prayer.Why not have a specialprayer meetingjust for VBS?If you have a prayer chain orprayer group at church, ask

them to put VBS on their prayer list.

Pray~For OUr-Children

#5 FOLLOW-UPIf your local church is to see lasting growth

from Vacation Bible School there must be follow up.Follow-up should include a card to each child enrolledthanking him for attending and inviting him to weeklychildren's ministry programs. All families indicatingthat they do not attend a church regularly shouldbepersonally contacted.

Shared by Pat Sorrell, Virginia

Ideas You Can Use!~:r'/)VBS Alternatives. . .Not enough staff? Financing limited?

'"'" Can't find a week for VBS

tm&- amid family vacations,

youth camps, and otheractivities? Don't give up on

, VBS! Try one of thesealternatives!. Backyard Bible Clubs. Ask

church members in variousneighborhoods to host a backyardBible club.Thrilling Thursdays, or Way outWednesdays or MagnificentMondays. Choose one day aweek for five weeks as VBS day.Holiday Bible School. If it's hardto fit VBS into the summerschedule try having VBS duringthe fall or spring school holiday.Family Nights. Meet one nighteach week during the summer.Plan intergenerational Biblelessons, crafts, times of worshipand FUN!Satellite VBS. Have VBS in therecreation room of apartmentcomplexes or in a communitypark near a housing project. Thesatellite VBS will allow you to

, reach children who may not havean opportunity to attend VB S at acommunity church.

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Bring Kids In! (PromotionIdeas). A Neighborhood Parade. On the

Saturday before VBS beginsdrive through your community inan open vehicle.Have clowns --=::::tihc-...and kids with '-"/~ rvBSyou who are ~ c~~passing out 111balloons orcandy andflyers that give the date, time andlocation. Play music and use amegaphone to announce VBS.Radio and NewspaperAdvertisements. Use eye- atchingillustrations and copy.Pre-Registration Booth.Decorate and man a table at aneighborhood shopping area

, where children can pre-registerfor VBS.Door to Door. Print a flyerinviting children to come to VBS.Leave the invitation at everyhouse you visit.Mail a VBS announcement cardto every child who attended lastyear.

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. Poster contest. Ask the childrenof your congregation to illustratethe theme of this year's VBS andinclude the date, time andlocation. Place these posters instores, office buildings andapartment complexes throughoutyour community.

VBS Kid Pleasers!What's the thing kids like most aboutVBS? It's fun! Make your VBS fun, fun,

fun with these ideas! 0-~. You're In The Picture. From a

large piece of cardboard create amale and female or animalcharacter that fits into the themeof your VBS. But don't put aface on your creature. Insteadcut out a circle where each kidcan put his face. Using aninstant-print camera, take apicture of every kid during theweek. If possible, place hispicture in a cardboard frame thatgives the name, theme, year andlocation of your VBS.Theme Days. Make each day ofVBS a special day--Bring aFriend Day, "You MustHaveBeen A Beautiful Baby" PictureDay, My Favorite CartoonCharacter Day, etc. Give a prize,a food item or a coupon to everychild who participates. Solicitlots of neat awards from localmerchants.Crafts That Really Make KidsSmile! @ Choose crafts that arecool with kids- such as-stationary created from really

neat stamp pads and coloredpencils, tie-dyed orhand-paintedtee-shirts,decoupage flowerpots and pencil

holders. Kids also enjoyparticipating in a major craftproject such as a wall hanging,banner or mural that can be givento the church.Recreation that Dazzles! Insteadof competitive sports and relays,plan interactive games whereeveryone is involved andeveryone is a winner. Useunusual equipment such as agiant ball, a foxtail, a parachute.

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Time To Say "Goodbye" untilNext Year! ...::-<\ilit<::-(Ideas for CIOSingS):--

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. Lights, Camera, Action!Throughout VBS videotape thechildren and staff in everyactivity. View the tape at theclosing and use it next year topromote VBS.Crazy Carnival. During VBSallow the children to earn ticketsfor attendance, good behavior,participation, memory work, etc.On Saturday after VBS have acarnival where they can spend thetickets they have earned. Creategames similar to those on theboardwalk for your carnival suchas a dart throw, a ring toss, facepainting, etc. Give small prizesat each carnival booth. Include acotton candy machine, popcorn,hot-dogs.Open House. Don't tear downthose decorations or take homethose crafts. Leave everythingjust as it was. With teachers andkids in place invite parents,friends and members of thecongregation to VBS OpenHouse as your closing program.VBS-You Were There! On thefinal session of VBS inviteparents and others to attend.Give parents and visitorsdirections about where to go forclasses and other activities.Allow them to move from placeto place if they have severalchildren in VBS. Conclude witha group devotiO

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aUditorium.. 8 '

Resource Review '

How To Have A GreatVBS! A Teaching Video for VBSDirectors, Teachers and Volunteers.Published by Gospel Light, PO Box3875, Ventura, CA 93006-9891;800-4-GOSPEL.Cost: $19.99

How To Have A Great VBS!will help you with recruiting, teachertraining, publicity and promotion,evangelism, decoration and more.Top VBS creators will show you howto choose the right VBS curriculumand customize it for your church.

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For information about theVBS curricula available this year,contact your .local Christianbookstore.