There’s something special about Vacation Bible School. Maybe it’s the energy. Maybe it’s the joy on a child’s face as they sing about Jesus at full volume. Maybe it’s the mom who hasn’t been to church in years but walks through your doors because of a simple door hanger or personal invitation.
Whatever it is—VBS still works.
But for that week to become more than a blur of snacks and songs, churches need more than just volunteers and curriculum. They need a plan. A plan that sees VBS not just as a one-off event, but as a powerful gateway to real relationships, gospel conversations, and long-term discipleship.
Because when done well, VBS becomes one of the most fruitful evangelistic tools a church can use.
Make It Easy for New Families to Say Yes
For many families, VBS is their first real interaction with your church. Maybe they saw a post online. Maybe their child brought home an invite card. However they find you, the question is the same: Will this be a good place for my kids?
That first impression matters.
When a parent walks in on Monday morning, they’re scanning for signals: Is it clear where to drop off? Does someone greet them with a smile? Are the volunteers confident and prepared? Is their child excited, or clinging to their leg?
It’s easy to forget that the flow of your check-in process, the clarity of your signage, and the tone your team sets all communicate something deeper. Families are looking for safety, warmth, and joy. They don’t just want a great program—they want to feel welcome. So take the time to train your volunteers well. Walk through the building like a first-time guest. Make things intuitive. Make your guests feel seen and welcomed.
Practice Gospel-Centered Hospitality
Don’t underestimate the power of a volunteer saying, “We’re so glad you’re here” as a new family walks in for the first time. VBS is many things, but one thing that it certainly is is a real and tangible opportunity to practice biblical hospitality.
From the Old Testament laws reminding Israel to care for the sojourner (Leviticus 19:34) to the New Testament’s repeated charge to “greet one another” and “show hospitality” (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2), we see that welcoming people isn’t a side task—it’s a gospel priority.
Everyone in your church, and especially your greeters, should be encouraged to show up with warmth, attentiveness, and a readiness to serve. Train your VBS greeters to be proactive:
- Smile first.
- Introduce themselves.
- Ask questions like, “Have you been here before?” or “Can I help you get your kids checked in?”
- Offer to walk with guests to the classrooms rather than just pointing the way.
When you combine a clear process with a genuine heart for others, you create something powerful: a place where new families can quickly start feeling like they’ve found a place where they are welcome.
Volunteers Set the Tone
Speaking of volunteers—recruit them early. And don’t just fill slots, build a team. When your people catch a vision for what VBS really is (evangelism, discipleship, hospitality), everything changes.
From the small group leader kneeling to listen to a kid’s question, to the snack team serving with joy, to the game leader rallying the kids to do something fun—these moments stick. Not just with the kids, but with the adults who are watching.
Give your volunteers the tools they need. Train them with more than a packet. Help them understand the why behind the work. And thank them often. When your team feels equipped and excited, kids will feel it too.
Promote with Purpose
Promotion isn’t about marketing—it’s about the mission. If you believe VBS is worth it, then it’s worth telling people about it in ways that are clear, creative, and consistent.
Start early. Use every tool available: your website, email, social media, postcards, banners, and invite cards. Encourage your members to spread the word personally. And if you’re in an area where Facebook or Instagram ads work well, use them to target families nearby. You never know who’s scrolling and praying for something to change in their child’s life.
Let your promo reflect the heart behind the event. Not just “fun for kids” but “hope for families.” This isn’t babysitting. It’s an invitation to meet Jesus.
Don’t Waste the Week
When VBS starts, the work isn’t over—it’s just beginning. This is your chance to build trust, sow seeds, and show families that your church is a place where they belong.
Communicate with parents throughout the week. Consider sending a quick text or email each day with a theme recap, a few fun photos, and a “dinner table question” they can ask. Make it easy for them to feel connected, even if they can’t be in the room.
Capture the energy. Take photos and short videos that highlight not just the action, but the heart: kids learning, worshiping, laughing, connecting. Interview volunteers. Ask kids what they’re learning about God. These real moments will become your most powerful follow-up tool.
And yes—invite them back. Hand out personal invites mid-week. Make Sunday feel like a natural next step. Consider having the kids sing a VBS song in service or showing a short highlight reel.
Remember: New families were looking for a reason to come when they signed up for VBS. Make sure you give them a reason to return the Sunday following VBS.
Follow Up Like It Matters
What you do after VBS might matter even more than what you do during it. You have new names, new faces, and new opportunities. Don’t let the momentum fade.
Send a personal thank-you email with photos or a recap video within 48 hours. Invite them to whatever is next—Sunday service, a family picnic, a kids’ event. Let them know you’re glad they came. Show them there’s a place for them at your church.
Keep sharing the stories. Post testimonials, quotes, stats, and smiles in the weeks that follow. Let your church family see the impact and celebrate together.
And then? Reach out again. A follow-up call. A text. A personalized invitation to your kids’ ministry or a small group.
This is the Gospel at Work
At Baptist Church Planters, we believe that VBS isn’t just another event on the calendar. It’s a moment. A week that could change everything for one child, one parent, one family.
Let’s treat it that way.
Let’s plan with purpose. Let’s welcome with joy. Let’s follow up with care.
Because when your church takes VBS seriously—not just as a program, but as a mission—it becomes something more than just a summer tradition.
It becomes a bridge for the gospel.
Baptist Church Planters exists to help churches build healthy disciple-making congregations. If you or your church are ready to grow in godliness and leadership, reach out to us today. Let’s partner together to make disciples who make disciples.
