VBS TIMELINE
Five Months In Advance
Prayerfully set goals
If you are a new director, meet with former directors and volunteers
Talk with VBS director from other churches to get ideas
Choose format
Determine site
Decide target group
Preview curriculum options
Develop workable budget and set into motion necessary fund-raisers
Establish and maintain good communication with all areas of your church affected by your VBS
Four Months In Advance
Pray for guidance in finding the people God wants to serve in this ministry
Design organization
Estimate attendance
Order curriculum
Write job descriptions
Enlist department leaders
Three Months In Advance
Continue to pray
Complete recruitment
Outline advertising plan
Order T-shirts for staff
Two Months In Advance
Keep praying
Provide staff training for all those persons involved in VBS
Outline ways to increase enrollment
Begin publicity
Make room assignments
Meet with department leaders
Keep VBS in front of your people through announcements and advertising
One Month In Advance
Pray for staff and students
Determine offering incentives
Purchase supplies
Complete final details
Finalize follow-up plans
Work on closing program or VBS wrap-up event
Organize transportation
Designate entrance and exit doors for all activities
Arrange traffic patterns for moving children
Print facility maps
Develop specific prayer guide and put as bulletin insert until VBS opens
One Week
Pray without ceasing
Make necessary adjustments
Conduct final staff meeting and have prayer time
Canvas a 3-mile radius around your church
VBS decorating
Post facility directory at multiple sites, listing room locations and ages of children
The Day Before
Double-check everything!
Contact leaders for any last-minute problems
Have leaders check with their workers to be sure all assigned responsibilities have been fulfilled
During
Pray constantly
Provide extra greeters for Day One
Supervise
Encourage
Assist
Pray daily with staff
Keep necessary records
Make necessary adjustments
After
Collapse!
Organize a clean-up party
Pray for the children who accepted Jesus as personal Savior
Contact every child who attended (write, call, and visit)
Give names of VBS visitors to appropriate Sunday School teachers for follow-up
File records
Store materials
Express appreciation to staff, including a post VBS staff party
Evaluate and make notes for next year and file in your church office