Vacation Bible School

VBS Website

Tumble-READ Project

Following Up Your VBS

Word Action VBS Theme Announcement

VBS Planner

Pioneer VBS Fund

Back to Children's Ministries . . .

Churches Reaching Kids-VBS Offering Sunday

Churches Reaching Kids-VBS Offering Sunday

On Sunday, June 3, your church will have the opportunity to take an offering to partner in this year's VBS mission offering to provide literature for children in difficult-to-reach areas. In the past two years, kids have raised over half a million dollars to help other kids! Join this year's project to help children around the world learn about Jesus. Through The Tumble-READ Project, Bibles and discipleship materials will be translated and/or provided to children in difficult-to-reach areas of the world.

A typical packet of materials given to a child will have: · An illustrated children's Bible book
· A book explaining how to begin the Christian life
· An additional age-appropriate Bible story book
It will cost approximately $10.00 to provide and ship a packet to one child. Go to www.kidsreachingkids.com for more details, ideas, and resources. Have children participate in The Tumble-READ Project during the week of VBS, or this project can be a summer-long offering emphasis. All collected funds must be received by September 30 to go toward The Tumble-READ Project.
A full-color poster and DVD were mailed as a part of the Children's Week mailing in March. If you did not receive these resources, please contact Anya Motley at amotley@nazarene.org. For more information, go to www.kidsreachingkids.com www.kidsreachingkids.com.

--Contributed by Anya Motley, Children's Ministries Assistant __________________________________________

VBS Planner

Following Up Your VBS

Okay, so VBS is over - now what? How do you maintain a relationship with the kids and parents who came to your church's summer ministry program? Below you'll find a few ideas to keep the momentum going throughout the year.

Think about the next family-friendly event your church can host. Create a flyer, and send it to the families who attended VBS.
Co-sponsor events in your community with other churches. Use this year's VBS theme as the basis for the event.
Utilize the families who attended VBS to build your network. Provide motivation and resources for them to grow as a family. Get to know them on a personal level.
"Religious" events are not the only place to help children grow spiritually. Coordinate fun field trips to secular events such as baseball games, bowling parties, etc. Host a series of themed parties throughout the year designed to draw the kids and their parents back to have fun and strengthen relationships with people from your church. These events, though not formative in nature, provide relationship building experiences that are essential to growth in Christ.
Host fun, energetic special events (especially holidays) where the primary goal is to teach Christian concepts to folks who do not regularly attend church services.
The most important thing is to communicate with families. Whether using a postcard or E-mail invitation or a phone call, let the kids and their parents know you care about them, and want to introduce them to Jesus.

--Contributed by Jeff Harmon, Summer Ministries Editor

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VBS Planner

VBS Planner

Although VBS may seem light-years away, it will be here before you know it. For those "type A" personalities, your PDA calendars probably have your VBS preparations scheduled to the second. However, it you are like me, a little help with organization is always beneficial. Use the following chart to keep you on track as you plan your VBS program. Follow the steps indicated below.

Month-by-Month VBS Planner

JANUARY

· Choose your VBS director.

· Set a budget. Remember to research the cost of supplies!

· Set the date and time.

· Establish procedures for purchasing supplies and materials.

· Plan dates to recruit volunteers. Plan a training session

FEBRUARY

· Recruit your key leaders, especially the leader for your early childhood program.

· Compile a list of potential volunteers. Consult your pastor, Sunday School director, department leaders, and other church leaders.

· Determine the number of workers and groups you will need.

MARCH

· Recruit your Crew Leaders and helpers.

· Plan your publicity strategy.

· Plan your follow-up strategy.

APRIL (OR 10 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR PROGRAM BEGINS)

· Help the craft leaders select crafts and needed supplies.

· Select people who will perform the daily sketches.

· Begin to collect materials for crafts.

MAY (OR SIX WEEKS BEFORE YOUR PROGRAM BEGINS)

· Hold a training workshop for your leaders and workers.

· Have your drama team begin rehearsals.

FOUR WEEKS BEFORE YOUR PROGRAM BEGINS

· Publicize it!

· Send news releases to local newspapers and to radio and television stations.

· Place a banner or sign in a prominent place outdoors.

· Continue to gather and purchase supplies for crafts.

THREE WEEKS BEFORE YOUR PROGRAM BEGINS

· Begin pre-registration.

· Canvas targeted neighborhoods.

ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR PROGRAM BEGINS

· Continue pre-registration.

· Meet with your leaders to handle last-minute details.

· Hold a final meeting with all workers.

· Decorate classrooms, activity areas, and the opening assembly area.

· Have a prayer time with all workers. Pray for the children who will attend, as well as for their families.

THE DAY BEFORE YOUR PROGRAM BEGINS

· Check all activity areas. Make sure supplies and materials are in place and furniture is arranged correctly.

· Contact each leader. Check for any last-minute problems.

· Have leaders check with their workers.

(Go to www.vbs2004.com or review your Xtreme Team Director's Guide for additional help in training, publicity, and other planning needs for WordAction’s Xtreme Team VBS.)

--Contributed by David Hutsko, VBS Editor

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VBS: Pioneer VBS Fund

The Pioneer VBS Fund was created to provide financial assistance to those ministries working with at-risk children and youth in impoverished and marginalized communities. New Start churches requiring financial assistance may also qualify for the Pioneer VBS Fund. The fund was created to help churches and Compassionate Ministry Centers provide a fun environment that is biblically and evangelistically grounded. A WordAction VBS product mix (valued at $300.00) will be awarded to all eligible recipients.

The Pioneer VBS Fund helps sponsor VBS for churches and Compassionate Ministry Centers with a ministry setting in one of the following categories:

  1. Cultural minority environment
  2. Economically deprived environment
  3. New Start (church plant) environment
  4. Have not conducted VBS in the past 5 years

WordAction’s 2006 VBS program is entitled, The First Action Heroes: Experience God's Awesome Power! It is an interactive summer ministry package for children in grades 1-6. The First Action Heroes Starter Kit also includes a related VBS program for early childhood (ages 3-6), entitled Sid & Simon’s Superhero Search. Both programs allow children to discover more about God as they journey together in small groups. Through several interactive sites, children are encouraged to sing, build, taste, listen, experiment, play, see, hear, and powerfully experience God’s Word throughout five days of fun and excitement.

Pioneer Fund Qualification Guidelines

Do you know of a Nazarene church or Compassionate Ministry Center (CMC) that would benefit from the 2006 VBS Pioneer Fund? Print a downloadable application at the 2006 VBS Mission Offering web site at www.kidsreachingkids.com, or contact Children’s Ministries to have a 2006 VBS Pioneer Fund application sent via E-mail or postal mail.

Request applications/Send completed applications to:

Jennifer Monteblanco
Children’s Ministries
Attn: Pioneer VBS Fund
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131
Phone: (888) 644-4510

E-mail: jmonteblanco@nazarene.org

--Contributed by Jeff Harmon, Summer Ministries Editor

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