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Host A Vacation Bible School in Your Own Backyard
by Denise Oliveri Think of kids laughing, playing, and running around on a sunny day in the summer. Now, think about those same kids doing this in your own backyard. Why are they so happy? You are hosting a Backyard Vacation Bible School (VBS) where these kids are learning about Jesus and having the time of their lives while doing it. If you thought having a VBS was only for churches, you're wrong! The idea of a Backyard VBS is becoming very popular throughout the world. It makes a great way to reach out to your un-churched neighbors through one of the best resources they have...their kids! When kids get excited about Jesus, parents get excited, too. The steps for ensuring that you have a successful VBS are as follows: Pray for Intervention Ask God which direction your VBS should flow. Is it a Jesus-theme on parables? Is it an Old Testament theme on the life of Moses? God can show you the theme of your Backyard VBS that will draw the most interest in your neighborhood. Make Your Plans After you know what the theme of your VBS will be, you need to decide how long the VBS will run. Will it be one hour a day for five days, three hours a day for three days, etc. Make a list of each days lesson, craft, game, and snack (Popsicles go over really well on hot summer days), and what materials you need for each of these centers. Try to keep materials cost-effective, as the purpose of the VBS is for community outreach and not how glamorous everything will look. The important thing is that you get the lesson message across to the children. Decide on a Curriculum You can either design your own curriculum for the VBS or you can purchase a ready made one from Gospel Light or some other well-known publisher. Either one will work and it depends on your budget. Age Groups What age group will you target? Maybe for the first year, you can do preschool (ages 3 to 5) and feel your way through it. Then, you can offer other ages groups the following year, or decide that just one age group is good for you. Get Your Church Involved If you are interested in having a Backyard VBS, see if your church is open to helping you out. Perhaps you can drum up some very good volunteers who would be willing to teach, lead crafts, etc. Your church can also be a valuable resource for materials for you to borrow from and may even help fund some of your crafts, games, etc. It doesn't hurt to ask! Advertise Your VBS Economically Make a detailed flyer about your event and have it copied in black and white on colored paper. Don't use cardstock, so you can roll or fold the flyers. Then, deliver a flyer to each house in your neighborhood. This is the most efficient way to get the word out. Remember not to put the flyers directly into mailboxes. Make sure you include your contact information for people who will have questions about the event. There is no way of knowing exactly how many kids you will have on any given day of your Backyard VBS, as people tend to just show up. That's okay! Be prepared. The unique thing about having a VBS in your backyard is that neighbors who do not normally attend church will feel more comfortable going to a neighbor's house and not inside a church. While they are at VBS, your church can supply you with some information that the parents can take home. Don't be pushy. The idea is to get kids excited about Jesus, which in turn may get their parents excited, as well. About two weeks after the VBS has ended, it would be nice to make follow-up calls to the parents that had their kids attend, and ask if they have any questions about your church, or if they would like to attend a service with you someday soon. Even one saved family is a victory for Jesus! This article first appeared on Suite101 on April 14, 2007. Denise Oliveri is the owner of Preschool Sunday School Central (http://www.psscentral.com). The site provides preschool Sunday School teachers wtih valuable resources to help with Bible lesson planning. Join our eBook Club today for a new eBook each month. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |