VBS (Vacation Bible School) Ideas

This is the time of the year when the church is working hard to plan Vacation Bible School (VBS).

I have some VBS ideas and activities below that you might want to check out along with my new VBS web page that has a VBS Planning Guide and VBS Practical Tips available.

**FYI: Shepherdbase (church membership database) will be on sale for a special price of only $29.99 until the end of July so even small churches can enjoy it's benefits! You will also receive FREE as a Bonus two offering envelope templates - see below!**

Contents-At-A-Glance

VBS Ideas/Activities
Practical Tips for Planning VBS
More Fundraising Ideas
"Top Ten Tips on How to Organize Your Office" Ebook
Freechurchforms.com Table of Contents
New Free Church Forms Web Pages
Shepherdbase & Bonus

VBS Ideas/Activiites

Vacation Bible School is a special event in the church due to our children learn a lot of important biblical during their stay at VBS. Here are some VBS activities:

• VBS Musical Chairs - Play just like musical chairs except the child that is still standing when music stops has to say something he is thankful for or something that has to do with the current lesson. Keep playing like this, no one should ever have to be out of the game - everyone should get to play every game.
• Reenact a Bible Lesson - Use simple bible costumes to reenact a bible lesson. Cut pieces of material into rectangle shapes to form a poncho-type outfit. Cut a hole in the center to fit over child's head. Cut out long pieces to use as ties to tie the costume around the waist. Cut rectangle pieces to fit on the head and long pieces to use as a tie. These can be used over and over again.
• Use Puppets to Teach a Bible Lesson - Tell a Bible Lesson from a puppet's point of view. For example, you can use a donkey puppet to tell of Palm Sunday or a lamb puppet to tell of the lost lamb. Have the children make simple puppets out of toliet paper rolls or craft sticks to reenact the Bible Lesson.
• Fishing Game - Make your Bible Lesson more interesting by making an oak tag fish and attach questions with a paper clip to each fish. A dowel fishing pole with a magnet attached to bottom of the line would pick up the fish and a question. If the child answered the question he could keep the fish until the game was over. Save the old questions and substitute new ones for the next time. Pick the best questions from all the lessons for an end-of-term contest.

Practical Tips for Planning VBS

Here are some tips that you might review before VBS:

• 1. Begin Early. Some people work best under pressure, but this isn't true for team efforts such as VBS. Don't wait until the last minute! Have your roster filled several weeks early if at all possible. Starting things late will cause lots of stress and distract your focus from ministering to the children.
• 2. Talk about it. Start talking to people as soon as you can. This will help people share your excitement and provides channels of communication. Talking about VBS with your church volunteers provides a great way to get feedback and to refine ideas.
• 3. Learn from last year. You can get some great VBS ideas by asking what worked in the past even if this is your first year as VBS Director. So, talk to your volunteers from last year and see what worked and what needed improvement.
• 4. Have fun. Doing God's work should bring joy into your life. Don't let all of the worries and details rob you of that. If the leaders are not having fun then the kids will suffer.
• 5. Find ideas online. Search the web and you will be surprised at what kind of great ideas and curriculum you can find for your VBS.
• 6. Keep it simple. This is one of the most important things of your leading bible school. All those bells and whistles can distract you from the real ministry with the children. So whenever possible just go simple. Spend your time and energy on what will make a lasting difference such as relationships, prayer and teaching.

More Fundraising Ideas

The positive outcome of fundraisers are overwhelming. You can make the difference by participating in these activities. My inspiration by working for God is "I'm laying up treasures in heaven where I can enjoy them eternally!"

Click on the link below to find two more fundraising ideas to download that has been added to my page recently.

"Top Ten Tips on How to Organize Your Office" Ebook

This ebook is free to my newsletter customers/readers as a "Thank You" for subscribing to my newsletter. I have worked in several different secretarial areas with different jobs and I have learned the hard way how to organize more than one office. Take advantage of these tips in this Ebook and they help you to get your office organized. There will be other benefits you will find in my newsleters as time goes on so always open and read them so you don't miss out! The "Top Ten Tips on How to Organize Your Office"Ebook is available to download. Just click on the link below that leads to the page where you can download and receive your free copy today.

Freechurchforms.com Table of Contents

The FreeChurchForms.com Table of Contents is available here. You now have access to more than a 100+ free church forms listed in alphabetical order. I keep it updated with new church forms as I create them. I have them in categories for you to just click on the form you want to download and it will lead you to that page. Just click on the link below for the free FCF Table Of Contents. Enjoy! :)

New Free Church Forms Web Pages

• VBS (Vacation Bible School Ideas
• VBS Planning Guide
• VBS F.R.O.G. Craft/Bible Quotes
• VBS Frogs Coloring Book (10 pages)
• VBS Certificate

Shepherdbase has a Special Price of $29.99 through end of July 2010 & Offering Envelope Templates as a Bonus

Shepherdbase (church membership database) will:

• Track member's information
• Track member's contributions and automate Annual Contribution Letters
• Filter church member's information with the click of a button
• Track Youth Camp Tuition/Concession

If you purchased Shepherdbase in the past and would like to receive these Offering Envelope templates free, please just contact me and I will email them to you.

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You can easily contact me through the my email: terressa@freechurchforms.com. I will get back promptly with any questions you might have. God Bless You!

Thanks,