Loading...
Uncategorized

7 Easy Ways to Personalize VBS

Own it! Looking for a way to personalize your VBS to better reach your community? Check out these 7 easy tips to easily customize and own your VBS- no matter what theme you choose!

VBS directors are always asking me how they can customize or personalize their VBS. Some directors are very hands-on and full of ideas, and feel limited by the extensive instructions and detailed scripts provided within a program. Other directors are either brand new, or limited on time and resources. They fall in love with a theme, but then feel like they can’t use it because it’s missing a key element.

After years of working with all kinds of VBS directors, I want to encourage you to choose the theme you’re excited about, regardless of specific elements or resources it includes. Feel free to use the material received as a base and then run with what YOU  believe will make an impact on your community.

No matter what end of the spectrum you’re on, these tips will help you personalize your VBS so it fits your church perfectly!

SCRIPTS

1) Not enough or too many characters in the scripts?
Get those creative minds working and add a few characters, or simply change the script around to work with a limited team of volunteers by combining lines!
2) No script available?
Take a look at the bible points and stories throughout the week, and create your own script! These little performances are typically no longer than 4-5 minutes long, so putting together a few fun and engaging lines that can get the kids pumped for the day will be worth a little extra effort! Plus, getting those creative juices flowing for VBS will get YOU that much more pumped as well.
3) Not sure about writing a script?
Even having a few volunteers dressed up to fit the theme can be enough to get the kids excited for VBS!

STATIONS/ROTATIONS

4) Used to classroom style, but this perfect program you fell in love with is meant for rotation?
No need to worry, if you have a few extra adult volunteers, you can split the children into multiple age/grade groups and have a teacher for each age level adjust the way they present the material according to their classroom! They may have the same student booklets throughout elementary age for example, however the  presentation will be more fitting to meet what you want your students to experience!

DECORATIONS & PUBLICITY

5) Don’t have the time or resources to create your own decorations?
Every course comes with tons of decorating resources, plus ideas for how to use each piece. Check out Shipwrecked’s decor along with the Decorating Images to see how each piece can fit together to create an amazing stage, classroom or entryway!

WORSHIP MUSIC

6) No hand motions to the music?
Make your own! Grab some of your middle school/high school students after church and put together your own motions for the VBS songs! You can even create your own video to display while the kids are learning the music throughout the week 🙂
7) Need hand motion ideas?
Get creative with hand motions by using sign language for key words. With tons of great videos on YouTube, including this one , you can add sign language to your songs to get kids excited about worship, and help them remember the words even after VBS is over.

Special Guest Blogger: Faith T.