VBS is likely the biggest event for your Children’s Ministry this year. Take advantage of the opportunity to get the word out to your congregation and community with these 10 high-impact ideas!
1. MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT DURING CHURCH SERVICES
Take a minute or two during your service to make an announcement. This could come from the Children’s Pastor, VBS Director, Lead Pastor, or even an energetic and well-prepared child. Whether you use a short video, slides, or just a quick verbal message, this is a great way to make an impression on the whole church.
2. CREATE A BULLETIN INSERT
Use the free downloads from your VBS theme to put together a flyer, and stick it in your weekly bulletin. Make sure you have the dates, sign up information, and volunteer needs included. What better way to get VBS info into the hands of your whole congregation? Check out Shipwrecked’s free downloadable clip art for ideas.
3. HANDOUT OR MAIL POSTCARD INVITATIONS
This is a great way to reach families who haven’t been to church in a while. If you have an address list, send a postcard to every family in your church. You can also send Every Door Direct Mail , where we’ll customize and print your postcard design, and the Post Office will take care of delivering your invitations to every household near your church.
4. DISTRIBUTE DOOR HANGERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY
Get some teams of kids and volunteers together to distribute door hangers in nearby neighborhoods. This is a great opportunity to wear your VBS shirts early, grab some attention and build excitement. Make sure the door hanger has your church website, contact info, or a simple map. Both Rolling River and Camp Moose themes have door hangers ready for you!
5. FILL YOUR CHURCH WITH SIGNS AND BANNERS
A quick way to get the word out is to hang posters, signs, and banners throughout your church. Don’t limit yourself to the Children’s Ministry areas, either. Extend your publicity to the main entryway, hallways and adult classrooms to attract volunteers too! Order Shipwrecked banners to get started.
6. TALK WITH FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS
Old fashioned word-of-mouth is still one of the most effective ways to publicize VBS. If you’re excited about the theme, and opportunity to reach kids for Christ, let that overflow in every conversation. Then train your volunteers to do the same.
7. PROMOTE ON YOUR CHURCH WEBSITE
Be sure to have all the details for your VBS prominently displayed on your church website. This will likely be the first place people go to get more information about the date, time, activities, theme, and volunteer opportunities. Include information for both church members who know VBS well, and for brand new families who might not even know what the letters V.B.S. stand for. Plus, include contact information for those who may have more questions. Want a free VBS website for your church? Checkout MyVBS registration tools.
8. HANG OUTDOOR BANNERS
If your church is positioned on a busy street, you may want to invest in a large, outdoor banner. Include only the most important information, like date, location and website, and make sure the text is large and high contrast. If people can read it from their car, they are more likely to stop by or find out more about the program. Get custom VBS banners here .
9. SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Create a post each week on your church social media accounts to help get the word out. Include a photo and link for more information, and then share it through your accounts to reach even more people.
10. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE DOWNLOADS & GRAPHICS
Announcing your VBS is easier than ever with the FREE digital resources and graphics that are available on every 2018 VBS theme page! These free digital resources can include theme logos, images of bible memory buddies, theme fonts, social media posts, and sharable videos! Share your theme on your church website, social media, and use these tools to make slides for announcing your theme during church services. Check out the Shipwrecked Free Resources page to get started!
