We all have our tried and true Easter activities. Are you ready to make a switch from the familiar egg hunts, Easter breakfast, and resurrection egg stations? Here are a three ideas to use for your children’s or family events.

With each new theme comes an exciting opportunity to wow your volunteers and kids with a fun new environment. VBS decorations are more than just fun—they also give kids important cues about the Bible stories. However, it’s not always easy to find the right decorations within a church’s VBS budget.

Now is the perfect time to ensure that your youth gain valuable experience before the VBS recruiting starts. I can say from past experience that helping out in these meaningful contexts enabled me to grow as a servant and learn how to value my time as a VBS youth volunteer. Here's how to get youth involved and prepared in the weeks and months before VBS begins.

“We’re on chapter 25 of your book right now! We’ll be finishing it next week.”

This was my greeting as I walked on the sidewalk past our Lutheran school just the other day. I don’t know this student well, but we both know the Messengers, and we shared an instant bond.

Friends, I can’t tell you how thrilling it is for me to know that students are reading The Messengers series! High schools, middle schools, confirmation classes, and the list goes on. It’s my joy to know that even if I’m not in a classroom, Simon is. And I’m here to help all of you make that experience the best it can be.

During the forty days of Lent, Christians of all ages may choose to give up something of value in order that they may spend more time focusing on the Word of God and prayer. How can leaders in the church help kids observe Lent? What are some developmentally appropriate activities for kids during this time of repentance? Here are four ways that you can help kids at your church observe Lent.

Family Sunday School is a chance for everyone, from youngest to oldest, to learn about Jesus together, serve our neighbor, and get to know one another a little better. One of the reasons we call it Family Sunday School is to illustrate that we are all part of a church family, not just our immediate family.

It's vital to have a well thought-out VBS budget in place to help pave the way for effective planning. It's also important to gather input and share the budget with the team to encourage transparency and good communication. A clear budget frees everyone involved to make wise decisions. Here are four steps for setting your VBS budget.

Recently, I asked my Sunday morning Bible study class to indulge me in a short illustration. I asked four volunteers to come forward and stand shoulder to shoulder. I then asked three to step forward while the fourth remained in place. I explained that of all the people that join a church, three out of four do so because someone they know and trust invited them. Seventy-five percent of church members joined through an existing member. This is not speaking to the work of the Holy Spirit, who creates faith in the dead sinner through the Gospel of salvation of Jesus Christ. Rather, people predominantly join after being invited by a friend. We know this is true of adults, why not children as well?

Your children's ministry volunteers are priceless. So how do you keep them encouraged, inspired, and motivated? In her book Blueprints for Children's Ministry, Kim E. Bestian shares a helpful acronym, TIES, to help church leaders effectively lead, train, and retain their volunteers.

It’s never too early to start thinking about your upcoming VBS program! When is the best time to start planning? How often should you check in with your team along the way? Read this post and download our free VBS Planning Calendar to get a jump start on this year’s program.