20 Ways Your VBS Says Guests Not Welcome
Fail to put date, time, location, and contact information on all publicity.- Don’t reach out to families who have not attended church in a while.
- Fail to clearly identify the parking lot and building entrances guests are expected to use.
- Fail to have someone personally greet guests and escort them to their rooms.
- Don’t act excited to see guests.
- Make the registration process as confusing and time consuming as possible.
- Use confusing signage, or better yet, use no signage at all.
- Disguise restrooms by making room signs too small for guests to quickly identify.
- Fail to be prepared to start when the first child arrives.
- Get upset when unchurched kids do not know how to behave during Worship Rally or Bible study.
- Use language that is only familiar to the most active members. For example, “Third Graders are in the Joe Richard’s classroom.”
- Have workers spend their time talking to each other instead of focusing on the kids and their parents.
- Realize words such as Fellowship Hall, Worship Rally, and VBS may be unfamiliar to unchurched families.
- Fail to have more than enough supplies available in every room.
- Preface Bible study questions by saying, “I’m sure all of you know the answer to this question.”
- Have workers roll their eyes and sigh when another child is added to the group.
- Don’t contact parents to thank them for allowing their kids to attend.
- Assume every kid knows how to pray.
- Have workers say, “I can’t wait for this week to be over,” within hearing of kids and parents.
- Fail to see your church and VBS through the eyes of a first time guest.
Well done. I will love to take the VBS training please.
I love this list. I will be sharing this with my VBS team and staff. Great information!!!
Thanks Jerry