Vacation Bible School Volunteers: 8 Things Your Director Wants You To Know

You said yes!  And I breathed a sigh of relief.  I am so grateful that you decided to jump on board this crazy train (and not the song…) of Vacation Bible School.  I need you.  I can’t do this on my own.  You and your fellow volunteers are the heartbeat of VBS at our church.  Thank you.

 

And in case you missed it…thank you.

 

I’m busy.  I know that you have seen me trying to get all the details in place.  I may have looked right through you when I passed you in the hallway at church.  I’m sorry.  You are more valuable than that.  Please forgive me.

I want you to know some things about you and me working together.  These are the things that I want to say to each of you…

 

You were specifically chosen for this job.

We serve a sovereign God.  He is control of all things, including where you serve at VBS.  It was not me who placed you in your role, but God working through me.  This should encourage you.  You have been placed exactly as you should be.  You should also be inspired to work at your job to the best of your ability.

Paul instructs the believers at Colossae to work at things with all their heart.  We can take this instruction to heart also.

Colossians 3:23-24, ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Paul gave these instructions to the believers after sharing with them the reason that Christ died.  This should be an outflowing of gratitude in your life because of what Christ has done for you.

You are SO appreciated.

Really appreciated.  I am blessed to serve and work with you.  And I appreciate your willingness to bless me in that way.  Yet, that is just a drop of what you will be doing.  You will be loving kids.  You will be building relationships.  You will be encouraging parents.  You will be answering questions (probably the same one 15 times since you are working with kids).  You will do so many things that will go unnoticed and unsung.  But know that I appreciate you doing them.  Each and every one.  Paul sums it up best when he says this

Philippians 1:3-5, ESV

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

 

The decorations don’t matter…really.

I know.  I encourage you to decorate.  I give you suggestions.  I probably gave you more decorating suggestions than teaching resources.  I even created a Pinterest board for you to get ideas.  And I know that it stresses you out.

But I need you to know that I’m not judging your worth as a VBS volunteer based on your decorating ability.  I’m not.  Period.  I will love whatever you choose to do.  I know that some people have the decorating gene and some don’t.  VBS doesn’t rise and fall on the decorations.

 

The gospel does matter.

Greatly.  This is why we do Vacation Bible School.  You are privileged to engage kids with the gospel.  You have been given a rare opportunity to connect with kids God has placed in your care for our time at VBS.   You are here to offer hope to kids who have been hurt and experienced the effects of sin firsthand.  And you are up to the task.  If you have turned from your sin and turned to God as the creator and rescuer who loves you, you have been given the Holy Spirit as a helper.  It doesn’t get better.  You have been equipped to show each kid Jesus.

I am praying for you.

Bring me your requests.  It is my privilege and joy to pray for you.  For your students.  For your family.  I loving knowing exactly how to pray for you personally and for your VBS group.  I love seeing how God is working in your life.  It is a great testimony to the God we serve when we can come before Him in prayer and He draw us to Himself.  I so appreciate your prayers for myself and my family also.

 

Share your stories.

Please!  I love to hear your VBS stories.  It is an encouragement to my heart.  Be it funny, serious, sad, or praise-worthy, please share the stories from your VBS experience with me.  I get to see a small glimpse of the kids at VBS.  You are the frontline.  Help me know the kids through your stories!

Sing the praises of our good God.  I love to know how He is working in each detail and child at VBS.  It brings glory to God to recount how you saw Him working!

 

Ask for help.

This is a huge job.  If you need help, ask.  Please.  You may not know the resources that I am able to provide for you and your role at VBS.  Be it another person in your group, an extra glue stick, or someone to just come in during a game to be an extra set of hands.  Ask.  I will do my absolute best to see that you are equipped.

 

You’re going to love it!

While the focus is on the kids and Jesus, there are so many relationships that begin, that grow, and that solidify because of the common bond of the gospel through the vehicle of Vacation Bible School. You are going to be blessed to work with new people.  You are going to love seeing your fellow volunteers engaging kids.  You will be blessed.

With Love,

 

If you would like a free PDF of this so that you can share it with your volunteers, No form found