The time for Vacation Bible School is almost here for most churches in Tennessee. There are lots of things to do to get ready — order materials, set calendar dates, enlist volunteers, assign duties, plan for kick-off event, daily schedule, family night and follow-up; however, one key element is missing from this list — prayer!
The National Day of Prayer for Vacation Bible School across the Southern Baptist Convention is May 20. This is a special time set aside to pray specifically and intentionally for VBS.
No matter which curriculum is being used this summer, prayer is the key element for a successful VBS.
Plan something specific for this Sunday to emphasize the importance of prayer as well as a time of recognition and commissioning of your teachers.
• Hand out a 30-day prayer calendar for your church to use for the time leading up to your VBS. Have a different prayer request for each day.
• Ask adults who cannot attend VBS to pray specifically for a class — teachers and kids.
• Plan a prayerwalk for your church — inside the building as well as the parking lot!
• Make prayer cards listing specific requests for each day of VBS. Encourage church members to put the card in their Bible, on their mirror or on the refrigerator where they can be reminded to pray for VBS.
• Every classroom in the church will probably be used for VBS. Ask those who use the room on Sunday to pray for those who will use the room during VBS.
• Put prayer requests in the bulletin, newsletter, website and media screen before, during and after VBS.
• Plan a commissioning service for those who are volunteering to work in VBS. Have a special time of prayer for these.
• Write down a person’s name who needs to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Put these names in a basket or box and pray over them every time the church comes together or place it in the prayer room.
Don’t wait until the day before VBS begins to pray — start now! Vacation Bible School is the largest evangelistic outreach event that your church will do during the year.
Be ready! Pray and ask God to bless your VBS for His honor and glory for seeds of the gospel to be planted and souls saved for His kingdom.
