By Brent Lacy

Vacation Bible School is one of the highest-impact outreach events a small church can run. It reaches children who would never come on a Sunday morning. It gives your congregation a shared mission. And it creates memories that children carry for decades.

But most VBS curricula are designed for churches with 20 volunteers and a $5,000 budget. If you have 6 volunteers and $500, you need a different approach.

The Small Church VBS Advantage

Small churches actually have an advantage in VBS: every child gets personal attention. In a large church VBS, a child can get lost in the crowd. In a small church VBS with 15 kids and 6 volunteers, every child is known by name. That is not a consolation prize. That is the point.

Choosing the Right Curriculum

Look for curriculum that is designed for small churches or that can be simplified. Key questions to ask:

• Can it be run with fewer than 8 volunteers?
• Does it require expensive props or sets?
• Can age groups be combined?
• Is the preparation time realistic for volunteers with day jobs?

Many denominations offer free or low-cost VBS curriculum. Your state convention or association may have resources available. Do not assume you have to buy the most expensive option.

The Simplified Small Church VBS Model

Instead of rotating stations with separate leaders for each, consider a simplified model:

• One main teacher who leads the Bible lesson and story for all ages together
• One craft leader who runs a single age-appropriate craft
• One game leader who runs outdoor activities
• Two helpers who float and assist where needed
• One registration/snack person who handles arrival and food

That is six people. You can run a meaningful VBS with six people.

Recruiting Volunteers

Ask personally, not from the pulpit. Be specific about the commitment: “We need you for four mornings, 9am to noon. That’s it.” Give people a specific role, not a vague ask. And recruit from outside your usual volunteer pool: parents of VBS kids, teenagers who can help with younger children, retired teachers in your congregation.

Making It an Outreach Event

VBS only reaches the community if the community knows about it. Flyers at the school, the library, the grocery store, and the post office. A Facebook event. Personal invitations from every family in your church. The goal is to fill the room with children who do not normally come to church.

And when those children come, make sure they feel genuinely welcomed. Know their names by day two. Make sure every child has an adult who is paying attention to them specifically.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we plan VBS with limited volunteers?

Simplify. Use a curriculum that requires fewer workers, combine age groups, and ask parents to serve alongside their children.

What is the most important element of a successful VBS?

Not the curriculum or the decorations , it is the relationships. Children remember the people who loved them.

How do we make VBS effective in a small church?

Focus on depth over breadth. Reaching 10 children well is better than reaching 50 poorly.

What if we do not have enough children for VBS?

Partner with neighboring churches or open VBS to the community.

How do we follow up after VBS?

Contact every family that attended. A personal phone call or visit within a week shows you care.

Sources

1. Karl Vaters, “Recruiting Volunteers In a Small Church”
2. Nick Blevins, “How to Recruit Church Volunteers (A Proven 5-Part Framework)”
3. Pushpay, “How to Recruit Volunteers for Church: A Guide for Church Leaders”
4. Better Bible Teachers, “5 Methods for Recruiting and Keeping Church Volunteers”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we implement this in a small church?

Start with one or two key ideas. Implement them consistently before adding more.

What if we do not have enough people or resources?

Focus on your strengths: close relationships, community knowledge, and adaptability.

Where can we learn more?

MinistryPlace.net offers free and affordable resources for small and rural churches.