By Brent Lacy

VBS is one of the best outreach tools a small church has.

It reaches kids who would never come on a Sunday morning. It gives your volunteers a focused, high-energy week of ministry. It connects your church to families in the community in a way that lasts long after the week is over.

But most VBS curriculum is designed for large churches with 10 stations, 50 volunteers, and a $5,000 budget. That’s not your reality. Here’s how to run a meaningful VBS with what you actually have.

Why VBS Matters Even in a Small Church

VBS isn’t just a children’s program. It’s a community event. Families who have never set foot in your church will bring their kids. Some of those families will come back on Sunday.

Many adults trace their first serious encounter with the gospel to a VBS week in a small church. Don’t underestimate what God can do in five days.

Choose the Right Format

Not every church can run a traditional Monday through Friday morning VBS. Choose the format that fits your volunteers and community.

Traditional 5-Day VBS (Mon-Fri, 9am-noon)

Best for churches with four or more volunteers and a community where parents can drop off kids in the morning. Highest impact, highest commitment.

One-Day VBS Blitz (Saturday, 9am-3pm)

Condenses the VBS experience into one high-energy day. Easier to recruit volunteers for a single Saturday. Great for churches with limited weekday availability.

Evening VBS (Mon-Thu, 6-8pm)

Best for communities where parents work during the day. Allows working parents to attend with their kids. Easier for bi-vocational pastors to participate fully.

Free Curriculum for Small Churches

You don’t need to purchase expensive packaged curriculum to run a great VBS.

MinistryPlace offers free children’s ministry curriculum including Bible lessons, discussion guides, and activity ideas designed specifically for small churches with mixed-age groups and volunteer teachers.

Your denomination’s resource center is another strong starting point. Many denominations offer free or low-cost VBS materials to member churches. Check with your district or association before purchasing anything.

Volunteer Roles You Need

A small church VBS can run with as few as three volunteers in clearly defined roles.

• Bible Teacher. Leads the main lesson each day. Needs to be comfortable speaking to kids and willing to prep in advance.
• Activity Leader. Runs crafts, games, and activities. Creative and energetic. Doesn’t need to be a teacher.
• Hospitality and Check-In. Greets families, manages sign-in, handles snacks, and communicates with parents. Organized and warm.

With five or more volunteers, you can add a music leader, a helper for younger kids, and a floater for crowd management.

Simple Supply List Under $50

• Construction paper and cardstock for crafts
• Crayons, markers, and colored pencils
• Scissors, glue sticks, and tape
• Printed lesson sheets (black and white is fine)
• Simple snacks (ask members to donate)
• Name tags and markers
• A small prize box: stickers, bookmarks, inexpensive items

Ask your congregation to donate supplies. Most households have craft supplies they’re happy to contribute.

How to Promote VBS in a Small Town

• Flyers at the school. Ask the principal if you can post flyers or send home a notice.
• Facebook event. Create a public event and ask members to share it in local community groups.
• Personal invitations. Ask every member to personally invite one family.
• Yard signs. Simple signs in front of the church and at key intersections.
• Local businesses. Ask the diner, the feed store, and the library to post a flyer.

Follow-Up After VBS

VBS is only as valuable as the follow-up. Within one week of VBS ending:

• Send a handwritten thank-you note to every family who attended.
• Personally invite each family to your next Sunday service.
• Follow up with any family that expressed spiritual interest during the week.
• Add families to your church newsletter or communication list with permission.

MinistryPlace has a full library of free resources for small and rural churches. No email required, no subscription, no catch.