TL;DR: Effective VBS follow-up turns a one-week event into long-term ministry impact by intentionally connecting with families after the program ends.
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Learn how effective VBS follow-up with automated engagement campaigns can grow your congregation and deepen community connections.
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a powerful outreach tool for churches, often attracting families who don’t regularly attend your church throughout the year. So, the real impact potential of VBS lies in what happens after the event. If you use automation for nurturing relationships with VBS families, you can ultimately grow your congregation and deepen community connections well beyond the back-to-school season.
The Importance of VBS Follow-Up
VBS is more than just a week of fun and learning for kids. It’s an opportunity to connect with families and invite them into your church community. Without effective follow-up, you risk losing the momentum and relationships built during VBS. Just think about how much of your staff and volunteers’ time, heart, and soul went into VBS for the kids!
Automation is Your Secret Strategy for Scalable, Personal Follow-Up
Automation allows churches to maintain personalized communication with dozens or even hundreds of families without overwhelming staff and volunteers with extra work. It ensures consistent outreach while freeing up time for meaningful, individual interactions.
Let’s break down key automated follow-up strategies for VBS with:
4 Post-VBS Engagement Campaigns Your Church Should Set Up
1. Email Campaigns
Objective: Nurture relationships and provide valuable information to VBS families.
Why it works: Email allows for targeted, timely communication that keeps your church top-of-mind.
Implementation:
Create a welcome email series:
– Day 1: Thank you for attending VBS
– Day 3: Share VBS photos and videos from the week
– Day 7: Highlight upcoming children’s programs at your church
– Day 14: Invite to a family-friendly church service
Example:
Day 1 email:
“`
Subject: We loved seeing [Child’s Name] at Underwater Adventure VBS!
Dear [Parent’s Name],
We’re so glad [Child’s Name] could join us for our Underwater Adventure VBS this year! We hope it was a fantastic time exploring God’s love through our ocean-themed activities.
Here are a few highlights from the week:
– [Child’s Name] learned about Jesus calming the storm
– We made colorful fish crafts to remember God’s creativity (link to photos on social media)
– Our VBS raised $500 for clean water projects!
We’d love to see you again soon. This Sunday, Pastor Jim will be continuing our “Deep Sea Discoveries” theme in our 10 AM family service.
Blessings,
[Your Name]
Children’s Ministry Director
“`
Advanced tip: Use dynamic content to personalize emails based on the child’s age group or interests shown during VBS.
2. Text Message Check-Ins
Objective: Maintain light-touch communication and provide quick updates.
Why it works: Texts have high open rates and feel personal.
Implementation:
Set up an automated text sequence:
– Week 1: “Hope [Child’s Name] enjoyed VBS! Here’s a fun activity to do at home: [Link]”
– Week 2: “This Sunday’s kids’ service continues the VBS theme. Join us!”
– Week 4: “Miss the VBS fun? Check out our upcoming Fall Festival: [Event Details]”
Example:
Week 1 text:
“`
Hi [Parent’s Name]! We hope [Child’s Name] had a blast at Underwater Adventure VBS. Here’s a fun ocean-themed word search, brain teaser riddle, and Dad Jokes page to enjoy at home: [shortlink]. See you Sunday!
“`
Advanced tip: Use AI-powered chatbots to create fun engaging puzzles, and activities based on the curriculum you used in VBS.
Exploring VBS options? Check out our VBS Guide: Options For Every Church From Small To Mega
3. Social Media Engagement
Objective: Create a sense of community and showcase your church’s family-friendly atmosphere.
Why it works: Social media allows for ongoing, casual interaction with families.
Implementation:
Schedule daily posts during the week after VBS:
– Share photos and videos from VBS
– Post Bible verses or lessons from VBS
– Create a VBS memory challenge for families
Example:
Social media post:
“`
VBS Memory Challenge! 🐠
Can your family remember all 5 of our Underwater Adventure Bible points? Comment below with as many as you can recall!
Hint: They all start with “God is…” ❤️
#UnderwaterAdventureVBS #FamilyFaith
“`
Advanced tip: Create a private Facebook group for VBS families to continue discussions and share resources.
Use social media to build community and showcase your church's family-friendly vibe for VBS or any kid ministry. Share fun photos, silly emojis, and engage in casual interactions to connect with families! 📸😊 Share on X
4. Digital Resource Delivery
Objective: Continue the spiritual growth started at VBS.
Why it works: Providing valuable resources keeps families engaged with your church between services.
Implementation:
Create an automated system to deliver age-appropriate resources:
– Weekly family devotionals based on VBS themes
– Printable activities for kids
– Parenting tips related to spiritual growth
Example:
Weekly devotional email:
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Subject: Dive Deeper: This Week’s Underwater Adventure Family Devotional
Dear [Family Name],
Ready to continue your Underwater Adventure? Here’s a short devotional to enjoy as a family this week:
Read: Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus Calms the Storm)
Discuss:
1. Have you ever been afraid during a storm? How did you feel?
2. How did Jesus respond to the storm? To his disciples?
3. What storms in your life do you need Jesus to calm?
Activity: Fill a clear bottle 2/3 with water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring and some glitter. Seal tightly. Shake to create a “storm,” then watch it settle. Talk about how Jesus brings peace to our storms.
Prayer: Thank Jesus for always being with us, even in life’s storms.
We hope this devotional brings your family closer to God and each other. See you Sunday!
Blessings,
[Your Name]
Children’s Ministry Director
“`
Advanced tip: Incentivize kids to bring in the “storm water” in a bottle to fill a big fishtank at church on Sunday for a prize like a gift certificate for a free ice cream cone at a local store.
Balancing Automation and Personal Touch
While automation is powerful, it’s crucial to maintain a human element:
- Regularly review and update your automated sequences to ensure relevance.
- Train staff and volunteers to seamlessly take over from automated touchpoints when deeper engagement is needed.
- Use automation to identify opportunities for personal interaction, not to replace it entirely.
- Continuously gather feedback from families to refine your approach.
Measuring Success
Set clear goals for your VBS follow-up efforts, such as:
– Percentage of VBS families attending a service within 2 months
– Number of families joining small groups or volunteering
– Increase in children’s ministry regular attendance
Use your church management software to track these metrics and adjust your strategies accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Effective VBS follow-up requires a blend of automated efficiency and personal warmth. By implementing these strategies, churches can nurture the seeds planted during VBS, leading to long-term growth and a thriving family ministry.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to grow numbers, but to genuinely connect families with the church community and, ultimately, with Christ.
If you need a tool to help with communications automation, Growth Method is a ministry tool that facilitates engagement by providing your staff with communication automation, task tracking, and time-saving processes. Investing in personalized, scalable outreach will make a lasting impact on VBS families and beyond.
Discover today how Growth Method can simplify your VBS follow-up.
