The decorations are down. The volunteers are exhausted. The leftover snacks have been claimed. Vacation Bible School is over, and if your church is like most, everyone involved is ready for a long nap.
But before the momentum fades completely, there is one more thing worth doing. In fact, it may be the most important thing: following up with the families who walked through your doors.
Discipleship Ministries reminds us that VBS is far more than a fun week of songs and crafts. It creates growing relationships, allows children to make new friends, and strengthens the friendships they already have. For many children, it is also their first genuine encounter with faith and a church community. That is not a small thing, and it is worth following up on. (Discipleship Ministries, umcdiscipleship.org)
That window does not stay open forever. The weeks right after VBS are often the most receptive moments a church will have with new or unchurched families. What you do with that window matters.
Follow-Up Is Not a Nice Extra. It Is the Point.
VBS plants seeds. Follow-up is how those seeds get watered. Without it, even a wonderful week of faith and fun can simply become a nice memory that fades by August.
The goal is not to get families to come back to a service. The goal is to build a real relationship. That takes more than a postcard. It takes intention, a plan, and people willing to follow through even when they are tired.
Discipleship Ministries reminds us that VBS creates growing relationships and allows children to make new friends and strengthen existing friendships. Those relationships do not have to end on the last day. Your church can be the place where they continue. (Discipleship Ministries, umcdiscipleship.org)
This Week: Start Before the Momentum Fades
The first week after VBS is your most important window. Here is where to start:
- Send a personal note to every child who attended, not just the new families. A handwritten card or a short personal email that references something specific about the week goes much further than a generic thank-you blast. Kids notice when someone remembers them. A note written to the child, tucked inside a letter to their grown-up, keeps the communication warm and personal, and makes sure the right people know your church is thinking of them. If you are mailing directly to a child, a postcard is a great choice. Grown-ups can see it, kids love getting mail, and everyone feels good about it.
- Make a phone call to families who are new to your church or who have no other church home. This does not have to be formal. A friendly check-in from a VBS teacher or team leader carries real weight. Let it be an opportunity to personally thank them for participating and offer to answer any questions about your children’s ministry.
- Designate someone to own the follow-up. It will not happen on its own. One person responsible for coordinating outreach in the weeks after VBS makes all the difference between good intentions and actual connection.
- Offer a simple sign-up for families who want to stay connected. Keep it low-pressure: an email list, a text group, or a newsletter opt-in. Give people an easy yes before you ask for a bigger commitment.
This Month: Keep the Relationship Warm
Once the first week passes, it is easy to let follow-up drift. Here are some ways to keep the connection alive through the rest of the summer:
- Invite families to a specific event within a few weeks of VBS, a cookout, a movie night, a family game afternoon. Something low-key that gives new families another chance to connect with your people outside of a worship service.
- Share resources families can use at home. Links to devotionals, a simple summer faith challenge for kids, or even a note about what the children’s ministry will be doing in the fall. You are showing families that your church is thinking about them even when they are not in your building.
- Think about involving VBS teachers and small group leaders in reaching out. The adults who built relationships with kids during VBS week are your best connectors. A note from a familiar face means more than a communication from the church office.
- Pray for the families by name. This is not a strategy tip. It is a spiritual one. If your follow-up team is praying for the families they are reaching out to, the whole endeavor takes on a different character.
Before School Starts: The Back-to-School Bridge
The back-to-school season is a natural second open window with families. Use it:
- Host a back-to-school blessing, rally, or supply drive and personally invite every family from VBS by name. Make sure they know the invitation is for them specifically.
- Share what children’s and family ministry looks like in the fall. Sunday school, midweek programs, and small groups for parents. Give families a clear and specific picture of what they would be stepping into.
- Make the ask personal and concrete, not generic. “We would love to have your family join us on September 7th” lands very differently than “we hope to see you sometime.”
- Keep in contact even if families do not show up right away. A card at Christmas, a note before Easter, a summer invitation next year. Relationship building is long-term work.
The Big Picture
VBS week is not the destination. It is an introduction. The children who sang songs in your sanctuary this summer and the families who dropped them off at the door are people your church has already begun a relationship with. Follow-up is simply how you honor that beginning.
Resources:
- What to Do After VBS
- Explore These Options for Vacation Bible School
- VBS information from Resource UMC
AI was used to brainstorm and polish this article.