It’s that time of year again; you hear the announcement: “We need Vacation Bible School Volunteers!” You eagerly volunteer, mark the dates on your calendar, and then it gets closer to time to the big day. After attending a meeting (or two) for job descriptions, Bible Stories, crafts, and worship layout, you start to feel a little overwhelmed and promise yourself to never volunteer for Vacation Bible School again.
I get it! I’ve been there, and every year I volunteer. I have learned some tips and tricks to help make it through as a Vacation Bible School Volunteer. Now I look forward to hearing “We need Vacation Bible School Volunteers!”
5 Tips to Surviving as a Vacation Bible School Volunteer:
1. Volunteer for Something You Love.
Does loud music bother you or do kids running around drive you nuts? If so, chances are you won’t enjoy serving on the worship team or heading up games. God gave each of us different skills, hobbies, and gifts. Use the gifts God gave you to help with Vacation Bible School. Chances are, you will enjoy it a lot more!
2. Remember Why You Are Volunteering.
Are you volunteering because you feel obligated? Maybe you have three kids, all of which are attending Vacation Bible School. Maybe you are a stay at home mom and you were guilt tripped into helping. If you’re volunteering out of guilt or obligation, you’re not going to get much out of it and neither are the kids. Remember, that Vacation Bible School is to bring kids into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. When you keep this at the forefront of your mind, it will give you a new outlook.
3. Fill Up.
This may sound silly, but you need to be sure you are refueling in God’s word and prayer each day. Vacation Bible School can be emotionally and physically exhausting. You can’t fill from an empty vessel, so you need to be sure you are filling up on what matters so you can pour into others. Start your day with coffee, a devotional, and prayer so you can really pour into the kids. (Get my FREE 7-day devotional delivered to your inbox! Just enter your email address below.)
4. Pray for the Kids.
If you’re leading a grade-level class, pray for your kids each day by name. It will help you foster relationships with the kids and help you remember why you are a Vacation Bible School Volunteer. (It’s a trick I’ve learned as a Small Group Leader.) Now, if you’re leading worship or in charge of crafts, chances are you won’t remember all of the kids’ names, but you can pray for them collectively.
5. Drink Caffeine.
If you’re not a teacher, you will probably be exhausted from being around a large group of kids for a few hours. If caffeine isn’t your thing, try Olly’s Daily Energy Vitamin Gummies. They don’t have ANY caffeine in them, and still give you energy! I used them during our Kids Camp where I was in charge of crafts for around 125 kids and they worked wonders!
Next time you hear that your church needs volunteers for Vacation Bible School, use these tips to survive as a Vacation Bible School Volunteer!
