With statistics showing that baptisms stem from experiences in Vacation Bible School, churches need to plan early and well to meet the needs of children in their communities.

According to Lifeway Christian Resources, Vacation Bible School is the single largest annual outreach event for most churches in the United States.

"VBS impacts children tremendously. How many missionaries and pastors felt their initial call to ministry at VBS? You never know what God has planned," says Diane Cody, VBS director for the Long Run Association in the metro Louisville area.

But good Vacation Bible Schools don't just happen. Effective planning is essential if churches wish to make the most of the opportunities VBS presents, say religious education leaders.

The first step recommended by VBS directors is to choose a curriculum that works well with the church's needs. Directors should take ample time to familiarize themselves with the literature and suggested activities.

When choosing a curriculum, directors should also consider various additional resources available for purchase, such as planning guides for directors. Directors should then direct their prayers and planning towards choosing team leaders well in advance.

An excellent source of workers often comes from the youth within the church. Many VBS directors use their teenagers to help with recreation, drama, classroom assistance, and audio-visual equipment. It gives the youth an opportunity to serve and to take on spiritual responsibilities.

Once the curriculum and leaders are in place, directors and leaders can brainstorm promotion ideas, discuss budgets and set goals for the coming summer event.

Supply lists should be put together early in the planning process. If supply needs exceed the allocated budget, it may be necessary to enlist help from other sources, such as donations from church members. In other cases, modifications can often be made to crafts and activities that can reduce costs.

Crafts and activities should be chosen based on the VBS budget and the abilities of the children in each age group.

After working through these phases of the planning process, most VBS directors agree that training is essential to an effective VBS. Some churches take advantage of training sessions offered through curriculum providers, while others prefer to hold their own sessions. Training generally takes place in the spring, somewhere between March and May.

Workers should be trained to handle discipline appropriately, and on safety and emergency procedures. They should know what the expectations the church has for its workers are. Taking preliminary precautions prevents problems in the long run.

While these initial meetings take place several months before the start of VBS, many VBS directors find it helpful to also schedule a final meeting with their workers about two weeks prior to the beginning of VBS. This gives workers a chance to address any last-minute needs or concerns they may have about the week.

After appropriate training has taken place, the next step in VBS planning is promotion and publicity. Many churches use the church marquee to announce the dates for VBS. Others distribute VBS flyers door-to-door in the neighborhoods surrounding the church. Some merchants in the church are willing to hang posters in their store windows.

One idea is to create VBS signs that can be placed in church members' yards a couple of weeks prior to the start of VBS. All signage should clearly state the name of the event and the contact information for the church promoting the event. It should also include the date, time and location of the church.

In addition to making preparations for the children, churches should plan to do something special for their workers throughout the VBS week to encourage them in their efforts. VBS can be a very tiring week, especially for parents who have children of their own, and knowing that they are appreciated adds an energy boost to their day.

One idea is to provide lunch for VBS workers at the conclusion of morning Bible schools. If the church holds VBS in the evenings, encouragement notes can be distributed to workers throughout the week.

After the planning process is complete, it is important to remember that no matter what the size of the church or how experienced the team of workers is, every VBS will have a few less than glamorous moments. The best remedy to deal with problems is to pray and to be flexible.

Jessica Perkins is a writer for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, www.kybaptist.org.