Summer is a great time for families to reset and catch a break from their routines. For churches and their children’s ministries, it’s also a perfect opportunity to rebuild connections with the families in our congregations and reach out to children in our communities, too! There are a variety of ways to accomplish this. Vacation Bible School has always been a popular outlet of choice for churches. It offers fun for children, engaging ways to introduce to the gospel, a chance for church members to build relationships with the children, and gives parents a short respite.
However, for some churches, the notion of VBS can be wearisome. Volunteers are harder to recruit after serving a full academic year. Families are busy with travel. Even for the most seasoned children’s ministry directors, managing a week-long event on top of personal lives and summer schedule changes can be overwhelming. As a children’s director, I’ve felt this pull. I want to offer the best I can for my community, but maintaining the manpower for running the event, managing budget and promotions, and keeping up with my own household can prove a challenge, to say the least!
For the church that can’t pull off VBS, there are a variety of alternatives. We want to think about what summer ministry options work best in our context and how to creatively make God’s word come alive for children. It’s not about putting on the most grand display. We want to do the best can with the resources we have to influence children with the gospel. So it’s worth weighing the pros and cons of a traditional VBS program with some other summer outreach opportunities.
When VBS Isn’t An Option
Vacation Bible School sessions certainly have a huge draw for both parents and children. Children are hearing about God in an exciting thematic story throughout weekly or weekend sessions. The parents get a quick breath on their own. Kids get to be with their church friends. They can invite their friends to an easily accessible church function to share the gospel while keeping it light. There are fun stories that illustrate the Scripture lessons, accompanied by snacks and high-energy activities. On paper, this sounds like an easy win for both evangelizing the community and serving the church. It can enrich the lives of the children present. But is this the only way to have a simple outreach program for our local communities?
One of the largest struggles we all must overcome in children’s ministry is that of volunteer recruitment. Many love the ministry’s purpose, but when it comes to finding the hands to help make the mission happen, the commitment feels daunting and difficult. Retention is a revolving door. For a specific week-long or weekend role, it’s even more challenging when considering day jobs, parental exhaustion, family vacation schedules, or when high energy demands and even unexpected illnesses come into play.
Outside of this, we factor in budget and time expenses placed on the children’s ministry leader. Not every church has a massive expense line to put towards a highly staged production. Not all ministry leaders are able to pull off large events solo. Granted, many of the curricula offered have variants that scale things down. This can be a useful option for some church situations. Or they adapt it into a special Sunday School series for the summer, as well. But I’ve personally found that taking these options leaves me feeling “less than” when I’m unable to offer the full experience or if we redact the curriculum itself.
Perusing the Possibilities
Vacation Bible School is a wonderful resource for telling children about Jesus for the first time. However, if you are stuck and need other options, here are a few ideas to help engage the children in our church and surrounding areas!
Something we did one year for younger children was to offer a periodic storytime series over the summer. We met four different Friday mornings, allowed parents to drop off their children, and they’d hear one of R. C. Sproul’s children’s books read to them. They’d have a snack and discuss the story. They’d make a craft that reflects the story. This was a sweet time where children could learn about Gospel truths in a fresh way, but in a smaller, more relaxed setting. It required fewer volunteers and a smaller budget.
We have also hosted arts camps where children cultivate their drawing, painting, and music skills while being taught accompanying Scripture. This is a unique way to celebrate children’s talents and how they can offer them to the Lord!
One-off community events are a wonderful opportunity, as well. This means putting together something fun for the church that’s easy to invite friends to join. Ideally, however, it’s low-pressure and requires a lower budget than a full-scale week of activities. You can keep them simple with just information about the church and children’s programming to give out. There are ways to work in little lessons into whatever event you choose. Some fun options to consider are family field days, small carnivals, fall hayrides, water slides, movie nights, and more! Meeting at community events as a church family can be a great way to support your neighborhood events and build relationships, too!
For the Gospel
Getting children in the doors of the church is a wonderful first step. But presenting the gospel to them in such a way that resonates with them individually might not look the same for everyone. Whatever you decide to do with your summer ministry opportunities, we must all seek to adhere to the guidance of 1 Peter 5:2-3. “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
Let this be an invitation to not feel compelled to do what may be commonly expected, but because it is what you believe is the best way to serve your congregation and community. VBS is still a great way to present the gospel for the first time to the community and is a major draw for visitors! And if you choose not to do it, there are various unique things you can get creative with that you may more easily execute better! Either way, let your choice lead you to effectively sharing Jesus with these children first and foremost.
Leading with Intentionality
This leads us to the next question of intentionality in our event planning. Are we reaching children on an individual level that will actually have an impact on their spiritual lives? Are we discipling these children in such a way that they’re truly hearing the gospel?
Romans 10:14-17 says, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? How are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Summer is such a wonderful time to offer opportunities to connect with your families, their friends, and your surrounding community through fun and exciting programming. Whatever approach you believe is best, let it reflect the beauty of Jesus and attract children to him and his amazing love for them. They’ll never know a truer Friend! Our standard is not in our performances or programming, but in his redemptive work through us that we then share with anyone we can reach. Rest in His Word, doing the hardest heart work in these young lives!
Looking for more encouragement and ideas? Come attend our Children’s Ministry breakout sessions at the 2026 Rooted Conference!
