If possible, have all your volunteers go see The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - A VeggieTales movie.
Three to Five Months Out
Set up your VBS prayer team.
Recruit prayer team members through your church bulletin, newsletter, and personal contacts. Agree to pray for VBS at a set time each week. Specifically ask God to bless your scheduling and recruiting.
Check out The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything VBS at www.veggiepiratesvbs.com.
Order The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything VBS Kit.
Choose a director.
If you're reading this, chances are you're the director! You may wish to choose a codirector to share your responsibilities. It's great to have a partner.
Determine your budget.
Decide whether or not you’ll hold fund-raising events. Enlist the help of your church youth group! With permission from your church leadership, use your bulletin and newsletter to invite individuals to become VBS sponsors by making a special gift for VBS expenses.
Two to Three Months Out
Update your VBS prayer team.
Let prayer team members know your progress and your specific needs.
Plan your promotion and publicity.
Set up a time to show the publicity clip from www.veggiepiratesvbs.com to your congregation.
Recruit your volunteer staff.
Use the recruiting materials provided on the Resource CD. You may wish to enlist help from others on your church staff and in your children’s ministry to help make contacts with potential volunteers.
Hold fund-raisers if they're part of your plan.
Begin preregistration.
Set up online registration on your church’s Web site using the resources at www.veggiepiratesvbs.com. Have your registrar take charge and update you weekly.
Get "spaced out"!
Explore all your options for teaching spaces. Create a map denoting where you’ll set up each Bible learning site. Check the descriptions of sets, props, and activities to determine the best placement for each site.
Eight Weeks Out
Update your VBS prayer team.
Include your volunteers in praying for successful planning and setup and for the kids who will attend.
Plan your publicity blitz.
Place publicity posters from the Resource CD throughout the church. Have weekly publicity blurbs in your church bulletin and newsletter.
Gather props and supplies.
Determine who will purchase supplies for each Bible learning site. The “Everything You’ll Need” list, pp. 50–57, is your comprehensive guide for supplies.
Place a list of needed props in your church newsletter. Make sure anything borrowed is well marked with the owner’s name and phone number.
Schedule Leader Training and Shipmate Training.
Use the training materials on pages 112–117 of Director's Guide.
