Summer activities for kids in the local church are great! They give boys and girls an opportunity to learn about Jesus…experience great times of fun with friends…plus, be challenged to bring friends who may not be involved in a church.
Some of this momentum can be lost, though, when churches fail to be pro-active in planning for follow-up. Just a few quick reminders:
- Plan types of summer activities that will be "drawing cards" for unchurched kids. Even consider some type of competition/awareness for kids to be challenged to bring guests.
- Have a system in place to get contact information from visitors who attend VBS, fun days, camps, etc. during the summer months. Consider doing "pre-summer" training with your leaders emphasizing that your summer activities not just be "so-so" but indeed be outreach events.
- Give Sunday School/Bible study teachers a "heads up" that you will be sending them "prospect" information after each of these events for follow up. Ask that Bible study leaders keep you up-to-date on how contacts, phone calls, emails are going with these prospects.
- Plan celebrations with summer leaders to "thank" them for helping to shepherd and bring in prospects for other ministries in the church.
- Plan celebrations with Bible study leaders for prospects "reached" and enrolled as a result of summer activities.
Let us know about some of your "follow-up" success stories. We each need the encouragement!
