How much information do we really need to a bring a child into a VBS program? That depends on how you will use the information.

• You need the age of the child to place a child in the correct class
• To identify the child, you just need a first name to personalize  the relationship
• To have someone to contact in case of  an emergency,  you  need a phone number  and the name of the contact person
• To follow up, to maintain the relationship with the child after VBS, you need an address, a phone number, and an email address. This information will allow you to:
  • Send information about upcoming youth activities.
  • Send information about other activities at the church.
  • Send a thank you note for being a part of the VBS program.
  • This data also gives you a way to send a  VBS evaluation sheet to the home to see if the VBS program is meeting your objectives.
  • Make a personal evangelistic visit to the home.

HOWEVER, there may be objections.

• Some people may have a fear of the church. They may allow a child to participate but reluctantly.  This is probably rooted in recent historical experience under communism where it was dangerous,  or forbidden to practice a religion.

• Remember, people tend to condemn that which they do not understand.  VBS is a new activity for many churches, especially in small towns. Gathering too much information may have adverse effects, people may get suspicious and stay  away,

Only gather the information you need to meet your objectives.

Stick to “need to know, not nice to know”

Why do you need to register children anyway?  Having said all the above,

“How are we going to bring order out of this mob of children?” I thought as I looked at all the children waiting noisily, pushing and shoving outside the gate.  But We Are prepared.

1. We have someone at the gate to let the children in a few at a time to avoid overcrowding the registration table.

2. We have the registration table and three chairs.

3. We have three people at the registration table — one for the children age 6-7, one for ages 8-10, and one for ages 11-12.

4. The photographer is waiting at his photo spot.

5. A volunteer is waiting to guide the children to the assembly area usually the sanctuary.

6. The class leaders, called shepherds, are waiting with their symbol signs, which identifies the class or group.

If you are distributing T-shirts:

• There is a table with the T-shirts displayed by size.

• There are two people ready to determine the size of each child and help the child put on their shirt.

At the scheduled time the gatekeeper allows few children to enter and go to the registration table line for their age.  Now the VBS begins to take shape.

The basic information needed is the child’s name. That’s all.  It is printed on a small card that is inserted in a name tag holder and placed around the child’s  neck. There is a control sheet for each age group, 6-7, 8-10 and 11-12.  At the top is a symbol identifying the different classes,  perhaps a yellow, a blue, a red or an orange happy face. As a child is assigned to a class, a mark is placed under that class symbol, an attempt to keep class sizes relatively even. A small sticker, the same shape and color as his assigned class, is placed on his name tag.

Once enrolled, the child is directed to the photographer who takes the child’s picture. From there, the child goes to the assembly area where he/she looks for the symbol that matches the one on his/ her name tag. The child joins his/her shepherd, and the class group begins to form.

Next week: Hey!  God’s Talking To You!

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