Most of them would do what they do, even if no one ever stopped to thank them. Still, when we recognize that each of our volunteers comes to us as a gift from God, when we see that our Lord chooses to work through people and to answer our prayers through people, how can we not want to honor him by honoring them?

CTA’s new appreciation theme, Serving in His Steps,  includes a variety of products you can afford to give those who serve–even in your organization’s largest programs! There’s something for everyone here from daily devotions to pocket planners/calendars to a pedometer! And all at affordable price points.

Besides all that, you can download a whole set of free materials and use them to create a unified theme on that day you set aside for recognition and thanksgiving. You’ll find a Ministry Message that can be used as a sermon or devotion, bulletin cover art, newsletter copy you can adapt to advertise your event, an invitation postcard, and a poster that could double as a placemat if you decide to offer snacks or even a brunch!

Christ-centered. Firmly rooted in Scripture. Beautiful art. Thoughtful helps for busy leaders. CTA has done much of the planning for you. All you need do is take the last few steps to create an event that will energize your volunteers for months to come!

Go to www.ctainc.com and type “Serving in His Steps” into the search engine to find everything you need to get started!

1. Use the addresses in your guest book from the last two or three months to create a mailing list and announce plans for summer Sunday school and VBS. Send a postcard or e-mail that lets people know what age levels are welcome, what the theme will be, and whether or not there is any cost involved.
2. Many churches have started charging a small fee for VBS. Could you spark people’s interest by offering them an amount off the fee when they bring a friend? There might be someone, or even a few someones, in your congregation who would be willing to pay the difference if it would spark attendance. For example, you might create a coupon that gives $1 off if two friends sign up together. Or make a coupon that members can give to friends offering 50% off the regular VBS enrollment fee.

Statistics support the anecdotal evidence. I recently read about a study by the Southern Baptist Convention. The results are for 2006, the most recent year for which data was available. Consider that in that year in the SBC:

• 3 million people enrolled in VBS.
• 212,000 Sunday school prospects were gained for local churches.
• 94,980 decisions were made to accept Christ.

My own faith background would call into question some of the terminology used in the study. But it’s hard to quarrel with the opportunity VBS offers to connect with thousands of currently un-churched or de-churched people—people for whom Jesus died.

I don’t know what your neighborhood is like, but on my block I see seven or eight children playing every day. How many of them get into the car for church on Sunday morning? How many of them get out of the car after church on Sunday morning? Based on what I’ve seen after living in the neighborhood for 18 months, the answer is zero. How is it in your neighborhood?

Are you thinking about leading, teaching, helping, or otherwise supporting VBS at your church this summer? Or have you decided VBS is an old-fashioned agency that doesn’t fit today’s culture? The statistics and the stories say it’s still viable! How will you help make it vibrant at your church?

At our church we had more visitors than usual for Easter worship. We especially noticed a lot of families with young children. What happened at your church? Did you have more visitors than usual, as well? Did you hear any thought-provoking comments from your visitors? As you look back on your preparations for Easter, is there anything you’d do differently for next year? Click on “Comments” to let us know.

Most likely, you now have a visitor book with several names and addresses filled in by visitors on Easter Sunday. Here are some ideas for keeping in touch with them:

• Phone, E-mail, or visit them during the next two weeks to thank them for visiting and ask if they have any questions about your church or needs your church can help with. If you can’t get a visiting team together, send them a postcard. Here’s one you can use for free.  (Note that it has two pages to download–front and back; depending on your connection time, this may take a minute or two.)
•  Compile your visitors list into a mailing list and use it for publicizing VBS and special summer Sunday school events. CTA has a free GLOW (God Lights Our Way) postcard invitation you can print up and mail to them.  It’s generic enough to work for any summer Sunday school or VBS program. (Again, download times will vary.)
• Save your contact list for fall and use it again to let people know when fall programs will be starting up or to invite them to your fall festival.

Here at CTA, we’re always interested in what’s going on at your church. Let us know what’s keeping you busy and how you’re staying in touch with visitors!