It has been so exciting to see the love of Christ poured out through our churches this summer. The photos, videos, and stories shared on social media have been a beautiful reminder that God is still drawing the next generation to Himself—and He’s using you to do it. We praise God for your faithfulness.

When Vacation Bible School is over - the decorations packed away, the crafts taken home, and the songs still echoing in the halls - the mission is ongoing. For many churches, VBS is the biggest outreach of the year, drawing children and families who don’t attend church regularly. What we do after VBS may be just as important as what we did during it.

The most important thing you can do right now is pray. Before you take the next steps, stop and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your efforts. Pray for the children who came, for the families you met, and for the seeds that were planted. Ask God to give you His eyes to see where He is already at work—and how He might want you to join Him.

We know the challenges are real—burnout is real, and the calendar fills up fast. But we believe that God is still drawing people to Himself through your witness.

Here are some ideas to get you excited about following up with your VBS families:

Celebrate the Work God Has Done: Take time to reflect with your church. Celebrate salvations, gospel conversations, and new connections. Remind your congregation that outreach doesn’t end when the final snack is served.

Make a Plan: Consider recruiting fresh volunteers just for follow-up. A new set of hands and eyes can bring fresh energy. Or ask your VBS team members to personally follow up with the children and families they connected with. Sometimes one friendly face is all it takes to make someone feel welcome.

A Simple Follow-Up: Use your registration forms to reach out. Thank-you notes, personal invitations to Sunday School or small groups, or a small doorstep gift can show families that they were seen, loved, and that Jesus cares.

Invite Families to the Next Step: Host a “VBS Sunday” or a Back-to-School Bash and invite all your VBS families. Give them an easy on-ramp into your children’s ministry, parenting groups, or a family picnic—something that makes it easy to come back.

Pray Specifically for Each Family: Don’t underestimate the power of prayer. Create a list of every family who came and ask your church members to pray by name. Pray for open doors, soft hearts, and gospel conversations.

VBS is a fun and meaningful week for kids, and we know you do it out of love for Jesus and your community. Let your follow-up be an extension of your mission to lift up the name of Jesus. May He be made known in every home, and we will be praying for you as your church is faithful in the small, steady steps that make a lasting impact.

For many of our churches, keeping up with a website or a social media page can feel like one more task in an already full week. After all, ministry happens when God’s people gather: worship, teaching, prayer, service, fellowship. The real heart of the church is not found online.
But even though ministry is personal and face-to-face, many people in our communities first look for a church through online searches. Before they ever sit in your pew, they may visit your website or Facebook page. They are not looking to be entertained — they are simply looking for an invitation.

When someone searches for your church online, they are usually trying to answer simple questions:

• Is the church active?
• What time is worship?
• Where is it located?
• What do they believe?
• Will I feel welcome there?

If your church’s website or social media page hasn’t been updated in weeks or years, it may send an unintended message: “We may not be open or active.”

Keeping your online information up-to-date doesn’t replace ministry — it simply helps extend an invitation to those who are searching.

Here are a few simple ways to keep your church’s online presence welcoming:

1. Keep Your Service Information Current
   Make sure your worship times, location, and contact information are easy to find and correct.
2. Post Simple Weekly Updates
   A welcome post, a Scripture verse, a photo from a recent event, or an announcement about an upcoming service reminds visitors that your church is alive and active.
3. Assign a Trusted Volunteer
   Choose a member who can consistently post simple updates each week. It doesn’t need to be complicated.
4. Use Real Photos (with Permission)
   Photos of your church family help visitors imagine themselves attending. Fellowship meals, baptisms, worship, and mission projects are all encouraging to see.
5. Pray for Fruitfulness
   Remember: your online presence is not your ministry — it is simply one more tool God can use to bring people to Himself.

At Tar River Baptist Association, we want to encourage churches to think of online tools as extending the invitation. The real ministry begins when they walk through the door.

​As a help to our churches, the TRBA helps to promote your outreach ministry through social media. Below are a couple of guides to help you get started with a simple social media plan.  

One of the clearest ways the world sees Jesus is through the love His followers have for one another. In John 13:35, Jesus says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” While this certainly applies to individuals within a local church, it also speaks to the relationships between churches. When congregations across communities choose to partner together—sharing resources, encouraging one another, and working side by side for the gospel—we are giving a living testimony of Christ’s love and unity.

In a time when division seems to dominate headlines, church cooperation shines as a beautiful countercultural witness. It reminds us that we are not in competition with one another, but co-laborers in the same harvest field. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase… For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” We each have a role to play, but the growth comes from God—and He often chooses to work through partnerships among His people.

Cooperating churches multiply ministry impact. Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” When churches work together, whether through shared missions, community outreach, or leadership support, the result is often more effective than what any single congregation could do alone. Needs are met more fully, encouragement is spread more broadly, and the gospel travels farther.

The early church modeled this spirit of cooperation. In Acts 2:44-47, we see believers “together and [having] all things in common,” worshiping, eating, and praying in unity—and as a result, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Their togetherness did not just meet needs—it was a compelling witness that drew people to Christ.

Here at TRBA, we believe God has placed our churches in this region not just to reach their own communities, but to partner with one another in reaching the world. Cooperation is not a strategy—it’s obedience. It’s love. It’s the body of Christ being the body of Christ.

Let us never forget the prayer of Jesus in John 17:21: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” When we come together in unity and purpose, we reflect the heart of Christ—and we open the door for the world to believe.

May we be churches marked by love, joined in mission, and committed to working together for the glory of God.

If you have a story of how your church has worked with a sister church in the area, please let us know so we can encourage everyone with your ministry.