Charge for Vacation Bible School?

[noodleknitter]

If they can't afford it, they should plan something different.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Our church's VBS is going on this week. We have never charged for VBS. It is thought of as an outreach ministry. Now church camp is different. There is a charge for that. But charging for VBS? I'd never heard of that!

TC

 

[MickeysMommy]

Our church is having VBS next week and it is free. I've never heard of having to pay for it.

 

[Mkrop]

My kids have attended 3 VBSs this summer at various denominations. I have volunteered at 2.

First one was a Baptist church, it does not charge a fee, they have been doing this for years. They asked for a donation of books.

Second one was our church, Catholic, it was the first time doing it, and they charged $35 with a family max for over 3 kids but I dont remember what it was bc I only have 2. I volunteered for this one. They had a Pennies for the Poor campaign

Third ends today, at the Lutheran preschool my kids attended, DS5 just finished there so this is probably hi last chance to see some of these kids before they all go to different Ks. They charge $25. I volunteered here too.
They collected food for the Salvation Army food pantry.

I was amazed at the wonderful programs that are put on, the dedication of the volunteers, and the great undertaking this endeavor is.

 

[justjulie]

Up here, our VBS costs $50/week!

 

[RitaE]

I've never heard of charging either.

Our Church does put a note in the bulletin for months though asking for donations. Really, it is much easier to get the money from the congregation to run it than it is to get enough volunteers. We run two sessions - morning and evening so it takes a huge number of volunteers.

 

[SC Minnie]

Ours is $8/child with a $24/family max. Most VBS in our area charge a registration fee. I don't really have a problem with it. If there are families that want to attend but can't afford the fee it is waived.

 

[ajk912]

Thanks guys. See, there are people on here upset about the moms who use this as free daycare, and this just seems like such unChristian behavior. I know most churches I know do a ton of outreach programs- I know our church just did an outreach program helping to clean up New Orleans. This is the church's opprotunity to help the youth in the town to help find Jesus. So it's another outreach program, IMO. In my mind, charging for VBS is the same as charging for church or for Sunday school. Isn't that what titheing is for? To support the church and the ministries? We went to our VBS at our church, and I wanted to check out the VBS at the church 2 miles away to see if they have better kids programs. So it's not like I am using it as free daycare..it's two in a summer. I don't know, to me if you have to put on such a hoopla for VBS that you need to charge for it..maybe it's time to scale back to the basics. You know that thread, let's go back to the basics for birthday parties, instead of CHARGING a kid to go to a birthday party? This is the same thing, to me. Why not just a two hour program, sing worship songs for 20 minutes, learn parts to do a play about Jesus for parents night for 40 minutes, maybe a small craft, and some outdoor time- simple games outside? There are ways to do it cheaper than the huge hoopla that it has turned into. I just think it's sad, what it's coming to, to charge for a church program. Donations, yes, charge, no. I guarantee kids aren't going because of the cost, and mom/dad are too proud to ask for a scholarship.

 

[reeddi]

Nope our church doesn't charge and I have NEVER seen one that did. I have lived in two different states and 4 different cities. Now we do ask that parents have the kids bring in food for the food pantry OR school supplies for needy kids but never money outright.

I know the VBS stuff costs a lot but it is factored into our budget.

I think charging sends a bad message. There are already non-believers that think churches are only about money and this gives them an excuse to believe it. JMHO

Reeddi

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I've been involved in VBS programs for over 20 years and never have we charged for it. It is simply a line item in the church budget under outreach. If the budget is tighter than usual, we ask for donations from the congregation for things like refreshments. Never would we ask someone to pay for their child to attend; if they want to use us for free daycare then so be it. The point of VBS is to introduce children and their families to our church in a child-friendly manner. For so many of these kids, it is the only exposure to church (or anything family-oriented for that matter) they ever have.

I've never heard of charging either. Our VBS has a contest to see who can bring the most guests with them. Like others have posted, this is the first time some of these children have stepped foot in a church. Others go to every VBS in town. I don't quite agree with that either, but that's a whole 'nother thread.

I can see both sides really. It is a huge expense and the money has to come from somewhere. However, the churches are posting ads everywhere trying to get new children to attend. I would think asking for money isn't the best way to do it. I do think that the prices mentioned are very reasonable though. If it were something that was customary in our area, I wouldn't think twice about those prices.

 

[musical2]

Our church just completed its VBS this week. It was $5 per child with a maximum of $10 per family.

 

[Camicar]

I've spent years working in churches and state office of denominations.

While most churches do not charge for VBS, some do. Of those that do, it is a very very small % who charge bec VBS is a 'big hoopla.' The vast majority of churches that charge do so for 2 reasons:

1. To pay for the program. Programs cost money. I am constantly amazed at how folks think that bec a program is from a church that there should be no cost. Why? Is God raining down paints, paper, felt, glue and sippy cups from heaven? Supplies cost money, food costs money. Sometimes you may have to get a rider on your insurance coverage, which costs money. Some churches may generally not have line item budgets for VBS bec (a) they decided to VBS after the budget was set or (b) their members/program users do not donate enough money to cover extras like VBS or bec in today's economic climate, chuches are suffering just like any other non-profit/business -- people are spending and donating less money. If you don't have the money, but want to provide a program, you're going to have to charge for it. Or not do it. Which would be preferable, no program or paying for the program you are choosing to use?

2. Experience has shown that people do not value that which they get for free and even the smallest fee can create a complete attitude change. If someone gets something for free, the reailty is that they will not show up or show up irregularly making planning difficult (esp staffing and food procurement). They will show up late for drop off or, bec they're using it as free day care -- worst of all they'll show up HOURS late for pick up. These same people also will not volunteer in order to keep the costs down. However, charge $5 or $10 and all of a sudden those same latecomers show up on time and take the program much more seriously.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I agree, that VBS has gotten to be too much of a production! Back when I was little we sang songs, learned bible verses, made simple crafts. We loved it!!! The big thing was on Friday we got ice cream bars!

I guess with today's kids, in order to get them to come you've got to feed, entertain them, and give prizes out!


TC

 

[RitaE]

That's interesting. I don't think we've ever had much of a problem with not picking the kids up. We do get some kids that will miss days, but I really don't see that as a problem.

I mention every year that I am not a huge fan of those "programs" we buy. They all move in timed blocks from station to station and it seems like there is never enough time at any area. It is a week of 1/2 finished crafts, uneaten snacks, kids who don't know that day's song because they had the audacity to want to go pee when they were supposed to be singing. I cringe every year when the kids will be singing a song or something and somebody will say "Can we sing that again?" "NO! WE DON'T HAVE TIME!!!"

The whole thing is just run run run, no you are supposed to be here, we need to get STARTED NOW!!! I loved VBS as a kid, with my Dixie cup of Kool Aid and my 2 oreo cookies and just sitting in the Sanctuary with some Mom up front saying "ok, what should we sing now!" It's just one more thing in this world that has gone the way of bigger, better, and supposedly more glamorous.

 

[ajk912]

I agree, that VBS has gotten to be too much of a production! Back when I was little we sang songs, learned bible verses, made simple crafts. We loved it!!! The big thing was on Friday we got ice cream bars!

I guess with today's kids, in order to get them to come you've got to feed, entertain them, and give prizes out!


TC

I remember being in VBS as a kid and our VBS homework was to learn all the chapters of Bible. There was huge peer pressure to do this. I can still kind of do it..Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy..(pardon me, I can't spell!) Believe it or not, those were fun times!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Well sadly in today's times many people need that "hoopla" to get excited about church. Gone are the days when the vast majority of kids even know what VBS is. To me, with such a small portion of families even attending church, if it takes some slick program, that has a fee attached to it, to attract families so be it. I am okay with that. The kids have fun, they meet other kids, and above all they get exposed to the teachings of the Bibile. So however that happens, I am fine.

I think its like all other things in life. If you have a problem with paying for VBS, simply opt out. You can probably find a free one with no problem. I agree, I am amazed at how people think churches must provide every single thing for free.

I would rather a church charge for VBS and have one than not have VBS by way of feeling like charging is somehow tacky, less Godly or wrong.


I guess I am sort of taken aback and a bit surprised by some of the attitudes that seem to think that if a church does charge, they are somehow not as organized, don't have enough programs figured into their budget or aren't as giving to the community. Because I know in the case of my church (that charges for VBS) nothing could be further from the truth.

 

[Ilovemylife]

Every church I've ever attended has charged for VBS.

Why wouldn't they? It takes resources to put on VBS, and I wouldn't expect them to provide it for free.

 

[Buckalew11]

VBS is in our budget. We've never charged and I do not see it ever happening. I have never heard of charging for VBS though.

Our church does one a summer and helps with another in KY and youth volunteer as a mission project with that one while the church helps supply the needs of the VBS there.

People do things differently. Some churches support missionaries to other places individually and some missionaries even have to use their "off" time to go around speaking at different churches rasing money to support their next mission. That is a big part of why I am a SB, we give support to missionaries and they do not have to worry about their funding.

 

[tonilea]

I loved VBS as a kid, with my Dixie cup of Kool Aid and my 2 oreo cookies and just sitting in the Sanctuary with some Mom up front saying "ok, what should we sing now!" It's just one more thing in this world that has gone the way of bigger, better, and supposedly more glamorous.

Me too, but they didn't have to compete with all the entertainment options available to kids today. Especially at the youth group level, it is so hard to impress and entertain kids.

One of my funniest memories of VBS is when they were taking song requests, one little boy wanted to sing "Rinestone Cowboy".

 

[tonilea]

2. Experience has shown that people do not value that which they get for free and even the smallest fee can create a complete attitude change. If someone gets something for free, the reailty is that they will not show up or show up irregularly making planning difficult (esp staffing and food procurement). They will show up late for drop off or, bec they're using it as free day care -- worst of all they'll show up HOURS late for pick up. These same people also will not volunteer in order to keep the costs down. However, charge $5 or $10 and all of a sudden those same latecomers show up on time and take the program much more seriously.

Even though our church doesn't charge for VBS (and I can't imagine them ever doing so - we even have church members who own the local movie theater and do a free kids matinee for VBS signup), I think that is a very valid point. People value things more when they have to pay.