OT- Non-members going to summer bible camp

[prncess674]

This. the one my youngest will attend (older kids are too old to attend) also does Upwards sports and different children's and family community programs open to everyone. They are not pushing for everyone to join their church.

If your kids are too old to attend ask about them being a room helper, craft supervisor or snack server. There is always room for additional hands at an all volunteer event. Not sure how old your kids are, but young teens can be a great asset to the program.

 

[Chelley00]

VBS is basically a membership drive. Having new kids there is the whole point.

No it's not. I'm on staff at a church. VBS is our way of reaching out to the community, teaching the kids about Jesus. If we get a couple new members, great, but that's not the purpose. It's a ministry.

Our church also has registration that closes a week before VBS begins so we can provide the materials. We don't accept walk ins after registration closes, so you might want to call and make sure they'll have room.

 

[emksmama]

My girls love going to different VBS programs in our community. They are going to one next week that's held at the church I grew up attending, and where they went to preschool several years ago. It's in the mornings, which I like...gets them up & going, and I have a couple hours to myself, while they reconnect with preschool friends and even school friends. Our church has an evening VBS program in July, and I help with that one as well. I don't see VBS as a 'membership drive' at all, but a ministry to reach out to ALL children in a community, churched & unchurched.

The VBS registration for next week's program included a line to fill in with our home church name, if one, and I believe they will send information to those who leave it blank, just letting families know about their services and other ministry programs.

 

[kellia]

Thank you for all the helpful comments! I didn't want anyone to think I was taking advantage for free child care or anything!

 

[wdwdclfan]

I sent my girls to a VBS in our town. It was not our religion, but close. I just thought it sounded like fun! They LOVED it!
On the first night we went out to dinner. We asked the girls what they had learned? My then 5 year old told us she learned the Lords Prayer. “Our Father stuck up in heaven” I almost fell off my chair!

 

[ceecee]

Our church does Vacation Bible School as a community outreach as well as for the kids that already attend. When DD was younger she went to several a year with her friends and they went to ours, lots of fun!

 

[kirstenb1]

Thank you for all the helpful comments! I didn't want anyone to think I was taking advantage for free child care or anything!

I was in your shoes a couple of years ago. We're Episcopalian, and went to our childrens' friends Presbyterian VBS. At the end of the week, I gave the VBS church an offering as a thank you.

 

[jmunutt]

VBS is basically a membership drive. Having new kids there is the whole point.

I've worked our VBS for years since DD was in 2nd grade (she's graduating now!)
Our church welcomes anyone and budgets for 500 children every year. We have a space on our registration sheet for a home church, but it's there to track how we're reaching the families in the community, not to push for them to become members of our church. That's between them and God, not us.

I do second another PP who mentioned checking with the church to see if registration is still open for VBS. We have early registration and walk up registration. We have never exceed the 500 mark, even when it looked like we might. We have always had enough spaces in groups and supplies to meet the needs of all the children and families who choose to attend. We are fortuate we can afford to budget for it and take all who want to come.

OP, I hope your children have fun this summer at VBS!

 

[sk!mom]

Our church isn't doing a vacation bible school this year. My kids have been bringing home lots of flyers from local churches about their programs that they've been giving out at the elementary schools. Is it okay to send them to one of them if we have no intention of switching to that church? They want to go to one that has a lot of fun stuff planned, but I feel really guilty about it! (The church is similar to ours so I'm not worried about them getting any different information or anything like that!)

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

I think you can look at the flyer as an invitation. If they gave it to your kids, that means they want them to come.

I would just use caution as far as doctrine goes but beyond that they can be a great source of free fun. If you're kids really enjoy it and you feel guilty send the church a small donation.

 

[Leajess99]

If your kids are too old to attend ask about them being a room helper, craft supervisor or snack server. There is always room for additional hands at an all volunteer event. Not sure how old your kids are, but young teens can be a great asset to the program.

The oldest is 19 and busy helping an injured friend. The other older one (14) has high school soccer right now. She would've volunteered to help but soccer comes first this year. Thanks for the idea for others though.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Not the same, but our church was associated with a Summer camp locally (as in kids go for a week at a time, including overnight). Non-members were welcome, but the cost was higher