- My thoughts on charging for Vacation Bible School
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:13-16)
This scene is Jesus’ first confrontation with the Jewish leaders. According to my ESV Study bible, Jesus was passing “judgment on the Jewish leaders who had allowed worship to deteriorate into commerce, rendering prayer difficult in the temple.”
This is the bible study that came to mind when I heard about a church requiring parents to pay for their children to attend Vacation Bible School (not the church I attend). Not only do the parents have to pay to have their children to attend, but teachers who are volunteering their time along with paying for some resources out of their own pocket do not receive a price break.
I know churches are struggling financially. We are living in difficult times. I can understand asking volunteers to contribute by purchasing items out of their own pocket, if they can afford to do so, but I would not want that to stop them from volunteering if they could not. Out of all the ministries I believe a church does, Vacation Bible School is one of the outreaches that has one of the biggest eternal impact on lives. It is an opportunity to reach all people, rich or poor, church members or not, and teach them about Jesus. Many adults that I have talked to have shared that it was during VBS they became a Christian.
Many may argue there are parents who travel from one church to another, so they can receive free babysitting during the summer. My opinion is…SO WHAT. They are there and you have an opportunity to share Jesus.
If the church that was charging was a very poor church in the country, or something similar, maybe the need could be justified (but I would suggest asking for donations instead of requiring payment). Unfortunately this particular church is a very large church. This church has a book store, along with several services each Sunday morning and all the bells and whistles you can image. It looks nice and shiny on the outside.
Unfortunately, I guess they do not have it in their budget to provide free Vacation Bible School. This sadly reminds me of a church in Revelation, which I referenced here. This grieves my heart!
If you are unable, as a church, to provide the shiny toys or all the bells and whistles. So what. I believe kids will still come. We are called to be the salt of the earth, unfortunately the church as a whole is losing its flavor.
What happened to the days of flannel board and stories of Jesus, along with a small cup of juice and some cookies? And since when as a church body have we begun to only share Jesus with people who can “afford” to attend. *
*I highly doubt people would be turned away, but just knowing about the charge may keep MANY from even coming.
So does your church charge for Vacation Bible School? Would love your opinion and thoughts.
the thought of it is ludicrous! I can not imagine charging for VBS. My church is not a well off mega church, but we don’t struggle either. Our VBS is one of the biggest occurrences in the year! *shakes head sadly*
The 4-14 Window is that age between 4 and 14 when 85% of all who receive Christ will do so. For the ministry of which my husband is currently president, BCM International (originally the Bible Club Movement) and our sister ministry CEF International (Child Evangelism Fellowship), the 4-14 Window has been a priority for more than 70 years around the world. But in the U.S. today, with all the resources of the American church, approximately 5% of the budget is targeted to that 4-14 Window. A good chunk of that 5% is VBS. Take that away . . . well, you can do the math. If 85% of returns came from one target group, wouldn’t one think it worth investing more there, not less? Shame on that church you’ve referenced above!
Unfortunately my church does charge. Always has. Infuriates me, and I have told the leadership so on more than one occassion. It is a minimal amount and I am told often that it is a cultural thing—that all the churches in this part of the world do. I disagree. How I live with it is I always pay more for my kids (enough for others) and tell them to pay it forward to the next person who enquires–and I make my feelings known to the leadership to try to affect change. [They may even receive a link to this blog.
] Thanks Lori for telling it how it looks.
This happened to us 2 years ago.
James was invited as a guest to a ecumenical VBS. Well, it was a HUGE deal. I’ve never in my life felt so unwelcome at a church.
People were all in a dither because he hadn’t paid. They had to gather several people together including the pastor and they had to decide if it was ok for my son to come for just one day.
They made it very clear that he wasn’t welcome to come another day unless he paid.
I had to assume that their motivation for holding VBS was not evangelism!
It is my personal opinion that the biggest issue is not the charging of the fee…but the over jealous need for churches to get so into the “stuff” of Bible school that we forget Jesus taught without multi media, without treats, and without the internet. The Word of God is simply powerful enough in obedience to sharing and teaching it by itself. As with the loaves and fishes, anything needed is always provided by our heavenly Father….we seem to be allowing ourselves to get so past the needs of the children and into the needs of the masks of perfection in “production” “for the sake of keeping their competitive edge” and “they won’t come with out it” when the children and youth I work with weekly simply want adults to plug into them , listen to them, know them, teach the, pray with them and enjoy being with them. IN the day of oursourcing children from parents most of the time through school, clubs, daycares, and care centers afterschool….Bible school for a week of concentrated focused time on them, loving them, sharing God’s love with them, takes nothing more than the desire and intent to do so. Every day in country places I have lived, we sang songs of Jesus, we taught them Bible verse games, we had no t.v. or media, no musical instruments nor videos, yet the children giggled, and loved, and played and learned about Jesus….wasn’t that the point? To show them God loves them, forgives them, wants them, adores them and to share what God believes about them and their future when they choose to follow Him?
The issue isn’t the spending of $5 to $10 to pay for Bible school….its the entire concept that we are more worried about equipping the budget than their hearts.
Much love,
Sweetie
I have never heard of this before. I don’t even like it when churches charge for special conferences or meetings, but I can sort of see it for honorariums for the speaker or materials (handouts, etc.). But I’s rather that come out of the church’s budget or special offerings.
But VBS especially — how off putting to those a church should be trying to minister to! I don’t know how they miss I Cor. 9:18: “What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”
I know one line of thought is that people value more what they’re invested in. But I think that verse overrides that principle when it comes to evangelistic efforts.
Our kindergartener went to the same VBS program our church was offering at a different church because it was free last summer and our church was charging $25…because of the CD and T-shirt!
Wow. I’ve never heard of that before. Our church doesn’t charge and I can’t imagine that they ever would. Unfortunately, there are a lot of churches who get off base with all sorts of things. That’s sure sad to hear, though.