Having youth pay for activities?

[98cwitr]

Just wondering, for those of you involved in youth ministry in any capacity, if your church asks or requires that the youth (or their parents) pay a portion of the cost to participate in youth activities...such as trips and extracurricular stuff (ie: bowling or something similar). Seems some churches are going this route, but it's not traditionally asked that the youth have to pay anything.

 

[JM]

I'm not involved with youth ministry and will not go into why...but the church where I'm a member covers most of the costs of events or trips, youth may, from time to time, have to kick in a few bucks.

 

[Tull]

it might not be a bad idea to introduce them to the concept of paying for what you get

 

[twin1954]

If God doesn't provide for it by His church it shouldn't be done. Whatever God calls us to do He provides for.

 

[dogs4thewin]

If God doesn't provide for it by His church it shouldn't be done. Whatever God calls us to do He provides for.

God can use people to provide. The money does not just show up.

 

[Goodbook]

can you give an example I haven't heard of this people are welcome to donate or if a cost needs to be covered usually the parents pay. Children don't have money as they still in school!!! They don't have jobs.

I don't know what our church does as I don't have own children myself but as far as I know the children don't need to pay anything to participate.

But with things like youth camps I think maybe there is a cost involved. But it will be upfront. School holiday programs I heard are expensive these days but when I was a child we just stayed home but dad was home too. Most children I know just stay with family like aunties and uncles or grandparents.

 

[Goodbook]

my ministry is in schools so we don't do any trips. children don't need to pay anything to learn the bible. Its all free.

 

[twin1954]

God can use people to provide. The money does not just show up.

Sure it does. When there is a need God provides. If He has called us to do a certain thing He provides for it. He doesn't need our help.

 

[dogs4thewin]

Sure it does. When there is a need God provides. If He has called us to do a certain thing He provides for it. He doesn't need our help.

someone has to GIVE that money. Churches do not work through taxes.

 

[dogs4thewin]

Our church you pay for events, but we do have a youth fund that the church pays part of and if someone honestly wants to go and HONESTLY cannot afford it people can donate.

 

[98cwitr]

can you give an example I haven't heard of this people are welcome to donate or if a cost needs to be covered usually the parents pay. Children don't have money as they still in school!!! They don't have jobs.

I don't know what our church does as I don't have own children myself but as far as I know the children don't need to pay anything to participate.

But with things like youth camps I think maybe there is a cost involved. But it will be upfront. School holiday programs I heard are expensive these days but when I was a child we just stayed home but dad was home too. Most children I know just stay with family like aunties and uncles or grandparents.

Parents' financial contributions included. I mentioned that in the OP.

While there are fund raisers hosted by the youth to contribute to the youth budget, what are you alls thoughts on the youth/parents having to contribute financially for a percentage of each activity outside of the church.

Examples:

Lunches outside of the church
Overnight or weekend trips
Conventions (may involve hotel stays)

 

[twin1954]

someone has to GIVE that money. Churches do not work through taxes.

Do you think that God needs anything from us? Of course God works through means and that is through people giving because He has put it on their heart to do so without anyone having to ask for it.

If He intends for a preacher to be on the radio He provides the means for it without the preacher having to ask for money. The same goes for all other things that He intends for us to do including missionary work. If a man has to ask for money to support what he does God isn't in it.

 

[dogs4thewin]

Do you think that God needs anything from us? Of course God works through means and that is through people giving because He has put it on their heart to do so without anyone having to ask for it.

If He intends for a preacher to be on the radio He provides the means for it without the preacher having to ask for money. The same goes for all other things that He intends for us to do including missionary work. If a man has to ask for money to support what he does God isn't in it.

God uses means someone has to provide those means else it will not happen Money just does not appear.

 

[twin1954]

God uses means someone has to provide those means else it will not happen Money just does not appear.

You seem to be missing the point. What I am saying is that if God calls us to a ministry or work He provides the means to do it without us having to ask for it. That is one of the ways we know that God has called us to it. If we take it upon ourselves to do something, anything at all, we are running without having been sent. That is why so many have to ask for money to support whatever they do. We must learn to wait on the Lord instead of taking it upon ourselves to do something.

 

[Goodbook]

don't know, nobody I know goes on them. Sorry.

if there's stuff being organised amongst friends its just all worked out amongst ourselves. Depends on who wants to shout, and parents are the ones who pay for children if theres a cost the children NEVER have to pay. Most things are low cost or free anyway.

 

[Goodbook]

Not sure what the issue is here. Parents have always had to pay for anything their child needs to do thats part of the responisbility of being a parent. If the childs parent cannot afford maybe an aunt or uncle can pay for them. Like their guardian.

If a child is coming to church without parents then they would usually be adopted by someone within the church family who would cover the cost of any outside activities that need to be paid for. Thats part of being generous and a christian thing to do, blessing the child.

 

[dysert]

The Baptist church we belonged to 20 years ago did this (make the families pay for their youth to attend extra-curricular activities). That was the reason we left. We couldn't afford for our kids to be in the youth group and go on these outings. The problem was that the outings were cheap little affairs like going bowling or tent camping. Rather the outings were overnight skiing trips or weekend "mission" trips. Things that cost over $100 dollars each. We asked the youth minister why not have cheaper activities, but he said that the youth don't show up for "small" things. Since we couldn't afford for our kids to go, we opted to leave the church.

I still feel the same 20 years later. The church as a whole should have enough $$ to pay for the youth ministry. If the church allocates their funds such that the youth ministry is short-changed, that tells me they're not serious about a youth ministry.

 

[Odetta]

In our church, the parents pay for some of the extra-curriculars - generally the off campus ones. If there is a hardship, the church has a fund, but it's not openly advertised so that it's not abused. I see nothing wrong with this set-up. The church spends plenty out of the general budget on the student ministry for all it's on-campus stuff, which includes some big events.

For big things, like the bi-annual international mission trip, the church does special fundraisers. Those trips cost in the 10s of thousands, because we usually have roughly 75 kids going plus chaperones, plus all the supplies needed for housing, food, whatever activities we're doing there (ie, building things), etc. For some trips, the fundraising only covers so much, and parents are responsible for the difference. The kids also have other requirements to earn the privilege of going (bible and book reading and reports, journaling, scripture memorization, working the fundraising events, evangelism, etc.). The one this summer however, the fundraising was able to cover the cost of everyone going with no out of pocket expense.

 

[Goodbook]

Yes fundraisers. Our church has carboot sale or sausage sizzles. There is also a youth budget but not openly advertised like odetta says.
Sometimes in schools children may sell something to raise funds, thats always happned in schools which are short of funds.
I know some christian schools have galas, garage sales, talent or bible quizes etc.

This wasnt in youth ministry but if someone wanted to go to a conference and couldnt afford often a more well off brother or sister would offer to pay or sponsor someone else. Rides and transportation and lunches and weekend trips...same thing.