My Beef with Bible Bucks: Why do you do it?

Posted on 17. Sep, 2008 by in Elementary, Fresh Ideas, Philosophy

This week my friend Sam Luce wrote about using Bible Bucks in Kids Church to motivate/reward children. Honestly, a lot of churches do it. Many programs actually have rewards built right into the fabric of it’s DNA. I’ve dismantled this type of program at three different churches (including Gateway where I’ve just landed). I’m not at all saying their wrong. For me it’s been a matter of personal preference. I just don’t like them. Not all the kids are inspired by it, it’s expensive, it can be a beast to manage and too often there are kids who feel left out on the day they get to go to the store (I know, that’s the day the leaders give out Bucks to everyone so that everyone has something to spend and those first time visitors can get at least the smallest prize).

Let me tell you , dismantling the Bible Bucks system is a little daunting. There aren’t people out there who “hate” it and are glad to see it go. The only people who’ve ever told me they were glad to see it go were the staff members who had to stock it and price everything. In fact, most of the kids LOVE it… but that doesn’t necessarily mean its the right thing either.

The question I have to ask is, “why are you doing it? Why is it a part of your program?

For many it is the thing kids are most excited about coming to church. It actually motivates them to come every week, learn their memory verse, bring their Bible and sometimes even bring a friend. However, are kids falling in love with Jesus and his word or are they in love with their Bible Bucks? Are they really connecting with their leaders and other peers or are they motivated simply to earn enough for the scooter in the prize store?

Call me an idealist, but I think our programs should be so good that the kids just don’t want to miss out. Maybe they’ve got such a good relationship with their small group leader that they don’t want to miss them. I understand that we want the experience to be fun as “fun” is the language of kids. However, when the main “fun” part isn’t really associated with connecting with kids or helping lead them to spiritual maturity, then you’ve got a problem (regardless whether it’s a prize system, and environment or games). I’ve been at churches that have spent thousands of dollars on a prize store. My question would be, “what could you do with that extra money that would make a big difference immediately?” I’d figure out the answer to that and then do it.

I certainly don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade. There may be people out there who have a fantastic experience with their prize store and it only “adds” to an already exciting and fulfilling program. If that’s the case, then go for it. I can only speak from my own experience and every prize store experience I’ve had has been negative or has added nothing to the overall experience for the amount of work and resources it took.

Tomorrow I’m going to blog about how to dismantle a prize store, just in case you’re thinking about doing it.

Meet Kenny

Kenny Conley has written 1607 posts on CMO.

Kenny Conley is the primary author of Childrens Ministry Online and the NextGen Pastor at Gateway Church in Austin, TX. In addition to creating the Illuminate Conference, a high quality kidmin conference designed specifically for volunteers, Kenny is a published author and speaker. For more biographical info, click here.

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  • http://www.take2ministries.com Todd McKeever

    Kenny,

    Sounds like this series of your could be a good read and I look forward to it.

    I guess in about 3 more weeks when my blog site is done with it’s overhaul and all and I can take it live again, I too may have to blog about: “How to have a positive, fulfilling, close and growing kids ministry all the while keeping your store.”

    Have a great day my friend. One idea as you dismantle your store is to maybe a have a salvation sermon message about “Let’s make a deal” and use all your outgoing store items. It could be really fun since Halloween is coming you could really pump the kids even dressing up like they use to do for the old game show of “Let’s make a deal”.

  • Bryan

    Hello,

    I was just reading your post on Bible Bucks. I think they are great if used in moderation and for the right reason. Many of the people I top Children’s Pastors like Jim Wideman, Karl Bastian and others use them with great success. Karl wrote a great article that is posted on Kidology.org about this very subject. I would have to totally agree with everything he said.

    I think the bigger problem is having Children’s Pastors boast about how their program is better than someone elses. No one has a right to say someone’s program isn’t any good because they use Bible bucks. I do not know what God has called in a persons heart when they build a ministry. If they feel Bible bucks are a part of that calling then great! I agree ministries can get off point, but I’m gonna keep my focus on God and not allow the ministry God has called me to lead to become focused on pride that my ministry is better than someone elses. If those ministries are bringing children into the Kingdom then that is what matters most. Don’t allow pride to lead you. We are all in this for the same reason, to bring children to Christ.

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  • http://www.childrensministryonline/blog Kenny

    Thanks for your comments. This is why I love the blogosphere… it’s connecting with people I wouldn’t normally have access to and hear their great ideas. Before I wrote these posts, I’d say that my only personal experience with Prize Stores have been neutral or negative and from my own personal bent, I won’t do them. However I have read some great information that encourages me that maybe there is a place for this type of program… but who am I to say? Thanks for your comments and adding your $.02!

  • laynni

    I think i understand where you are coming from, but at the same time, having used bible bucks successfully and seeing the benefits from using it for me is defenitely causing me to not totally agree with you. In the same way that churches use flyers that offer free coffee, or a visitors room with breakfast, or snack, or maybe it is the music that a particular age group or race likes better than another type…..whatever it takes to draw them and get the word in them is what i think…….as long as it is in line with the word and not displeasing to God. You know when God took the children of Israel out of Egypt he had to do some pretty awesome things in the wilderness for these ADULTS to stay in line………and continue to believe, and still they went off track. Well, were dealing with children, and a reward system is something that God is totally into…….however he sees fit. Did your parents ever reward you for anything?

  • maxine

    I recently intiated the Bible Bucks program as the Christian Ed Director at my church and let me tell you that the BB program is a blessing. As adults we often forget when we were children and what excited & motivated us to listen & learn. Motivation is necessary for learning – even with adults. If Bible Bucks is used properly, it does not have to be a nightmare of admistration. Additionally, we forget that Jesus, as a teacher, used motivation Himself. Case in point, feeding the 5,000 with “fish sandwiches” a way to recognize a basic need of humankind – food as a motivation to listen to his Holy Word.

    Children are not adults and should not be treated as such. If Bible Bucks motivates them to listen, bring a friend to church, learn memory verses, etc., then why not use it? It also assists in teaching that sometimes you don’t win – sometimes you celebrate someone else’s success. That in itself is a valuable lesson.

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  • Tammy

    I know this is an old post, but I am new at this and just started reading about Bible Bucks. I wanted to respond to the comment by Maxine that said, in summary, that Jesus used food to motivate the people to listen to His Word.
    This is not true…the people had already been listening to His Word all day long…for hours and hours…adults and children…and then Jesus recognized they needed to be fed. They were drawn to HIM and HIS WORD and the Power of the Savior’s Truth….they were drawn by His love and forgiveness and the grace He was teaching. It was His Message that drew and motivated the people to listen and learn, not the fish sandwiches.

    The food was not a reward, nor an incentive. It was an opportunity for Christ to meet the physical needs of the people in a miraculous way that re enforced the way He fed their spiritual needs first. He was showing them that HE WAS GOD!
    I can think of NO WHERE in the Scripture that Jesus used rewards to get the people to come back and listen. He did the things that GOD does–healed the lame and blind, forgave sins, pointed out transgressions…he turned water to wine, made the deaf hear, calmed the storms……but many times He told the people and the disciples NOT to tell about His miracles because He did NOT want to be merely a sideshow……He did not want His message to get lost in the “sparkle”.

    Of course there were people who came to see what He would do next! To see who this miracle man was. Maybe that is what drew them to listen and learn His Word. I’m sure it played a huge role–their curiosity. But He certainly was not handing out physical healing incentives as rewards to good listeners…the reward of eternal life is enough! He often said, “Your faith has made you well.” Not, “let me heal you to reward you for coming to my sermon today.”

    I recognize the need in today’s kid culture to “entertain” and make the lessons “fun” to compete with all the other things out there like video, TV, and sports to get them in the door. It’s not like the “olden days” when people just wanted to learn for the sake of learning. We have so much “learning” at our fingertips, we are not HUNGRY for learning like we used to be.

    i have nothing against rewards and prizes for children doing tasks like Bible Memory, bringing a friend, etc. As long as that is not the focus of the program. What works better for me, in the long marathon of our race to teach children God’s unfading Word and Truth, is to present His Word in a way that engages them, uses their senses and thinking, helps them internalize the Message so that it can take root in their heart and soul. Things like storytelling, puppetry, art, music…getting them involved in “living” the Bible Words for the day….this is what will give them incentive to come back to hear more of the Word. They will be curious to see what God has done for them and what He has written in His Word for them, His children. I do not tell them what they will “get” if they come to Sunday School next week. But they know if they come, they will have a great time learning God’s Word! There is always a surprise for them, given by God, NOT earned by them.

    I’ve decided to take my focus OFF of measuring how many passages they learn, how many Sundays they come, how many numbers they bring, how many prizes they earn….and focus instead on making the central truth of each Bible lesson “come alive” with them …plant it together in their heart through active learning…there the Holy Spirit will nurture it and it will take root and grow. God PROMISES to do that!

    Of course, a good fish sandwich is a great way to re enforce the story, though! But i will use it as a “surprise”, not as a “prize.”

    this has been very thought provoking and I thank you for letting me share my oppinons. I think we are each called by God into different situations and He will guide us through them. Blessings to EVERYONE who takes the time to teach children God’s Word, no matter HOW you do it!