Partnering with parents to "TRAIN" up our children in the way they should go!

I am reminded of a post I saw on the boards several years back which I have used every year since (sorry I don't remember who to credit) ... Vacation Bible School is not about a week, it's about an eternity.  Your numbers are proving that.  I would think that letting people know you used that room 120 days last year would also be helpful.  You have unique talents which you are sharing to further God's kingdom and they should be bending over backwards to help you reach even more kids, not locking the door.  Let the children come.

Check out VBS Groupies for resources to help with the planning of your VBS.

A suggested start:  "A disagreement has arisen in the congregation regarding the use of the ______________ room.   For ______ years, it has been used to: ______________________________(detail the hours spent in that room).   Our VBS's have been successful because of the time and talents everyone has put into it.  Now, a committee has taken this resource away to turn the room into a bridal room.  I feel that this is not right.  VBS (and any other purposes) was/were just pushed out with no where to go.  I realize that a bridal room would be fun to have, but not at the expense of our children's ministry.  VBS needs this room back.  We are willing to work on a way to share this when a bride requests a place to change.  We have a lot of creative talents amongst us, we can work together to turn the room into a bridal room when needed, but not to keep it set up as such all year for the very few weddings that we have.  To this effect, I would like to move that "the ______________ room remains available for VBS (and any other purpose) as it has been and that the children's ministry committee work with the decorating committee to set it up for a bride on the day she will need it."   This may mean that you move everything out of the room for the day the bride needs it (maybe perhaps also for the night before if the decorating committee needs time to put special personalization touches to the room).  Or, have a nice looking storage unit to hold your supplies and perhaps a room divider to hide your big projects so you don't have to move out, just "dress up" the room.

The more prepared you are for Sunday, the stronger you will be.  What you have to say is important and that is the time to say it.

Continuing to pray for you,

Adrianne

Couple of things that might be worth checking out so you will be prepared for the meeting.

1. What does you church bylaws say about who has the authority to (a) spend church funds (and does this have to be approved by a committee or business meeting), (b) change things such as carpeting etc. (Again what is the procedure for this). In our church the pastor and board members can spend up to a certain amount, but over that it has to be taken to the congregation in a legal called business meeting. Same with any changes made to the bldg.  Wives of board members have no voice, other than the same one every member has. Legally speaking,  being married to a board member of any church, company, etc., does not give you rights.

Check out what is in writing, as this will lend a lot of credence to your point.

Blessings,

Jenn in PA

Cindy -- thanks for the much needed laugh!  You all make great points, and believe me, I'm taking notes!

I would never trust myself to just get up and talk.  I've always been one to have things in writing.  I'm also typing up the facts and having some of the teens (that are always at my house) pass out copies of that page when I get up to speak.  I've even thought about doing a power point presentation with pictures of the 11 ft. tall giraffes, the giant waterfall, the volcano spitting flames, our entire Church full of hanging confetti, and our barn and horses so that their minds are "refreshed" as to the magnitude of our decor.  My daughter outright laughed when she heard that we were discussing this Sunday.  She asked "Are they aware that you were head of the debate team...and went to school to be a Lawyer??"  Sarah said that it's going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. 

But actually, it isn't about the room being used as my workroom anymore (though it would be nice).  Since half the work was done before I realized that they had usurped the board, I had accepted the fact that wet paint does not share nicely with new carpet.  What bothers me, the board chairman, and DOZENS of other people, is the audacity of those wives, to go to the extreme of falsely accusing us --- just to get their way!  Good grief!  Since our board members' position is like the Biblical "deacon", Hubby John said that we even need to have a vote of confidence for the husbands...since they obviously don't have "their house in order!"   Like I said....according to the board's vote, I COULD take something with wet black paint in there.  But how could I ever teach my kids responsibility if I did something like that? 

You are sooooo right that this is an "attack".  A lot of people at my Church think that my health problems are also an attack.  In 2002 I wasn't doing anything with the Church since we were still at our old Church and it was in the process of splitting.  I was perfectly healthy then (other than my back problem from 6 years before).   2003 we moved here and I started "helping" with decor that year. Pastor said that after the week of vbs, everyone in our 600 member Church knew my name --- because he thinks that they ALL asked him "Who did this?" LOL  I started having health problems that year.  Each year I get more involved at Church:  President of the ladies missionary group-PFC, involved with the teens, etc.  (As I'm typing this there are 2 teens sleeping on my living floor ! I was up until 1:00 am discussing the various viewpoints of what "purity" means with them.   And the ministries are GROWING!  VBS had 280+ kids last year, 160 in 2003.  PFC has grown from 20 women to about 50.  And each year my health gets worse.  I'm not saying that I'm special.  I can't explain why God decided to give me the ability to think outside of the (cardboard) box, But we are seeing souls saved, and lives changed.  And we know that our adversary doesn't take kindly to THAT! Either it's an attack....or a HUGE coincidence that I break one arm in March of 2006, and THE OTHER ARM in March of 2007!! 

One more thing:  I should have let you know that my tears were mostly not for me.  I'm a tough cookie, If I can handle my feet hurting 24/7 for weeks on end, I can handle these women.  After about 20 minutes of a self pity party, my tears were for PFC -- they are appalled that vbs can't use the room.  But they are SHOCKED that PFC can't!  The average age of those women is 50.  They leave a place cleaner than it was when they got there!  All they would use it for is the counter for their snacks when they have their meeting, and for the running drinking water that doesn't come from a bathroom!  No one wants to carry all of that stuff from the kitchen which is literally a half a block away.   And, the tears were for Darcie.  She is our very underpaid secretary at Church.  She works there 8-4, is in charge of the kids Wednesday night program, sings in choir, and totally ran vbs by herself until I got there.  (She got help with decor, etc., but she was totally responsible).  Now, because she put 2 boxes of t-shirts in that room, (which she was entitled to do) they would LIE about her?  It could affect her job!! 

Thanks again for all of your prayer and support.  And, for that WONDERFUL QUOTE about vbs being for eternity.  Boy, am I going to use THAT!!  Especially when you compare it to a room that will be forgotten the minute the bride walks out of it.   I'll definitely let you know how it goes.

Blessings to you all!