Does your church currently have a Full-time child care?  What are the pro's and con's.  What is the profit margin?  Has that ministry helped or hindered your Sunday and mid-week ministry? 

Thanks!

Pros... they kept the building busy and helped pay for utilities and a FT janitorial staff.  All three of my kids went there and it was great! 

Cons...  there was ALWAYS strife between the SS teachers and the preschool (which operated independent of the church although pastor and cms were on the board).  There were supply/toy/display conflicts frequently.  SS teachers never felt like they had their own classroom because things were more focused on the PS side (they were in there 5 days a week!).  PS got mad if teachers let the kids play with certain toys, etc.  I always thought it should and could have been handled MUCH better by the director (who was also a cm) but she wasn't a peacemaker (I loved her to death but her focus was always on the PS and wasn't always sympathetic). 

As far as I know they were solvent financially.  Their point was never to make a profit, but to just stay in the black.  They always did that when we were there but it was a long established program by then.  I have no idea how long it took them to reach that point.

Did it benefit our SS and church?  As far as bringing folks into the church, no I don't think it did.  Of course, that wasn't the PS's focus, either.  We could have utilized it better for ministry, I think.  But we did always send home info about VBS and we had quite a few kids come to that. 

*cm = church member


Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.

We ran it as a ministry and also made sure to stay about the black..we couldn't afford not to. It did reach out..we had whole families come and get saved from the daycare......so that was wonderful.

A con was many of the church members feeling to comfortable as it was their place...wanted daycare for free etc..so really our only trouble was the financial with the church families. As long as you treat all the same and have paperwork in advance you can make money, provide a great service as well as helping the ministry. Just make sure you cover all areas and paperwork before hand and have a great board and leader. It can run smoothly as long as everyone understands what is going to happen and give all their own space.

We personally loved it and are planning on starting one at our new church..but there are costs and some things you will have to change...like insurance, and the inspections are not so fun..lol but you can do it!

Reaching kids for Jesus ~ Johnette Ferguson

Children's Ministries Director : Faith Assembly of God , Salem, Virginia

One of my biggest concerns was the daycare was going to be for ages 1 years--preschool.  The classrooms that were going to be used were the rooms that I have kids 3 years to Kindergarten in for Sunday school, Monday night recovery care, and midweek programing.  I was having a real difficult time thinking about setting up and taking down the rooms, especially the sleeping arrangements for the 1 year olds. 

Thanks again for the responses!

Tiffany