My wife visited her doctor last week and was showing her pictures from our VBS. The doctor couldn't believe all that we had done (with just volunteers) and said that at her church the VBS director was a paid position. I was wondering if anyone here gets paid to direct. I'm certainly not asking how much it just surprised me that she said this.

I was just talking about this to our youth director the other day. He was saying that he knew of churches that paid their VBS Director. I don't get paid to do any of it, but I know I put in close to 40 hours a week working on VBS during the 6 weeks or so that preceeds our VBS so it doesn't surprise me that some larger churches would have a staff position devoted to VBS.

I think that is sad. I have directed VBS for the last 4 years and feel that directing VBS is an honor and I would feel like I was robbing GOD if I took money.

heb,
I agree that it is sad, but I also think it's sad how many churches don't have VBS because no one is willing to direct it. Most people feel that it is too much work and they don't want to put in the time and effort to do it and do it right. Our church would not have had VBS this year if my husband hadn't volenteered to do it. We had about 12 children make decisions for Christ or want to know more about him, and several of them had not really even set foot in church before. I love VBS, I was saved because of it, but unfortunately, many people think it's more trouble than it's worth. I'm not sure if paying someone to direct it is the answer, but if that's what it takes for a child to have an opportunity to know Christ then maybe it's worth it. We were not paid to do what we did, and we would never have expected that because God's blessing through VBS is greater to us than any paycheck, but...

We pay pastors for their duties and many churches pay children's ministers/directors for their duties. Many of those duties include directing VBS. I don't think its inappropriate to pay someone to direct VBS, but I don't think its necessary to do so either. I think that especially in large churches, VBS turns into a full time job and therefore payment for it would be helpful.

I am the children/preschool minister at my church so I am paid to do that but I also direct and am very involved in our VBS So I guess I do get paid for that as well. It is part of my job but I would do VBS even if it weren't. I did have a team of volunteers this past summer and invested a great deal of time and money into them through various training events and appreciated all they did, but they will not for various reasons be working with me next summer. I am in the process of looking for another team for next summer. VBS will start for me in Feb 09 when we host a state training event so it's never too early to start talking up VBS!