is it not a problem for anyone else that people are reselling vbs things on ebay and even on this forum??
what happen to offering them to other churches?
just doesnt seem right to be selling this stuff.......maybe i'm looking at it all wrong.....wouldn't be the first time.......
not trying to criticize just wondering if i'm the only one uncomfortable?

No it does not bother me at all. It costs a lot to do VBS (or any other program). Reselling is a way to put money back into your ministry to use for other things (another vbs or whatever).

What bothers me is people constantly asking for donations - saying they are a "small" church of 50 to 200 people. A church of even 50 should be able to purchase supplies, even if they are recycled form another church. I have worked with "small" churches of less than 50 (in some cases much less) who did an awesome job without begging for donations. Some churches make a habit of depending on others for donations, rather than making a sacrifice and trying to do things on their own. Obviously, Children are not a priority in their church.

I have collected donated supplies and passed them on to missions in foreign countries and new church plants in the USA. Their is nothing wrong with accepting donations or offering them. However, there is certainly nothing wrong with being a good steward and trying to put back into your own ministry what you can.

When I first saw VBS items on e-bay, I was shocked. I can't imagine putting any of our leftovers on the site to sell regardless of how much it cost to put on a VBS.

We had plenty of "stuff" left over and happily shared it with every church that called and was willing to come by and pick it up. We have sent material to a church in northern Ohio for the past several years who can't afford to do VBS without help. Every year the pastor sends me an update on the number of children they had and how many they had saved. They will use the VBS material a year later (This year they did Ramblin Road Trip).

There was a very small church in our community(about 15-20 adults in attendance) who did a VBS this summer for the first time in a long time because their pastor knew it was the right thing to do! They had 3 times more children in VBS than they have adults attend on Sunday morning. They wanted to reach the children in the community because they know it is a way to reach the parents. They wouldn't have had a VBS without our help!

I'll send things back to Lifeway if I need to but I would much rather give things away and be a part of helping others reach the children of their community for Christ than putting it on E-bay or selling it to another church. Maybe I can't be there at to help at all those other churches, but I can do my part and provide a way for them to reach the kids.

Not at all, in fact I'm needing to find a VBS moose as soon as possible. If anyone has one they are willing to sell, please contact me at tbbsa@charter.net and be sure to include the word moose in the subject line. Thank you!

I know that the Southwest Freeway store in Houston has one on the shelf right now. I am sure it was a late return from a church, as it's still in the original packaging. You can call them (you can get the phone number through Lifeway's web site), or contact your local store and arrange for an in-store transfer.

Good luck!