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MegaChurch Offers “First Class VIP” Nursery: Just $15 a week
On Sunday mornings, six-year-old Adrian Teller goes to Sunday school through a VIP entrance, avoiding the "cattle class" at the front desk. Mother Sandy Teller, who has embraced Abilene Baptist Church's "First Class Kids" option, tells Lark News, "It's worth the $15 per week..."
The church is one of a handful to experiment with premium nurseries and Sunday school classes. Children in the First Class Kids program enjoy premium snacks, private bathrooms and personalized lessons. They are separated by a curtain from other children, to avoid causing jealousy.
“People want choices of service,” says pastor Ron Jacobs. “If we can offer 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship times, why not first class and economy class Sunday school?”
For the Tellers, who own several businesses in the region, a first-class nursery offers that “extra nudge” to go to church on Sunday mornings.
“We don’t fly economy class, so why settle for less at church?” she says. “It makes us feel at ease.”
In economy class Sunday school, kids suffer through Saltine crackers and watered down Kool-Aid in an atmosphere of barnyard chaos.
“We call this the Southwest room,” jokes one harried teacher, referring to the discount airline.
But in First Class Kids, children receive warm, moist towelettes after their Tillamook cheese and crackers. Then they settle in to watch the latest VeggieTales video on high definition plasma TV. Later, a worship leader comes in to play live music.
Some families complain that separate nurseries create a two-tier church. But many like splurging once or twice a month on the first class service. Others even buy the First Class Kids annual pass.
“Once my grandkids experienced first class, they cried when their mother tried to put them into economy,” says a grandmother who bought annual passes for her four grandchildren.
Jacobs says offerings are up considerably since families have gotten hooked on concierge-style Sunday school. The premium service fee counts as offering and is tax deductible.
“We want to open our doors to everyone in the community,” he says. “Some people expect a higher level of service. If that will bring them to the gospel, I’m for it.”
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This post has been viewed 1705 times and was added on August 25, 2006 by Todd Rhoades. Filed under: Miscellaneous Church Leadership Humor Share this post with a friend right now! View reactions to this post at other blogs... You can really help us out by subscribing to our free RSS feed with your favorite feed reader, or here at Bloglines. Also, you can add us to your favorites at Technorati.
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I'm Todd Rhoades... the MMI guy. I'm also on the team at Leadership Network (although that doesn't mean that they endorse everything I write here). In my past life, I was the founder and developer of a website named ChurchStaffing.com.
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Posted by Leonard
Friday, August 25, 2006 at 10:15 AM
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Monday, August 28, 2006 at 12:06 PM
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Post Your Comments:Very Funny!
Wow. Luckily, we don’t teach those kids that it is all about them. I love that story where Jesus tells about the guy who gets better stuff because he can afford it.
I am all for being “all things to all people” but this is taking it way over the line. You can’t convince me that this is a healthy situation or that it will not teach and advocate elitism. While it may attract a few people to the church it will not attract anyone to the gospel. Mainly because it goes diliberately against the teachings of Christ. How will this treat orphans and widows?
I realize we don’t expect everyone to come to Christ clean and holy but this seems to drag them through the dirt on the way. I applaud the church for trying something new and being creative but I hope they quickly realize how anti-jubilee (Jesus brought about the ultimate year of jubilee) this concept is.
Oh, I’m not familiar with Larknews. Obviously i think that is pretty funny then.
I love Lark News. So very funny! They have a book out called “Field Guide to Evangelicals.” It’s funny as well but can be a little snitty at times. I recommend it, though.
We tried this at our church. It didn’t work… So the idea must be from Satan…
I’m appalled. Several churches are considered separatists, but this takes it to a whole new level. I thought the church was supposed to be a place where all people of all walks come together to worship God TOGETHER. This is an elitist ploy that is a slap in the face to the rest of the church. This kind of program is inconsistent with a true church model. This church needs to take another look at Acts Chapter 2. This is a blemish on this local church. I would never consider attending a program with such snobbery.
OK, if this is a joke, it is funny. If it is real, I cannot believe the ignorance of people doing that in CHURCH!!!!! That is not Christ’s way at all and God is not pleased.
Please tell me this is somebody’s idea of a joke! I have visions of the Pharisee praying and thanking God he wasn’t like the other sinner.
Oh my! I’m not sure which one I laughed at more, the original post or the indignant comments, I’m going to assume that the comments were trying to be ironic/funny/sarcastic also
This is the worst thing I’ve ever heard of for a church nursery to do. How can we preach that we are all one body in Christ when this place is teaching our children that some are better than others because of “first class vs economy nurseries”...they may not be SAYING it but that’s EXACTLY what they are teaching!
Let me get this straight . . . .someone couldn’t see the humor in this post? Obviously these were from pastors who had especially difficult weekends.
Let’s all lighten up! Don’t take yourselves so seriously. This post was joke with a twist of truth in it, shouldn’t we in the church do things in the very best manner possible? After all, we do proclaim the very best message on the planet, the love of God for all people!
great to see impartation into upcoming generations this. God help our future
i do not really find anything funny abt this article. i felt there are discrimination between the economy class and the first class ppl. everyone shouls be treated the same just as Jesus treated fairly to all. “Let’s all lighten up! Don’t take yourselves so seriously. This post was joke with a twist of truth in it, shouldn’t we in the church do things in the very best manner possible? “ quoted by Patrick. hmm… so let me get this straight, is this a real thing that have happened or it’s just a joke. I personally feel that there has been a wrong value being imparted to the kids.
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