Americans’ Experiences with Vacation Bible Schoollifewayresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/VBS-2018-Release.pdfAmong Americans who say they ATTENDED VBS when they were growing

Americans’ Experiences with Vacation Bible

School

Survey of 1,200 Americans

Sponsored by LifeWay Kids

2

Methodology

A demographically balanced online panel was used for

interviewing American adults

The study was sponsored by LifeWay Kids

The survey was conducted March 7-10, 2018

Quotas and slight weights were used to balance gender, age,

ethnicity, education, and region

The completed sample is 1,200 surveys

The sample provides 95% confidence that the sampling error

from the online panel does not exceed +3.0% (This margin of

error accounts for the effect of weighting)

Margins of error are higher in sub-groups

Survey Responses

4

22%

14% 13%

5% 5%

40%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Every summer

Most summers

Occasionally More than once

Once Never

60% of American adults say they attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) while growing up

Q12: “When you were growing up, how often do you recall attending Vacation Bible School (VBS)?” n=1200

5

WHO ATTENDED VBS

American Adults who

6 Among Americans who say they ATTENDED VBS when they were growing up

Typical reasons why attendees participated in VBS (Vacation Bible School)

Percent Reasons

42% My immediate family attended the church (parents, siblings)

26% The church was in (or close to) my neighborhood

25% I was invited by someone other than family (neighbors, friends)

25%

A parent or close family member was participating in the same VBS event (eg. leader,

teacher, volunteer)

23% My parents valued that which contributed to my spiritual growth

19% My extended family attended the church (grandparents, aunts)

17% My parents valued me building relationships with others in the church

17% My parents valued studying the Bible

14% I valued studying the Bible

14% I valued that which contributed to my spiritual growth

13% I valued building relationships with others in the church

13% The themes were appealing to me

12% The themes were appealing to my parents

12% It provided my parents with an inexpensive option for childcare

5% Other

Q13: “Which of the following describe the typical reasons why you participated in VBS (Vacation Bible School)

when you were growing up? (Select all that apply)” n=719

7 Among Americans who say they ATTENDED VBS when they were growing up

42% say that their family attending the church was one of the reasons why they participated in VBS when they were growing up

17%

19%

23%

25%

25%

26%

42%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

My parents valued studying the Bible

My extended family attended the church (grandparents, aunts)

My parents valued that which contributed to my spiritual growth

I was invited by someone other than family (neighbors, friends)

A parent or close family member was participating in the same VBS event (eg. leader, teacher, …

The church was in (or close to) my neighborhood

My immediate family attended the church (parents, siblings)

Q13: “Which of the following describe the typical reasons why you participated in VBS (Vacation Bible School)

when you were growing up? (Select all that apply)” n=719

8 Among Americans who say they ATTENDED VBS when they were growing up

Only 13% say they participated in VBS because the themes were appealing to them

5%

12%

12%

13%

13%

14%

14%

17%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Other

The themes were appealing to my parents

It provided my parents with an inexpensive option for childcare

I valued building relationships with others in the church

The themes were appealing to me

I valued studying the Bible

I valued that which contributed to my spiritual growth

My parents valued me building relationships with others in the church

Q13: “Which of the following describe the typical reasons why you participated in VBS (Vacation Bible School) when you

were growing up? (Select all that apply)” n=719

9 Among Americans who say they ATTENDED VBS when they were growing up

9 out of 10 agree that they have positive

memories about participating in VBS

46%

29%

16%

5% 2% 2% 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q14: “Overall, I have positive memories about participating in Vacation Bible School ” n=719

10 Among Americans who say they ATTENDED VBS when they were growing up

46% say spending time with kids their own age

was one of their strongest memories of VBS

8%

15%

17%

19%

20%

29%

30%

34%

37%

40%

45%

46%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

I don't recall anything specific about Vacation …

Winning prizes and toys

Making a personal spiritual commitment

Participating in snack time

Enjoying the specific theme

Memorizing Bible verses

Learning from my teachers/the volunteers

Playing games

Creating crafts

Singing songs

Learning Bible stories

Spending time with kids my age

Q15: “My strongest memories of Vacation Bible school are (select all that apply)” n=719

11 Among Americans who say they ATTENDED VBS when they were growing up

88% agree that participating in VBS as a

child helped them better understand the Bible

37%

26% 25%

6% 3% 4%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q17: “Participating in Vacation Bible School as a child helped me better understand the Bible.” n=719

12 Among Americans who say they ATTENDED VBS when they were growing up

89% agree that participating in VBS as a child

positively influenced their spiritual growth

37% 30%

21%

5% 3% 3%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q18: “Participating in Vacation Bible School as a child positively influenced my spiritual growth.” n=719

13

DID NOT ATTEND VBS

American Adults who

14 Among Americans who say they DID NOT ATTEND VBS when they were growing up

31% indicate that their family not attending church was one of the reasons they did not participate in VBS

5%

7%

10%

15%

31%

31%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

My family did attend church and our church did do VBS, but I was not interested

I was not invited to participate in VBS (by neighbors, friends)

I was too busy with other activities during the summer

Other

My family did attend church but our church did not do VBS

My family did not attend church

Q21: “Which of the following describe the typical reasons why you did not participate in Vacation Bible School (VBS) when you were growing

up? (Select all that apply)” n=481

15 Among Americans who say they DID NOT ATTEND VBS when they were growing up

Only 3% indicate that the reason they did not attend VBS was because the themes were not appealing

2%

2%

3%

5%

5%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

I didn't have a way to get to VBS (no transportation)

My family had negative perceptions of “church”

The themes were not appealing

I had negative perceptions of “church”

There was not a church (or VBS) in (or close to) my neighborhood

Q21: “Which of the following describe the typical reasons why you did not participate in Vacation Bible School (VBS) when you were growing

up? (Select all that apply)” n=481

16 Among Americans who say they DID NOT ATTEND VBS when they were growing up

61% say they have a positive view about

Vacation Bible School

14% 14%

33%

11% 7%

20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q22: “Even though I didn’t attend VBS growing up, today I have a positive view about Vacation Bible School overall” n=481

17 Among Americans who say they DID NOT ATTEND VBS when they were growing up

57% agree that participating in VBS would have helped them better understand the Bible

12% 15%

31%

11% 9%

23%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q26: “I believe participating in Vacation Bible School when I was growing up would have helped me better understand

the Bible.” n=481

18 Among Americans who say they DID NOT ATTEND VBS when they were growing up

52% agree that participating in VBS would have directly impacted their spiritual growth in positive ways

10% 13%

28%

16%

8%

25%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q27: “I believe participating in Vacation Bible School when I was growing up would have directly impacted my spiritual

growth in positive ways.” n=481

19

AMERICAN PARENTS

20 Among American parents who say they have a child (children) ages 0-18

47% of American parents say that their

children under age 19 have attended VBS

47% 53%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No

Q28: “Have any of your children ever attended Vacation Bible School?” n=444

21

ATTENDED VBS

American Adults whose child or children

22 Among Americans who say they have a child who has attended VBS

26% say that being invited by someone other than family was a factor that contributed to their child participating in VBS

21%

25%

26%

27%

29%

33%

38%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Our extended family attended the church (grandparents, aunts)

The church was in (or close to) our neighborhood

My child was invited by someone other than family (neighbors, friends)

I valued studying the Bible

I valued my child’s spiritual growth

I was participating in the same VBS event (eg. leader, teacher, volunteer)

Our immediate family attended the church (parents, siblings)

Q29: “Which of the following factors contributed to your child (or children) participating in VBS?” n=223

23 Among Americans who say they have a child who has attended VBS

12% say that VBS providing them with an inexpensive option for childcare was a factor that contributed to their child participating

1%

12%

14%

18%

20%

20%

20%

21%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Other

It provided me with an inexpensive option for childcare

My child valued building relationships with others in the church

I valued my child building relationships with others in the church

My child valued studying the Bible

My child valued their spiritual spiritual growth

The themes were appealing to me

The themes were appealing to my child

Q29: “Which of the following factors contributed to your child (or children) participating in VBS?” n=223

24 Among Americans who say they have a child who has attended VBS

95% agree that participating in Vacation Bible School was a positive experience for their child

54%

30%

11% 4% 2% <1%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q30: “Overall, participating in Vacation Bible School was a positive experience for my child” n=223

25 Among Americans who say they have a child who has attended VBS

94% agree that participating in VBS helped

their child better understand the Bible

46%

31%

17%

4% 2% <1% 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q33: “Participating in Vacation Bible School helped my child better understand the Bible.” n=223

26 Among Americans who say they have a child who has attended VBS

95% agree that participating in VBS positively

influenced their child’s spiritual growth

48%

33%

15%

4% 1% <1% 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q34: “Participating in Vacation Bible School positively influenced my child’s spiritual growth.” n=223

27 Among Americans who say they have a child who has attended VBS

95% agree that participating in VBS was one their child’s most meaningful church experiences

41%

32%

22%

4% 2% <1% 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q36: “Participating in Vacation Bible School was one of my child’s most meaningful church experiences” n=223

28

DID NOT ATTEND VBS

American Adults whose child or children

29 Among American parents who say they do not have a child who has attended VBS

29% say that their family not attending church was a reason why their child had not participated in VBS

8%

8%

13%

13%

14%

24%

29%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

There was not a church (or VBS) in (or close to) to our neighborhood

My child was not invited to participate in VBS (by neighbors, friends)

My child was too busy with other activities during the summer

Our family did attend church but our church did not do VBS

Our family was too busy with other activities during the summer

Other

Our family did not attend church

Q37: “Which of the following describe the typical reasons why your child (children) has not participated in a

Vacation Bible School event? (Select all that apply)” n=221

30 Among American parents who say they do not have a child who has attended VBS

8% say that a reason why their child had not participated in VBS was because they did not have transportation to the VBS event

2%

3%

4%

5%

5%

5%

8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

My chilld had negative perceptions of “church”

The VBS themes were not appealing to my child

The VBS themes were not appealing

Our family had negative perceptions of “church”

Our family did attend church and our church did do VBS, but my child was not interested

Our family did attend church and our church did do VBS, but I was not interested

My child did not have a way to get to VBS (no transportation)

Q37: “Which of the following describe the typical reasons why your child (children) has not participated in a

Vacation Bible School event? (Select all that apply)” n=221

31 Among American parents who say they do not have a child who has attended VBS

83% say they have a positive view of Vacation

Bible School overall

24% 24%

35%

6% 3% 9%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q38: “Even though my child didn’t participate in VBS, I have a positive view about Vacation Bible School overall” n=221

32 Among American parents who say they do not have a child who has attended VBS

69% agree that participating would have helped their child better understand the Bible

21% 23% 26%

11% 6%

13%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q42: “Even though my child didn’t participate in VBS, I believe participating in Vacation Bible School

would have helped my child better understand the Bible.” n=220

33 Among American parents who say they do not have a child who has attended VBS

71% agree that participating in VBS would have directly impacted their child’s spiritual growth in positive ways

22% 21% 28%

11%

3%

15%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q43: “Even though my child didn’t participate in VBS, I believe participating in Vacation Bible School would have

directly impacted my child’s spiritual growth in positive ways” n=220

34

UPCOMING VBS ATTENDANCE

American Adults with Kids

35 Among Americans who indicate they have a child 0-18

64% agree that their child is likely to

participate in VBS this summer

29%

18% 17%

8% 7%

21%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q47: “My child (or children) is (are) likely to participate in Vacation Bible School this summer.” n=443

36 Among Americans who indicate they have a child 0-18

58% agree that their child is likely to participate in more than one Vacation Bible School event this summer

25%

15% 18%

10% 7%

25%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q48: “My child is likely to participate in more than one Vacation Bible School event this summer.” n=443

37 Among Americans who indicate they have a child 0-18

60% will encourage their child to participate in a VBS event at a church they do not regularly attend

25%

16% 19%

9% 9%

22%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q49: “This summer I will encourage my child to participate in a VBS event at a church that I do not regularly attend.” n=443

38 Among Americans who indicate they have a child 0-18

69% will encourage their child to participate in a VBS event at a church they don’t attend if invited by one of their friends

28%

20% 21%

9% 5%

17%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Completely agree

Mostly agree Slightly agree

Slightly disagree

Mostly disagree

Completely disagree

Q50: “This summer I will encourage my child to participate in a Vacation Bible School event at a church that I do not

regularly attend if invited by one of their friends.” n=443

Americans’ Experiences with Vacation Bible

School

Survey of 1,200 Americans

Sponsored by LifeWay Kids