What is your philosophy on bribing students? - MinistryQuestions.com | Ministry questions, answers, advice, and input from other ministry workers

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What is your philosophy on bribing students?

I have never done bribes and am usually opposed to them. But recently I thought that if I bought an iPod shuffle and each time a student brought a friend to our Wednesday night small group study, they could be entered to win. Part of the rules being that I have to meet the friend for it to count, possibly requiring them to arrive earlier (which is an issue). The more friends that come and the more times they come, the more times they are entered to win. And at the end of the quarter/semester we'll do a drawing.

Has anyone done this before? If so, how did it turn out?

Any other thoughts on the overall process/philosophy of the whole thing?

7 Answers

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- Cara
372 Views
2 years ago

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Hey nothing wrong with an incentive to bring students in. Make sure it is done well, and do not make that the focus of evangelism. (students only invite students when their is a prize, but the occasional invite a friend thing not a problem)

Pastor Joe

2 years ago

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0 Votes I would say if you do this, then make sure you do it well. Have all the rules and regulations laid out before hand. Make sure that the system can't be gamed. I wouldn't make a big deal about during the service, so as not to make it seem that all you are about is the contest. If you will find some kids who are gung ho for it, while others won't care because they already have an ipod. Talk with some of your students about it and see what they think. You might not even have to go as big as an ipod, maybe free registration to your next big event. I agree that you need to be careful but I think if done right it can help you out. I think it doesn't matter why they are there, as long as they hear the gospel presented. by Soulshaper 2 years ago by Soulshaper 2 years ago
0 Votes Bribes are very dangerous. The main reason I believe is because they undermine the Gospel, they preach a works based righteousness rather than a grace based righteousness. If they do things because they expect some kind of reward, then we are actually shooting our message in the foot. Therefore be careful how you approach gifts. This is a really hard thing to do, cause we do it will really simple things too, like give them chocolate bars for performing well at something during the group time too. by Duke 2 years ago by Duke 2 years ago
0 Votes Isn't most of what we do bribing? We tell kids to come because of: free food hip music wii hang time with friends t-shirts games fun That's a pretty challenging aphorism that "What we win them with is what we win them to." What are we winning them to? Maybe we ought to kill the bait and switch, inviting them to video games and pizza then trying to give 'em Jesus, and be straight forward with what they'll find in our midst. We give out free food @ pretty much everything, btw. And sometimes prizes and all that. Blurgh. by brianferry 2 years ago by brianferry 2 years ago
0 Votes What you win kids with is what you win them to. You hook them with bribes, you'll have to keep giving them bribes to keep them coming. Plus, you'll raise teens who have a consumerism mentality of church instead of a servant/worship oriented mentality. Instead, cast a compelling vision for your ministry that the teens and parents can really rally behind and become excited about. It make take a year or two of constantly sharing the vision and it starts with you modeling it, but when it eventually catches on, kids will invite friends because they're excited about where the group is going, not for a prize (which often leaves the invited friend feeling a bit used). Also, helping teens take more ownership of the group/vision makes a difference. by Tim Sch... 2 years ago by Tim Schmoyer 2 years ago
0 Votes I would caution you to think about what message your bribe is sending to the invited guest. Are they just a tool to help their friend get an iPod? Or is the focus on their encounter with the gospel story of Jesus? My senior minister often says, "You win them to what you win them with." That being said, I do use bribes, but I use them in the context of scripture memorization and bringing your Bible to church; Experiences that occur after the conversion experience in a student's faith journey. by KYHSGuy 2 years ago by KYHSGuy 2 years ago
0 Votes Pray, then bribe. lol. Didn't some disciples use curiosity as a bribe? "come and see" At the state of Christianity (especially in the youth), I say if they're excited then do it. (I'm assuming all other methods never worked before either!) by az003590 2 years ago by az003590 2 years ago

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I would say if you do this, then make sure you do it well. Have all the rules and regulations laid out before hand. Make sure that the system can't be gamed. I wouldn't make a big deal about during the service, so as not to make it seem that all you are about is the contest.
If you will find some kids who are gung ho for it, while others won't care because they already have an ipod. Talk with some of your students about it and see what they think. You might not even have to go as big as an ipod, maybe free registration to your next big event.
I agree that you need to be careful but I think if done right it can help you out. I think it doesn't matter why they are there, as long as they hear the gospel presented.

Soulshaper

2 years ago

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Bribes are very dangerous.
The main reason I believe is because they undermine the Gospel, they preach a works based righteousness rather than a grace based righteousness. If they do things because they expect some kind of reward, then we are actually shooting our message in the foot.

Therefore be careful how you approach gifts. This is a really hard thing to do, cause we do it will really simple things too, like give them chocolate bars for performing well at something during the group time too.

Duke

2 years ago

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Isn't most of what we do bribing? We tell kids to come because of:

free food
hip music
wii
hang time with friends
t-shirts
games
fun

That's a pretty challenging aphorism that "What we win them with is what we win them to." What are we winning them to?

Maybe we ought to kill the bait and switch, inviting them to video games and pizza then trying to give 'em Jesus, and be straight forward with what they'll find in our midst.

We give out free food @ pretty much everything, btw. And sometimes prizes and all that. Blurgh.

brianferry

2 years ago

Votes

What you win kids with is what you win them to. You hook them with bribes, you'll have to keep giving them bribes to keep them coming. Plus, you'll raise teens who have a consumerism mentality of church instead of a servant/worship oriented mentality.

Instead, cast a compelling vision for your ministry that the teens and parents can really rally behind and become excited about. It make take a year or two of constantly sharing the vision and it starts with you modeling it, but when it eventually catches on, kids will invite friends because they're excited about where the group is going, not for a prize (which often leaves the invited friend feeling a bit used).

Also, helping teens take more ownership of the group/vision makes a difference.

Tim Sch...

2 years ago

Votes

I would caution you to think about what message your bribe is sending to the invited guest. Are they just a tool to help their friend get an iPod? Or is the focus on their encounter with the gospel story of Jesus? My senior minister often says, "You win them to what you win them with."
That being said, I do use bribes, but I use them in the context of scripture memorization and bringing your Bible to church; Experiences that occur after the conversion experience in a student's faith journey.

KYHSGuy

2 years ago

Votes

Pray, then bribe. lol. Didn't some disciples use curiosity as a bribe? "come and see"

At the state of Christianity (especially in the youth), I say if they're excited then do it. (I'm assuming all other methods never worked before either!)

az003590

2 years ago

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