This post was written by Patrick Mitchell. He is the Family Ministry Director at Ridge Church, our strategic partnership in Indian Trail, North Carolina. Patrick knows what it takes to start from scratch and build a great ministry. You can learn more from Patrick by checking out his blog renown.
Help! How can we use 252 Basics on a shoestring budget?
Many of the churches that use 252 Basics don’t have a large children’s ministry budget. So, how can you make Sunday mornings the best hour of every kid’s week when you have no money?
Here are a few practices that have helped us create an awesome environment while on a small budget.
* PLAN AHEAD
If you are only planning one week ahead for each Sunday it is really hard to stay within your budget! Plan ahead and watch how much money you can save!
* A CREATIVE TEAM IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Bring a team of creative people around you to help you dream and create an amazing children’s ministry. Lead a creative meeting with them for each month/virtue.
In your meeting, think BIG and then edit! When your team has great ideas constantly ask the question “How can we do this cheaper/for free?”
You also need to surround yourself with talented people who can build, create, and make items for your environment and productions at a fraction of what it would cost to purchase the items!
* CREATE A “PROP” TEAM
We all know that the large group scripts, small group activities, and FX scripts from 252 require a lot of props! Buying all those props each month will quickly put you over budget! So, create a team of people who are willing to lend you these props! Many times people in your church will let you borrow these items for the month for free! (Hint: Moms who have a few children are the BEST for this team!)
Work together with other churches in your area and share props. Learning to share with other churches on the same mission is a beautiful thing!
* RELATIONSHIPS ARE FREE!
Your children’s ministry will never be able to compete with Nickelodeon, XBOX, or a Miley Cyrus concert. They will always have more money than you and be better entertainers than you. BUT, they can never compete with the relationships your team can build with children! Remember that.
Don’t be discouraged that your budget isn’t as big as you would like it to be! Create the greatest environment and production you can with the money that you have. Remember that it is the relationships your team has with your children that God will use to change their lives!
January 22nd, 2010 at 11:06 am
Thanks for the tips. I think having a team really is a huge resource! and thanks for the reminder that relationships trump all.
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Really good stuff man! Thanks
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Great advice for small churches. Creating a sort of creative community among believers is a great idea. Agreed. Budgets are nice but if you put a little creativity into it, those kids aren’t going to necessarily benefit MORE from the extra flash that a budget would provide, just some TLC with what you’re doing.
January 22nd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Good tips for any work in the church. You have it right - relationships are most important both vertical and horizonal.
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Thanks Jim!
January 22nd, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Great advice! My church is going on 4 years now of mostly unchurched peeps. We have learned that the most qualified peeps are normally not the right people for the job and the most underqualified people make it what it is! It is a slow process but seems to be growing inwardly, just not outwardly yet! Our budget seems to stay the same each year. Any advice on how to excite the ones we have, to be a part of that team? —– wait am I suppose to ask questions on this thing? Anyways, great ideas! Our church needs all the resources it can get!
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:39 am
Great tips!I am one of those “prop moms”!!I love the idea of everyone working together(talents,props,costumes,and planning).I agree with your idea about sharing with other churches(we are all on the same team!)You got it right on the most important aspect being relationships and how they are FREE.The greatest kid’s programs I have been apart of, are folks pulling together what they have and reaching precious children for HIM!
January 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 am
HI Becky,
So glad this connects with you! You can never beat working together - it always makes things better.
It’s always amazing to me how creative we can be when we don’t have the money and we are determined to reach kids. Thanks for sharing!
Kendra
January 25th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Thanks for jumping into the conversation everyone! love the feedback…
January 26th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Thanks for the great reminder. As a volunteer leader, planning ahead is one of my downfalls. But one of the most important parts.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Planning ahead does take a lot of effort. I’m not always the best at it either. I have a few people on my team that are GREAT at it. That’s the secret! Find someone who is good and let them lead in that area. You help them!
Hope you have a great week.
K