Best 6 Creative Low Budget Tips

There are so many times I've come up with super creative ideas for kid's church, not because it was fun, but because I didn't have the budget to just buy. 

Although, at times recently, I could have spent money, now it's become a challenge. And I love a good challenge!

Here are some great tips I've picked up over the years:

1. Check your local library for resources. I'm not just talking about books here. I found out our library has a huge supply of die-cutting shapes and the machine to cut them. The only cost involved is $3 per session, (as long as I need it.) and I bring my own paper to cut. 

Don't forget to check out the many classes offered by most libraries. Some of them can be helpful to your ministry. Anything from photography to basic computer skills to crocheting have been offered at my library. 

Periodically some libraries have book sales. I've found several books at these sales for kids games, decorating bulletin boards and even books for kids to read in that time before class starts. 

2. Wish lists. Whenever I need a few particular items, I put the needs out on the bulletin board in the church hall, as well as in the bulletin and on the announcements we project onto the screen. Sometimes you have not because ye ask not!

3. Cardboard. I have made large refrigerator boxes into everything from a Temple Run tunnel to a giant iPhone to a football goal post puppet stage. I've made a castle puppet stage with a moat door and lots of decorations. 

4. Inexpensive VBS- the last few years we have done our own sports camp in place of a vacation Bible school. We bought the Mega Sports Camp kit the first year, but decided to write our own material in the following years. Here's a secret, though. Want to do a VBS but don't want to pay the astronomical prices? Search for retired VBS curriculum. There are several websites that sell retired or 1-5 year old curriculum for a fraction of the cost!

5. Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest. I've created a board that I share with my co-leader. We both pin to the same board whenever we find something inspiring...which is often. Create a board and make sure whoever works with you can pin to it, also. Be descriptive in the memo as to why you've pinned it so you're both on the same page. 

6. Use your Community! I love to do things up as big as I can. I like to make things as exciting as possible. Once, when we finished up a series of lessons about heroes, we asked local firefighters to come and bring a truck. Turns out, if you give most fire departments enough advance notice, they are more than happy to do this... For free! (My favorite price!) The firemen allowed the kids to try on their coats, tour the inside of the truck and explained how all the equipment on the truck worked. The kids loved it! Police will sometimes come and bring the dogs from K-9 units and do a demonstration. Ask a dentist to come and talk about dental hygiene, (I bet they'd bring free toothbrushes!) and do a lesson about how Jesus wants us to have a clean mouth. 

The possibilities are endless!

These are just a few ideas. Hopefully you've been inspired or thought of something new to try!

 

What are your creative ideas on a budget? I'd love to hear from you!

Loving Hands Legacy

Writing is something I've done since I was very young. I still have a few copies of novels I began when I was about 11 years old.
At that age, my stories were always about a girl who moves to a new house. I think that was because we had never moved. I lived for 19 years in the same house. Since I've been married and in ministry that same amount of time, (13 years) we've now moved at least a dozen times. I'm not entirely sure. I've lost count. But I digress.
I've written story after story, piece after piece. But my favorite piece was one I'd written about my Grandma a few weeks after she passed away. I never wrote more than this first draft. I don't have the heart to polish it up.

Grandma's hands looked bare without all of the rings she usually wore. Her hands were too swollen from the medication to be able to wear them.

I held her right hand in mine. Her skin completely pale against the stark white of the hospital bed sheets. I gently rubbed the wrinkled hand with my thumb.

My memory took me back to a place in time when those hands were much different.

I remembered not too long ago on a trip to visit with Grandma. She hugged me and placed that same right hand on one of my cheeks as she kissed the other. "I love you, Sweetheart." She had smiled and patted my cheek ever so gently. Then she squeezed my hand before I walked out the door.

As I sat at her bedside, I was joined by my mom and younger sister. Tears rolled down all of our cheeks as we faced an unwelcome reality; Grandma wouldn't be with us much longer.

The three of us held onto a part of Grandma's hand. They were hands that had brought so much comfort through the years. Her hands had made necklaces for Christmas gifts. They had smacked teasingly at ours when jokes were made. Most importantly, her hands had folded in prayer time after time for all of her children and grandchildren.

I think it was my sister that spoke up as we sat holding Grandma's hand.

"Did you ever realize how much all of our hands look alike?" I studied the four hands clasped together. My younger sister's hands were soft, dainty and smooth. Mine looked like a slightly older version of hers. Mom's hands were beginning to look more and more like Grandma's.

My aunt, who was across the room came to stand by us, her cell phone in hand. "Put your hands next to each other." She motioned with one hand. "I'll take a picture with my cell phone."

We arranged one of each of our hands around Grandma's. Grandma slept peacefully as that phone captured our memory. A memory that will live on forever in our hearts.

That was the last picture taken with the four of us.

Grandma passed away two days later. I will forever cherish that picture. The picture that will always remind me of the loving times spent holding Grandma's hand.
Don't forget to hang on to the time you have with your loved ones. Sure, flourishing is sometimes accomplished in your "me" time. But don't forget to include those closest to you. You never know how long you will get with your loved ones. Cherish the small moments.

2013 Favorites

A few of my personal favorites from 2013:

Favorite Albums:

The Civil Wars

Bethel Music-Tides

The Rend Collective Experiment 

Favorite books:

Children's Ministry in the 21st Century by Jim Wideman (loads of ideas and insight into this generation of kids.)

Keeping a Princess Heart by Nicole Johnson. (I have bought thi book about five times, loaned it out, never got it back and bought it over again. It's just that good! This book helps show who we really are as daughters of the one true King. Beautifully and humerously written. Love it. )

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

(Want to understand how men think? Tons of stats and inside information on the male mind. I think it's a must read for married women or women who will be married soon. Would have saved me a lot of frustration had I read this early on in my marriage. The male mind works so differently and this is like a lightbulb!)

Favorite drink:

Loads of ice tea and water since pop no longer tastes good. Thanks a lot, migraine meds for changing the taste of all carbonated beverages! 

Favorite Worship Song: Chasing You by Bethel Worship

Favorite Apps for Use in Ministry: Pinterest (ideas)

Class Dojo (behavior tracking/point system)

Bible Gateway (easy and quick way to find verses to go along with lessons.)

Favorite pictures:

Ari playing toddlers and tiaras. 

Al in my dress. 

Easter 2013

Hope you've enjoyed your 2013! Share your favorites!

Simple Evaluations

Just the word, "evaluation" seems to have such a negative connotation on its own. No one likes an evaluation. But evaluations are a necessary evil, even in the smaller church. Or, dare I say, especially in the smaller church. 

Here's a few reasons why:

1. Goal-setting. If we know where we've come from, we know where we want to go. What do we want to accomplish in the next quarter or next year?

2. Improvements. Evaluating what we've done let's us see what areas we need to improve, both in our teaching styles/method and I our classroom. 

3. Accomplishments. Evaluation isn't always about what we've done wrong and need to improve. An important aspect is to see what we've accomplished so we can get excited about the future! 

What's the best way to do a quick and painless evaluation? Keep it simple! 

I like to get evaluations from all my children's leaders quarterly if I can. 

No leader wants to feel as if they are doing 10 pages of homework. 

Ask as few questions as possible by making them direct and concise, leaving space for additional comments if necessary. Here is an example of questions I like to ask my leaders at the end of each quarter and at the end of the year:

1. What did I accomplish this quarter/year that I am proud of?

2. What areas could I improve and what are my goals?

3. What worked well/didn't work well in my classroom?

Additional Comments:

Don't stop there. Follow up. If your leader needs something, get it for them if at all possible. If the curriculum isn't working well, search out other options. If they need to improve their devotional life, pray with them and keep them accountable. 

And make sure to fill out an evaluation form yourself. This keeps you accountable and helps you to remember to keep improving!

Don't be afraid to evaluate your children's ministry. It can be an invaluable tool and not nearly as painful as you thought!

She Walks Among Giants

She reaches her tiny hand to grasp the hand of her gentle giant. He smiles down at her as they begin to walk slowly. 

She closes her eyes and lifts her face to the heavens. She has no fear of falling; her giant protects her. He is her father. 

She whispers sweet, simple prayers as she walks. He does the same as they pace the altars of the small church each week. 

This is what I see as I watch my husband and seven year old daughter from my seat near the front of the church. 

My daughter doesn't fear what is happening with the government. She doesn't have anxiety over time, bills or drama on Facebook. 

She has faith. Faith that her earthly father will not steer her wrong. Faith that her earthly father will do whatever he can to provide for her every need, even at times, her every want. 

But she also knows that if he falls short for any reason, her Heavenly Father will provide. 

She knows she has more than one giant in her life able to look out for her and protect her. 

She walks among giants.