I made the preschool teachers in our kidmin very happy this past Sunday when I let them know that I had ordered a play item for each of their classrooms – parachutes! In fact, I ordered them because one of our volunteers asked me to a few weeks prior – and that was a very simple request to fulfill!
I ordered two different sizes, both from Oriental Trading. We ordered this one for our 2-yr olds and this one for our 3-5-yr olds.
I gave my volunteers a few suggestions on how to use the parachutes and I thought I’d post them here as well:
When you raise the parachute, call two names, have the children run under the parachute and exchange spots.
Have the children repeat the Bible verse or main point while bouncing a soft ball on the parachute.
Use the parachute as a tent to sit in while telling the Bible story.
Speaking of the Bible story – have the children act out the ‘water’ in water-themed Bible stories.
Call two names at a time and have them run under the parachute and change places.
For additional ideas, check out Tony Kummer’s post over at ministry-to-children.
How do you incorporate parachute play into your ministry?
Below are two simulcast events I will take advantage of in the coming months. Both are reasonably priced and will be worthwhile investments – I’d love for you to join me!
The Justice Conference is a two-day annual event to promote dialogue around justice related issues such as human trafficking, slavery, poverty, HIV/AIDS and human rights.
Come see why The Justice Conference has become one of the largest international biblical and social justice conferences and an annual pilgrimage for justice workers, students and learners from all over the world.
A live simulcast will happen in Towson, MD (just north of Baltimore City) on February 21-22, 2014. Click here to learn more about the speakers and how to register.
My mom, sister and I are looking forward to hosting Priscilla Shirer’s one-day, LifeWay Women simulcast event at my church. Ladies, grab your girlfriends and join us for a time of meaningful worship and rich teaching from the Word. The event will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2014 in Towson, MD (just north of Baltimore City). Click here to get more details and secure your spot.
Last summer, our VBS attenders made edible torches for snack – they fit our “Athens” theme. I thought I’d share them again, considering the 2014 Winter Olympics is right around the corner.
What you’ll need:
Sugar cones
Yogurt (I believe we used vanilla)
Strawberries (although any red fruit would work)
What you’ll do:
Scoop yogurt into a sugar cone – the cone will be the ‘torch’ base.
Top yogurt with strawberries – this will be the ‘flame’.
*You could also add mandarin orange slices to give the ‘flame’ an orange glow.
Are you incorporating any Olympic-inspired snacks into your home or kidmin this weekend?
Yesterday, my family and I enjoyed a long-standing tradition – getting together for the Super Bowl. Yes, the guys are interested in the game – and we ladies were, too, last year when our Baltimore Ravens were playing. But fellowship, great food, 2 birthdays (my dad & my sister’s birthdays always fall around Super Bowl weekend), and funny commercials are the REAL reasons we enjoy our annual Super Bowl party.
Speaking of commercials..The Washington Post reported that a 30-second advertisement cost approximately $4 million this year. With over 100 million viewers expected to tune in to the game, corporate sponsors are able to reach a plethora of potential consumers. Might be a good investment then, right?
Most of us in kidmin would never have a $4 million budget, let alone $4 million for a 30-second advertisement but there are some ways to creatively ‘advertise’ your ministry without breaking the bank. Here are a few suggestions:
Word of mouth is always a winner. People will tell their friends about the wonderful things happening in your ministry. (Sadly, the opposite is also true.)
A great church/ministry website is also a winner. More and more of our families find us via the internet nowadays, so having a top-notch website is a great investment. Our ministry will be updating our website in the coming weeks and I am very excited about that!
Bulletin ads are an effective tool in getting the word out about your ministry. There have been debates on whether or not to use church bulletins to recruit volunteers but bulletins can be a great way to give a brief snapshot of what’s happening in your ministry.
Reach the masses by having upfront announcements, videos, and skits presented to your entire congregation at weekend services. Having a ministry staffer or key volunteer do this is awesome. Having your Senior Pastor do this is also awesome.
E-newsletters are another great (and oftentimes free) route to choose. I use Mail Chimp to send weekly updates to our ministry parents. The information hits their inbox and is always available at their fingertips.
Social media, like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, are also free tools that are very effective in getting the word out. Many members of our congregation use social media so getting information to them in this way is extremely effective.
Getting the word out via text alerts is something that many ministries use. I currently do not use this type of advertisements but those that do have shared how awesome it is to send a mass text to parents, students, and/or volunteers.
Quality colorful, eye-catching posters and banners are great ‘oldies but goodies’. Pair them up with a creatively decorated table, printed materials, a smiling volunteer and food is also a winner. Read here about how our ministry pulled this off this past summer.
Other great options include diaper bag tags, buttons, ink pens, hats, backpacks, water bottles, t-shirts – anything that can be printed with your ministry’s logo. Many times these items help strike up great conversations outside of your church walls.
How have you creatively advertised your ministry on a budget? I’m always looking for ideas, so please share yours by leaving a comment below!
