Posted on May 19, 2010 - by rfrank

#3. 64 1/2 ways to help.

Today when driving through town I saw a sign outside a copy store that said, “We Do Everything.” I thought to myself: “Everything? Wouldn’t that be nice!”

Sometimes we think we can do everything. We can prepare the lesson, recruit the volunteers, make the plans, and on and on I could go. The problem with this idea is that it leads to a big mess. You can’t do it all. Go ahead and try. You will crash and burn. What’s the solution? Get some help! The two most important words some of you need to change your ministry are these: Get help. There are some people in your church that want to help but they need you to ask.

A few weeks ago I got a newsletter in the mail from another church in our town. I enjoyed flipping through it, especially when I got to the middle. There was an article called “64 & 1/2 Ways to Help, Encourage, and/or Donate to Our Children’s Ministry.” I love it!

I know you are dying to see the list. I called the children’s ministry director at the church (shout out to Shanna Herron!) and asked her if I could reprint it. She obliged. Enjoy.

1. Donate WASHABLE Tempera Paint & Brushes

2. Donate a Wal-Mart Gift Card

3. Pray specifically for the children’s ministry on Sundays between the hours of 9:45am-11:30am

4. Donate Large Hanging Digital Wall Clocks for Classrooms

5. Use your carpentry skills to help create/build props and theme rooms

6. Donate File Folders

7. Send a scripture verse to a volunteer &/or child

8. Donate Lowes Gift Card

9. Send a postcard to a volunteer &/or child

10. Sew/Donate Dress-Up Outfits (Biblical &/or other)/ Choir Robes

11. Give them a hug

12. Help research and/or write grants for Sweetser UM Church (to be used on basement, youth, children, outreach, etc.)

13. Donate Circle-time Area Rugs

14. Donate Lockable File Cabinets

15. Brag about one of the children to their parents. (in front of the child)

16. Donate Small Gardening Tools large planters and/or flower pots.

17. Donate perennial seeds and/or flowers to plant in large planters

18. Take a walk with a volunteer &/or child

19. Donate Buttons/ Cotton Balls/ Wiggly Eyes/ Pipe Cleaners

20. Donate Fabric Scraps & Fabric Makers

21. Fix and take dinner to a volunteer and their family

22. Donate Computer/ Banner/ Butcher Block Paper

23. Be patient and  understanding with the “bustle” of the children and volunteers

24. Donate Dry Erase Markers

25. Give 1 Sunday a month to relieve a children’s ministry volunteer

26. Donate Paint Brushes

27. Offer to buy/make/bake snack for a Sunday

28. Donate Glue (Liquid and Glue Sticks)

29. Pray specifically for a member of the Children’s Ministry Team

30. Donate a Staples Gift Card

31. Simply Smile at a Child &/or Volunteer

32. Donate Assorted Foam/ Felt/Construction Paper/ Card Stock

33. Donate Playground Balls

34. Pray for the up/incoming youth ministry leader

35. Donate Washable Toys for ages newborn-3yrs nurseries

36. Bake cookies for a volunteer

37. Donate Oriental Trading Gift Card

38. Gift of a monetary donation

39. Cry with them

40. Donate 1″ and 2″ three ring binders

41.  Donate Batteries (any size/type)

42. A small computer generated sound/projector system for Child &/or Youth Ministry.

43. Donate Clorox Sanitizing Wipes

44. Offer to chaperone a  children ministry outing

45. Donate Alcohol-Free Foam Hand Sanitizer

46. Donate Plastic/ Foam Blocks

47. Invite a volunteer to your house

48. Donate WASHABLE Markers & Crayons

49. Send a birthday card to a volunteer &/or child

50. Donate Toddler/ Preschool/ Picture/ Flap Bible Books

51. Call  a volunteer &/or child

52. Offer a talent or skill that the leaders may not know you have

53. Donate or Build Cubby Organizer

54. Donate Plastic Storage/Organize Containers

55. Prayer for growth in the children’s ministry & the church in general

56. Donate Lysol 4in1 All Purpose Cleaner

57. Donate Small Child Safety Scissors

58. An Artist’s Hand (to paint and decorate theme rooms and/or props)

59. Donate Swiffer Dry Mop

60. Do devotions with a volunteer &/or child

61. Email a volunteer

62. Donate plug in air fresheners

63. Celebrate life events with a volunteer &/or child

64. Donate OLD long-sleeve buttoned shirts (used as paint smocks)

65. Take a volunteer out for coffee @ Star…

This is one of a series of blog posts titled: 101 Ways to Get Your Children’s Ministry Off the Ground (Without the Hot Air)