My son married last weekend. It was such a joyful, fabulous day!

So, of course, I observed an idea at the church that I thought you might use in your church.  A small closet was designated for wedding items — candelabras, arch, lighters, etc.  Does your  church provide some materials like that?

Our former church purchased two sets of candleabras and made them available for weddings.  It saved lots of money for many brides and grooms, and of course they were allowed to rent if they preferred.  A few times, those brides would donate some money in appreciation, and we could reinvest those dollars for another piece we could provide for others. Perhaps some dollars could be designated in the annual church budget to begin stocking a closet like that.

When a father built a beautiful gazebo for his daughter’s wedding, he donated it for use by other  weddings as needed, and even stored the large piece in his barn. A woodworker in our church built lovely lattice walls to fit the church’s fellowship hall, and those were available for weddings as well.

Simple idea, yes. But, with the cost of weddings, it can be a kind and thoughtful gift for couples in your church.

[Oh, I really had to work at putting my son and daugher-in-law's photo in this blog! Thanks for understanding! ]

Here’s this month’s article on Baptist Press:

Need a gift for dads at your church this Father’s Day? Keep reading…

The single most influential person on my life was my dad–a strong, yet tender, lover of God; a role model in daily life as a Christian businessman and husband and daddy; a man joyfully committed to his God first, and to his family and church and friends.

My dad died years ago, but his legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren. As I watch my brothers rear their children, I see Dad’s influence. Dad’s children are all serving God and teaching their childen to follow God. A Christian father impacts daily life. And he impacts eternity. 

 Will you celebrate and encourage Christian dads in their role as spiritual leader in their homes?  

I’ve put my Father’s Day article into a bookmark format, and attached it here for you. (This is a repeat post from last June, but I thought some of you may have missed this idea–a nice gift for Dads at church on Father’s Day.) It’s as simple as 1-2-3, and you’ll have a two-sided bookmark with some simple ideas for Christian dads.

1) Download the bookmark.  To download: click HERE and select save as.
If you are using a mac, hold option + click.(It’s also under ”free stuff” on this website.) NOTE:  To receive a Word document already formatted with three bookmarks on a page and borders, email me at Jesuslivesindiana@gmail.com and I’ll send it right away.

2) Add your church name, and personalize it with borders, colors, etc. 

3) Print bookmarks, using cardstock, and laminate. It’s 2-sided, so watch the lineup.

Recruit a team of children to pass out bookmarks to all male attenders at the entrance to worship on Father’s Day. For example, you could use the fifth grade Bible class.  

There’s no charge, of course, and I’d love to hear how you used it. Praying that God will use this bookmark to encourage some of the most important people in the world– Christian dads.

Front of bookmark:

     BACK OF BOOKMARK:

 

“Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified;
do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God
will be with you
wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9, NIV)

 

Check out my article today at bpnews.org. It’s called “Hot Ideas for Summer Church Fun” and offers lots of summer activities with purpose!

 

Here’s a new Fresh Ideas article from today’s Baptist Press (and the upcoming Indiana Baptist) with ideas  to encourage your church youth camp.

INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–Kids are leaving for church camp. What does that have to do with you — a church member? Youth camp and kids’ camp offer an amazing focus for Christian growth, building Christian friendships, and knowing God’s will. Small encouragements from you can enhance that experience. Need fresh ideas?

– A church can order vinyl write-on wristbands, add a camper’s name, and ask members to wear a band all week, praying for God to work in that student’s life.

– As kids depart for camp, show up with individually wrapped Rice Krispie treats for the trip.

– Your choir, deacons or Bible class could ask the youth leader for a camp-enhancing idea, then collect money to purchase it (i.e. camp T-shirts, ping pong table, contest prize, sports equipment, money for ice cream or pizza en route to camp.)

– You or your group could write and mail prayer notes to each camper.

– Mail a giant container of fireball candies for campers to share. Jot a prayer note right on the container and add an address label.

– Invest personally as a volunteer camp counselor, sponsor, nurse or sports organizer.

– Donate a partial camp scholarship(s). Even better, do it as a class or anonymously. Some churches provide camp for minimal cost using budget or a special offering.

– Prioritize camp on your family’s summer calendar if you have a child.

– Fill a pretty bowl with fruit and snacks for a cabin. Provide replenishments for the week, and gift the bowl to the cabin counselor.

– A youth worker who can’t attend could pack individual goodie bags for their students, with a small gift, snacks, quarters and Scripture note. Or write daily personal encouragement notes for the cabin counselor to distribute.

– Help the camp leader with last-minute details the week before camp or with check-in and luggage duties on send-off day.

– Invite campers’ parents to Wednesday prayer meeting that week. Pray for their kids.

– Attend worship or help behind the scenes one night, if camp is nearby.

– Celebrate the results. Ask campers to tell you about their experiences. Enthusiastically attend any post-camp report, testimony service or baptismal celebration.

How will you help make your church camp a highlight of summer for kids this year?
–30–
Diana Davis is the author of “Fresh Ideas,” “Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry” and “Deacon Wives” (B&H Publishing) and the wife of the Indiana Baptist State Convention executive director. Learn more at www.keeponshining.com.

   

Here’s an idea you might use for a conference theme.  “Fresh Winds of Change”

West Virginia’s ABW state retreat for women’s ministry leaders used that theme for this weekend’s retreat, with this Scripture:

“Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!”                        (Psalm 51:7b The Message)

The decor included huge colorful banners hung from the ceiling and behind the stage, with fans to create a gentle breeze.  They were using my book, Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry, to show how to do women’s ministry with an “upward and outward” focus, called LIGHT, so the table decor was all sorts of lanterns and lights. 

Each retreat attendee received a soft, colorful scarf as a gift, and their reteat closing sent all 250 women outside, with the scarfs blowing in the breeze. What a lovely visual–rolling West Virginia hills, blossoming trees and flowers all around, and scarves billowing.

It was such a fun weekend, and a great honor  for me to get to share with all those ladies.  Praying for “fresh winds of change” as they go back to their ministries across that state.

Our Indiana pastors and wives retreat this weekend was such fun! Our churches are blessed with wonderful, Godly leaders.

Looking for a good mixer for a large church event?  Here’s one we used at the retreat. You can see that the questions are designed for pastors and pastor wives in Indiana, but you can tweak the questions to fit your group.

Hang giant numbers 1 – 9 (made of posterboard) all around the room, high on the walls. Spread them out to cover the entire room. You’ll call out a question, show the answer choices on powerpoint (or posters), and ask everyone to go to the number that corresponds with their answer, and chat with others in that area.  Explain that when the buzzer sounds, everyone stops and moves to the next question.

We gave a new question every 3 or 4 minutes to keep the game moving.  People would move to their answer and immediately begin chatting with others there. We played music a little loudly to make conversaton less intimidating. The purpose, of course, is to allow the group members to quickly discover some things they have in common, stimulating friendships and later conversation. These are the questions we used:

FRIDAY NIGHT SCRAMBLE

 

[Questions & answer choices on powerpoint; host blows whistle to announce next question.]

 

COLOR OF YOUR SHIRT

(this one’s for practice…when you get there, tell someone your favorite joke?)

1)    Blue

2)    Red

3)    Green

4)    White

5)    Pink

6)    Black

7)    Brown

8)    Yellow

9)    Other

 

MY CHURCH LOCATION  (chat about what your town’s known for)

1)    North Indiana

2)    South Indiana

3)    East Indiana

4)    West Indiana

5)    Central Indiana

 

LIFE STAGE: (if you have children, share your favorite “pastor kid” story)

1)    Married with no kids

2)    Married with preschool kids

3)    Married with school age kids

4)    Married with teenager

5)    Married with college age kids

6)    Married with adult kids

 

BIRTH STATE  (where did you grow up?)

        Put up a map of the US with colors and have them to the right area by number

 

ARE YOU… (more than half IN pastors bi-vocational! Q: tell your worst wedding accident)

1)    Full Time Pastor/wife

2)    Bi-vocational pastor/wife

 

A SPORT I LIKE:  (FAVORITE PLACE/USED FOR MINISTRY HOW?)

1. 1.      Hunting
2. 2.      Fishing
3. 3.      Golf
4. 4.      Team sports (football, baseball, basketball)
5. 5.      Hike/walk/jog
6. 6.      Camping
7. 7.      Archery/Shooting 
8. 8.      Biking/motorcycling
9. 9.      Tennis

 

CHURCH SIZE: [your church’s high attendance this year](Q: what’s the best thing going on at your church lately)

1)    2-50

2)    50-100

3)    100-200

4)    200-350

5)    350-500

6)    500+

 

BIRTH MONTH   (a quick one. See if you can find someone who shares your birthdate.)

1)    January - February

2)    March

3)    April

4)    May-June

5)    July

6)    August

7)    September - October

8)    November

9)    December

 

OUR CHURCH WORSHIP MUSIC STYLE: (talk about how your music helps reach people)

1)    Contemporary

2)    Traditional

3)    Blended

 

I ENJOY…   (FAST)

1. 1.      Reading
2. 2.      Model building
3. 3.      Knitting/quilting/sewing
4. 4.      Bowling
5. 5.      Gardening
6. 6.      Eating J 
7. 7.      Scrapbooking 
8. 8.      Woodworking
9. 9.      Stamp/coin collecting

 

CHURCH SETTING: (after you get to your group, tell someone about your most embarrassing moment as a pastor/pastor’s wife.)

1. 1.      Rural
2. 2.      Small town
3. 3.      Medium size town
4. 4.      Large town
5. 5.      Inner city

 

IF YOU  WERE LEAVING TODAY TO BE A MISSIONARY, WHICH COUNTRY WOULD YOU CHOOSE? (Here’s a fun question for you.) 

1)    Chili

2)    Ireland

3)    China

4)    India

5)    Brazil

6)    Mongolia

7)    Iran

8)    Australia

9)    Zimbabwe

 

 

AGE GROUP I’M DRAWN TO FOR MINISTRY: (if you could only do ministry with one age, which would you choose?) 

1)    Senior Adults

2)    Adults

3)    Young adults

4)    Singles

5)    Youth

6)    Children

7)    Pre-School

 

WHICH COLOR WOULD YOU RATHER DYE YOUR HAIR? (Here’s your chance to tell about your funniest ministry story (baptism, evangelism bloop). Divide this way, then share.)

1)    Blue

2)    Green

3)    Pink

4)    Purple

5)    Yellow

6)    Orange

 

AGE: (couple/use younger age) (name your favorite restaurant)

1)    20s

2)    30

3)    40s

4)    50s

5)    60+

 

MINISTRY DRAW:  (Besides preaching, what’s an area of ministry that you really enjoy?) 

1)    Music

2)    Media/Arts/Drama

3)    Administration

4)    Prayer

5)     Benevolence

6)    Teaching

 

FAVORITE SEASON: (what’s the most unique ministry your church does in this season?)

1)    Summer

2)    Fall

3)    Winter

4)    Spring

 

FAVORITE STYLE OF MUSIC (Just for fun, which of these styles of music do you like best?)

1)    Jazz

2)    Rap

3)    Bluegrass

4)    Rock

5)    Classical

6)    Techno

7)    Country

It’s such a treasured time for many Christian teens! My article for next month is one about ways church members can encourage kids going to youth camp (or kids camp, mission trips, etc.)  The column is almost complete, but I thought I’d ask if any of you have suggestions.

Have you (or others you know) done anything–small or large–to inspire or encourage or treat those young Christians who are taking a week away at Christian camp?

 

So you’re celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus this weekend, but you’re a little old for an Easter Egg hunt? Need fresh ideas?

After you’ve planned your worship celebrations, why not plan an “adult easter egg hunt?”

A flashlight easter egg hunt is easy and unique.

We actually did this idea three different times — once for a large church staff party and another for our teenagers’ friends, once for our new singles Bible study group. It would be great fun for a young married couples Bible class. And, believe me, teenagers love it! 

We prepared lots of really good eggs–chocolate ones, prize eggs, ceramic eggs, wrapped candy eggs, and plastic eggs with really nice surprises inside. You’ll be surprised at what cool things you can fit into a plastic egg. Dye hardboiled eggs using a crayon to write numbers for 1st prize, 2nd prize, etc.  For our teen prizes, we used the newest Christian CDs. My daughter is planning an adult flashlight Easter egg hunt for her apartment ministry, and one prize is $ off next month’s rent.  The party was scheduled just before sunset (check the local newspaper for sunset time), and began with snacks. As soon as dark arrived, everyone received a flashlight for the hunt.  We used our large back yard, but any section of grass that is safe would do. Don’t make it very large. It’s harder than you think to find eggs in the dark!

Here’s how we began: “Friends, we’ve invited you here for a fun way to celebrate our Savior’s resurrection. We’ve enjoyed the Maundy Thursday Lord’s supper reenactment, the Good Friday service, and now we’re all awaiting tomorrow’s Easter worship celebration. Tonight, we’re just going to have a fun “adult Easter egg hunt”  to celebrate Jesus as the light of the world. (Read John 8:12.)”

Be sure to instruct everyone to walk carefully so they don’t step on eggs in the dark, give them all a basket to collect their eggs, blow a whistle so they can start. If some guests don’t attend a church, give them a printed invitation to worship with you at your church on Sunday. 

Oh, yea, it’s silly, but a great excuse to gather friends or family if you don’t have little kids in  your group. 

Happy Easter, friend.  Praying your Resurrection Sunday celebration is the best yet.

He is risen indeed!

Here’s  a reprint of a Fresh Ideas article I wrote a while back. I thought it might inspire you to get busy and plan an egg hunt for your neighbors this Saturday! Happy Easter!

FRESH IDEAS

Finding Eggs AND the Savior 

by Diana Davis

      What’s cuter than a two-year-old at an Easter egg hunt dumping six eggs as he picks up one? Or a fifth grader stretching to reach that last elusive egg?  That’s as good as it gets! …or is it?  Why not take this fun event, add a twist, and touch entire families in Jesus’ name?  Whether it’s a community-wide event at your church or a neighborhood egg hunt, it’s inexpensive, simple to plan, and lasts only an hour!

      Our family’s annual egg hunt was a friendship outreach for friends and neighbors, sharing the true meaning of Easter with parents and children.  As she outgrew hunting eggs, our daughter, Autumn, took over planning our egg hunts. Dozens of precious children adore her for the special annual event in our yard, and many neighbors heard the Gospel for the first time at an egg hunt. You can do that! 

Your event could include your neighborhood, your church family and their friends, or your entire community. All you need is a large area of grass.

Place invitations in a plastic egg and hand-deliver or distribute them at church. For a bigger event, advertise in the local paper or on your church sign. The invitation should state date, place, and beginning and ending time. Our egg hunts were the Saturday morning before Easter from 10-11 a.m. Invite the entire families, and ask them to bring a dozen eggs per child for hiding.

Purchase lots of wrapped eggs, and spray-paint gold prize eggs. Number the prize eggs with a permanent marker and hide those ahead of time. Gather several prizes, such as candies or stuffed lambs or rabbits. Prepare Easter basket cupcakes and lemonade for refreshments to encourage fellowship. Before the crowds arrive, establish clear boundary lines, with separate areas for younger children. 

If it’s a church event, carefully train members to greet and spend time with every guest who attends. They can introduce them to your Pastor and other church members, personally invite them to their Sunday Bible class, and help them to feel welcome.

            As families arrive, moms and kids go to a separate area to blow bubbles and draw sidewalk art while dads hide the eggs. When eggs are ready, gather everyone for a creative presentation about the real Easter story. The presentation should be animated, sincere and brief. It could involve drama, puppets or an object lesson. Check your local Christian bookstore for ideas.

      Now it’s time for the hunt! Children stand in a long line, then separate whistles blow for preschoolers, younger elementary, then older elementary kids to begin. After about fifteen minutes, gather children for prizes and snacks. As guests depart, give them a verbal and printed invitation to join you for Bible study and worship at your church on Easter Sunday.  

      Autumn used the same tablecloth each Easter, asking children to use paint pens to write their name and year on it. Parents traced toddlers’ handprints on it. Over the years, children graduated from handprints to block letters to cursive. Autumn is in college at Baylor University now, and she just called to ask me to mail her tablecloth. She’s planning an Easter hunt for her Sunday School class. Yes, that’s as good as it gets!

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©Fresh Ideas are shared by Diana Davis, wife of Indiana Baptist Convention’s Executive Director, & author of Fresh Ideas, Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry and Deacon Wives (B&H Publishing). www.keeponshining.com