Of course, you leaders must plan ahead, so allow me to share an idea for a Christmas project next month.

This is one of the Christmas ideas in my book, Fresh Ideas–1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving & Energetic Church:

A Nativity-a-Day

“For a ministry project, purchase a twelve-piece nativity scene and do this version of the Twelve Days of Christmas for a homebound member or person who will be alone for the first time this Christmas.  Deliver one piece of the nativity scene daily for twelve days, ending with the baby Jesus on Christmas day.  If this is a church or class project, a different member could deliver each day.  A friend of mine did this with “secret” deliveries, leaving daily notes and gift-wrapped nativity pieces on the front porch, by mail or other delivery methods.  At a scheduled time, she and her family delivered the baby on Christmas day.”

I received a note today from a lady who read the book, saying that she was purchasing a nativity scene and planning to do this with an elderly neighbor this Christmas.  Her husband’s Bible class was doing this as a mission project, with a different class member making a delivery each day. (I’m not sure if it’s a person in a nursing home, someone with an extended sickness, or a homebound member.) Each gentleman in the class is assigned a specific day, and makes a visit to deliver one nativity scene piece.  You don’t actually have to do exactly twelve–it could be more or less.  The gift is your reflection of God’s love as you show his care to one who needs it this season. 

My friend who did this with her young children made it an annual tradition. Each year, they would ask the pastor for an idea of a person who needed Christian encouragement, and they carefully made their plan. Each day was an adventure for the children as they planned how to deliver their surprise. As Christmas neared, they sent word through their pastor or a common friend to specify a time on Christmas Day they would like to stop by for the last delivery.  The recipient each year became a dear Christian friend of that family, and they began planning for next year’s Nativity-A-Day. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are such a wonderful time to shine for Jesus…

Keep on shining!

 I’m buried in books for five more weeks as I complete classes for my seminary degree.  One class is a masters level Old Testament class.  I’m constantly amazed to discover how much I don’t know, but I’ve really enjoyed learning about the archeological finds and verifying manuscripts found over the years that keep on confirming biblical history.  Pray for my poor brain!

I finally submitted the proposal for a next book–one for pastor wives. I’ll pick up working on that manuscript after Christmas, so if you have any great ideas or topics you’d like to suggest for it, let me know (click “add comment” below or email me.)  This is going to be a really great one!! I really enjoy encouraging pastors’ wives, and since I’ve spent most of my life in that role, it will be really fun to share tips and encouragements for that very important group of leaders. I’ll keep you up as this project progresses.

Steve and I led a deacons and wives retreat last weekend for two southern Indiana churches, and it was such fun.  One lady shared this gift exchange game, and I thought you might enjoy using it over the Christmas holidays. (I know! I know! It’s still not Thanksgiving yet. But if I file it away, you may never see it.) We’d used it years ago, and I’d lost the script. It’s easy, quick and fun for any age.

Keep on shining!

PASS-AROUND GIFT EXCHANGE

If you have a gift-exchange at your Sunday School class party, here’s a fun way to distribute the gifts.

The group sits in a circle, and each holds a gift. As the poem is being read (with deliberate emphasis on the words “right” and “left), each person passes his gift to the person on his right or left when the words “right” or “left” are read. At the end of the story, everyone opens the gift they are holding.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the night RIGHT before Christmas when RIGHT through the house
Not a creature was LEFT stirring, not even a mouse–
The stockings were hung RIGHT by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be RIGHT there.
The children were nestled RIGHT snug in their beds,
while visions of sugarplums danced RIGHT in their heads,
And mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled RIGHT down for a long winter’s nap,
When RIGHT out on the LEFT lawn there rose such a clatter,
I sprang RIGHT from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the RIGHT window I LEFT like a flash;
tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
LEFT a luster of midday to objects RIGHT below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleight and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver RIGHT lively and quick;
I knew RIGHT in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came;
and he whistled and shouted, and called them RIGHT by name:
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen!
To the RIGHT top of the porch! To the LEFT top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash RIGHT away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
when they meet RIGHT with an obstacle, mount RIGHT up to the sky,
So up to the housetop the coursers they LEFT flew,
with a sleighful of toys and St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard RIGHT on the roof,
the prancing and pawing of each little RIGHT and LEFT hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning LEFT around
down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, RIGHT from his head to his LEFT foot,
and his clothes were all LEFT tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung RIGHT on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His RIGHT and LEFT eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples were RIGHTmerry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was LEFT drawn up like a bow,
and the beard LEFT on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held RIGHT in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a round little belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was RIGHT chubby and plump, a RIGHT, RIGHT jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.
A wink of his LEFT eye and a LEFT twist of his head,
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went RIGHT straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings; then turned LEFT with a jerk
And laying his finger to the LEFT of his nose,
and giving a nod, he LEFT up the chimney he rose.
He sprang RIGHT to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
and away they all LEFT like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he LEFT–out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

I’m shaking my calendar and wondering if it’s really true that November is here! 

Are you looking for some fresh ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving at your church? I just noticed that the LifeWay website has an excerpt from my Fresh Ideas book, and thought you might enjoy these Thanksgiving ideas–from a pie squad party to a “seeking thanksgiving” mystery trip. It’s pasted below.

Yes, it’s November. And I’m thankful.
——————-

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR CHURCH THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS

Written by Diana Davis

It all began with some comments about turkey. Our church’s annual turkey dinner had grown stale. As one young couple stated, “There’s a limit to how many turkey dinners one can eat in a week!”  It was time to begin a new Thanksgiving tradition.

On Sunday evening before Thanksgiving, our church family gathered in the fellowship hall for a very special Lord’s Supper celebration and a simple meal. Everyone was seated at round tables with candle centerpieces. One deacon or church staff member sat at each table, and a scrumptious meal of homemade stew and cornbread was served.  At their table, each person informally shared about blessings from God during the previous year.   

After dinner, lights were dimmed and the pastor led a meaningful candlelight Lord’s Supper, and we celebrated God’s greatest blessing. He directed the deacons or staff members to administer the elements to those at their table. This simple, solemn ceremony became an anticipated, well-attended tradition. And it was turkey-free. 

Looking for more fresh ideas for Thanksgiving?

A “Pie Squad Party”is a Thanksgiving celebration/ministry event. Partygoers load into cars to joyfully deliver gorgeous homemade pies to every church member who is homebound or living in a nursing home. Each member of the group signs a greeting card to leave with the pie, and after spending a few minutes to encourage and pray for the homebound friends, team members gather back at the church to enjoy the town’s biggest homemade cobbler.

“A Wall of Thanks” is a visual expression of thanks. At the beginning of November, use white paper to cover a focal wall in the church foyer. Invite church members of all ages to use markers or paints to artfully express thanks to God all month long.

“Seeking Thanksgiving” is a mystery van trip where vehicles packed with church members follow a map to several prearranged locations to discover and celebrate God’s blessings. Recruit church members with large vehicles to drive, and ask them to enhance its exterior with Thanksgiving decor and a “Seeking Thanksgiving” sign.

Carefully select Christians in your church who have been uniquely blessed or protected by God this year, and ask them to host a mystery stop, where carloads of church members will make a brief visit to celebrate God’s blessings. Your pastor may have ideas of very thankful members. Some examples:

• a couple with a new baby
• a homebound senior adult rocking on her porch
• a brand new Christian at his home
• a college student in her dorm
• a hospitalized member who can receive guests
• a recent immigrant

Each thankful person awaits the visitors, holding a large picket-type sign that reads “I’m thankful!”  Groups take a photo with them, encourage and pray with them, then return to the church for refreshments and fellowship.

After all, there’s more than just turkey to a great Thanksgiving season.

More “Fresh Ideas” for your ministry are available in these practical books by Diana Davis:

• Fresh Ideas: 1,000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church 
• Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry: Creative Plans and Programs that Really Work 

Also, check out Diana’s official website at www.keeponshining.com

Diana Davis lives in Indianapolis, where her husband Steve serves as the Executive Director for the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana. A popular women’s conference speaker, Diana has ministered to women’s groups internationally. She especially loves  encouraging pastors’ wives and deacons’ wives.

Here’s this month’s article from the Indiana Baptist. This would be a great New Year project for a church!

——–

Fresh Ideas

The 52 Challenge

By Diana Davis

“…Compel them to come in so that My house will be filled.” Luke 14:23b

Amazingly, nine out of ten unchurched people say they would come to church if they were asked.* Will you be the asker? I double-dare you to take the “52 Challenge”:

Step#1: Think of one person you know who doesn’t attend church. Only one. Invite that person to your church this Sunday and arrange to meet at the front door. Write their name on Sunday’s date in your personal calendar.  

Step #2: Commit to God that you will repeat that process weekly for one year.  Don’t know 52 lost people? Don’t fret.  Just ask God’s direction and watch for one person to invite this week.  Suddenly, you’ll notice masses of lost people around you. Need ideas?

• As you walk the dog and observe a neighbor outside, remember the 52 Challenge.
• Ask that friend you’ve been intending to invite.
• Invite the Wal-Mart greeter. How about your hairstylist, doctor, tax advisor or landlord?
• In the post office or grocery line, or riding the bus, converse with someone who needs an invitation.
• Make a list of relatives, acquaintances or neighbors, and systematically invite them.
• During coffee break at work or chatting with the butcher or working out at the gym, think “52.”
• Who could you invite at the PTA meeting, reunion, company picnic or ball game? 
• Ask your new neighbor, car salesman, insurance agent or sister-in-law. Invite your mail carrier, restaurant waiter, fireman, repairman, or mayor.  

During the next 52 weeks, write the name of the person you invite to church on every Sunday’s box of your calendar.  52 weeks. 52 people. One week at a time.

The 52 Challenge is for individuals, but a church can encourage personal invitations by providing “invitation business cards” with church address, worship times and website.  Attendance more than doubles at Plymouth Baptist’s annual Friend Day. How? Each member simply invites one friend.

What would happen if every Christian in Illiniois committed to ask just one person to church every week this year? They’re waiting for an invitation, and eternity is at stake.  Will you take the 52 Challenge? 

(*Statistic from Thom Rainer’s book, The Unchurched Next Door, Zondervan).  

Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry is featured in a two-page spread in B&H Publishing Group’s new Ministry Resource Catalog! 

—–

Ladies Retreat Idea:

The Whitewater Association’s women’s retreat today was such fun! I enjoyed facilitating a packed classroom of pastor wives, and encouraging them in their ministries.  I also had the privilege of leading a class about women’s ministry, and had a great group of women in that class, too. 

Their retreat theme was “Tree of Life” using these Scriptures:

First, the true wisdom “is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her” (Proverbs 3:18).

That true wisdom can be none other than Christ (I Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 2:3).

One lady created a beautiful wall-sized tree visual with the Scripture and theme, and breakout classes centered around wisdom from God. 

One thing I especially enjoyed was the relaxed schedule. Though they had plenty of group time and breakout classes and music and testimonies, the overall time felt calm and very relaxed.  Fun retreat!

No matter your age, there is a younger woman in your church that God would have you mentor. 

I love encouraging women on this topic, and enjoyed leading a retreat on the subject.  Here’s one of the handouts.  Take a look at these simple tips to get started:

A Few Small Hints for a

Mentor

Do it.  Mentor. Be mentored. Set an example for others by mentoring.

Who will you mentor as a Christian woman? _______________________________________________________________________

Informal or informal. Make a plan.________________________________

First:

1      Be reverent in the way YOU live…

1      Not slanderers

1      Worthy of respect

      1    Teach what is good.

Then:   

Spend at least a few minutes together every week.

             Can only teach if you spend time. When? ___________________

             Listen carefully to her story.        

Use Titus 2:3-6 as a checklist guide after each meeting together: Encourage her…

1     To love her husband. Teach by example and encouragement

1     To love her children. Learn her children’s names. Be there when it counts.

1     To be self-controlled. Model self-control in difficult areas: Spending, eating, time management, priorities, temper, chocolate.

1     To be pure. Modesty. Motives. Priorities

1     To be busy at home. Not busybodies

1     To be kind

1     To be subject to her husband

Be approachable.

Speak well of her.

Introduce her to your friends.

Sit by her occasionally at church…

Remember the pig. (Proverbs 11:22)

Love her in spite of her imperfections.

Invite her to your home at least once.

Occasionally write a Scripture for her.

Help her discover and use her spiritual gifts.

Occasionally invite her out for coffee or lunch.

Recommend great Christian books you enjoy.

Include her in ministry with you when possible.

Set an example of joyful service in the church.

Put her birthday and anniversary on your calendar.

Pray for her daily. How can I pray for you? How has God been working in your life this week?

Always pray aloud for her. Bible study? Read same Christian book? Chats?

Set a great example for younger women in every area of life–body language, dress, attitude.

If you are a leader in your church, here’s a friendly reminder:  October’s coming. 

How will you plan to lead your church to honor the pastor God has give you? 

“…give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord.”

I Thessalonians 5:12-13

Click here to read an excerpt from Fresh Ideas (B&H 07), with a few ideas that might inspire you and help encourage the pastor(s) God has given your church. Keep on shining!

Pastor Appreciation Ideas

Got more ideas for Pastor Appreciation? Click “comments” below and share them.

Debbie Hammond, wife of our North American Mission Board President, hosted a wonderful conference for wives of state leaders during the State Leaders Summer Meetings in Atlanta this week.  What quality leaders we have in our denomination’s ministries!

Months ago, Mrs. Hammond had invited me to share with these ladies at the conference.  Her team planned an adorable theme - “You Can Always Spot a Lady” - using ladybugs as a springboard to encourage these important leaders.  When my new book, Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry, came out, she told me how thrilled she was to find a little ladybug on the cover art. Did you even notice that little bug? Isn’t God good to work out small details?? 

Nice Surprise!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Mrs. Hammond provided a copy of my new book, Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministries, for each attender.  Pray for the spouses of Baptist state leaders across our nation. 

Chad Bresson, CDR Radio “The Path” - did an interview about Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry.

I believe this will link you to the interview: 

http://www.cedarville.edu/sbc/convention/media/audio/dianadavis.mp3

Okay, okay. It’s not really that fresh.  But it’s a huge key to accomplishing a great feat–such as growing a church. Or preparing a luncheon for 1,500 pastor’s wives.

INVOLVING PEOPLE!

Why involve people? 3 reasons: 

1) when they’re involved, they take ownership

2) when they’re involved, they share in the blessing

3) when others are involved, the task becomes more of a joy than a burden

Here’s my great example:  The Ministers Wives Luncheon for the Southern Baptist Convention.  We’d approached the decorating task for the event with fear and trembling! Can you imagine a ballroom with 1,500 seats? Many tales of previous years’ all-night decorating exhaustion prompted me to invite eight really quality ministers’ wives in Indiana to help on a planning team. Each of those women recruited ten or twelve other ministers wives to help them decorate tables for 220 women.  A few other volunteers joined us, and with over 100 workers, we decorated that room in less than two hours!

The luncheon was a great encouragement for all those ministers wives from across the nation. Dr. Gary Chapman brought a great message of encouragement, and it was worth the effort.

Oh, it took lots of pre-planning and organizing, and this same share-the-work/share-the-blessing plan was used in many other areas of the event, and what a delightful accomplishment we all felt! As an added bonus, many made new friends and enjoyed great fellowship as we labored together.  Leaders– Don’t try to do it all yourself.  Share the blessing!  

 ”When the leaders lead…when the people volunteer, praise the Lord.” Judges 5:2