I’m looking forward to leading a conference for West Virginia women’s ministry leaders this weekend. You’re welcome to register if you live in that area! It’s for the American Baptist Churches of that state and guests are welcome.  Last week they had 250 preregistered, so it should be a great group.

The title is “Winds of Change”. Their planning team has done an amazing job, and I can’t wait to see how God uses the conference.  Pray for all those who will lead and attend.

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

Hi friends. I’m off to visit my sons in Ohio, but thought you might enjoy a sneak-peak at this month’s Fresh Ideas article.  You can see these online at our state convention website – www.scbi.org, too.  I know that all of your churches don’t have an administrative assistant. Some have a volunteer secretary. Others have many administrative professionals!  Either way, April 21st is a great day to creatively, sincerely bless her with words of thanks for her ministry and some type of gift expression.  Here are a few fresh ideas:

Fresh Ideas

“Hello, This is First Baptist…”

By Diana Davis

She’s often the first to represent your church, and her special day is coming. A good administrative assistant significantly impacts the ministry of your church and church staff. Will you—a church member or staff member—bless her (or him) in some way on Administrative Professionals’ Day, Wednesday, April 21^st? Need fresh ideas?

Wouldn’t she be surprised to arrive at work to find brewed coffee and a tray of pastries and fruit in her honor? Or helium balloons tied to her chair? Or dozens of “Thank God for Phoebe!” signs hung around the office?

The church website, newsletter, bulletin or pre-service PowerPoint could acknowledge her service with a photo, comment about her work, her favorite Scripture and a request for members to pray for her this week. 

Need thoughtful gift ideas? Order a personalized study Bible or note cards. Make a certificate or t-shirt to proclaim her “Best Administrative Assistant in [your town.]” A desk set, electronic desk gadget, plant for her desk. A gift in her name for missions. A good book, bouquet of her favorite flowers, a gift card to a great restaurant or scrapbooking shop. Tickets to her favorite sports event, Christian concert, garden show or theatre. For a church with several assistants, consider hosting a lovely luncheon in your home for them. With your gift, be sure to include a hand-written note of sincere appreciation for her work.

If the whole church (or a group in the church) wants to collaborate:

-          Put a beautiful, large vase on her desk with a single flower.  All day, staff and church members stop by with a couple more flowers and words of thanks, ultimately creating a gorgeous bouquet.

-          Each person contributes an item for a themed basket—teas, crosses, books, fishing. Or spray paint a branch and attach items and notes to create a themed gift tree, such as a Chocolate Tree.

-          Each day this week a different group brings lunch or takes her out.

-          Everyone contributes one of some item she likes (i.e. golf balls, Snickers.) Beautifully wrap one; put the rest all around the office for her to discover that day.   

How about a surprise lunch in her honor? Invite church staff, her husband or friend, and people she sees regularly at work, such as the postal carrier, custodian or church leaders. She arrives to unexpected applause and “thank you” signs. Each guest presents her a balloon as they share a story or word about her uplifting ministry. (Be sure to invite the waiter and postal carrier to church on Sunday.)

Most importantly, say the words. Pick up the phone, send an email or text, or stop by to express appreciation. As you show honor to God’s servants, you honor God, too.

“Consider others as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3b

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NOTE: If you are a Christian businessperson celebrating your administrative assistant’s day, consider giving her a second gift as a Christian witness or encouragement. A book, such as The Purpose Driven Life, a personalized Bible, or a Scripture bookmark.

©2010 Diana Davis is author of Fresh Ideas (B&H Publishing) and Deacon Wives (B&H) Her husband is Indiana Baptist Convention’s executive director. www.keeponshining.com

Keywords: Secretary’s secretaries administrative assistant executive assistant ministry assistant

I just returned from Texas, where we enjoyed a wonderful visit at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, time with family there, and then I got to help lead a conference for deacons’ wives at Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie. What a lovely group of women!

Here’s an idea that Inglewood is using to invite unchurched friends to attend worship on Easter Sunday.  They had a mountain of Peeps marshmallow candies in the church foyer with an invitation to church attached to each.  Everyone at church was encouraged to take as many as they would give to neighbors, friends and coworkers.  What a simple, creative way to invite guests to hear about Jesus! 

I’m not sure what their invitation note said, but it could have a variety of quotes along with the details of when and where the church meets, such as…

“I wanted to invite all the Peeps I love to church with me this Easter. Hope to see you there.”

“There’s more to Easter than just chicks and bunnies! Meet me at church on Sunday?”

“Hi Neighbor! Here’s my sweet invitation for you to join me for church Easter Sunday.”

Or you could be less corny and just give them a Peep and an invitation…

DAY #4:  Delight in the Lord. (Time alone with God)

Spend thirty minutes today with God. Just you and God.  

Reflect. Pray. Listen. Praise. Ask. Seek.  Adore.

- Set aside an uninterrupted half hour. If you have small children, begin at  nap time. If you work, dedicate half hour of your lunch time in a solitary place. Find a solitary place, turn off your cell phone and don’t answer the telephone or doorbell. Set a timer for thirty minutes, and ignore the clocks until it rings.

- Make this half hour of solitary time with God fit your lifestyle – it might be spent on a solitary walk, on the porch swing, or in a quiet room of your home.  Solitary time for you might have to be early morning or late night. Just find a full half hour for time alone with Him.

 - No books. No people. Just you and God, Jesus spent solitary time with God.  Follow His example. Talk to God about your life, your future, your family, your concerns and joys. And listen carefully as God speaks to you.

I guarantee this will be the best half hour you’ve invested all week!

“Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” Hebrews 4:16

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Find more ideas for deacon wives at Deacon Magazine(LifeWay) and Deacon wives—Fresh Ideas to Encourage Your Husband and the Church (B&H Publishing).

NEXT MONTH:  “31 Days to a Better Women’s Ministry”

Our Indiana Baptist ladies retreat is this weekend, and 800+ ladies will be coming to Indianapolis for a wonderful, inspiring weekend. It’s always a big highlight of the year. Will you pray for safe travel as they travel across our state? Snow is predicted!  

My breakout class:  The topic for my breakout class this year is “Terrycloth Christianity.” It’s a class for Christian leaders about Jesus’ style of leadership: servant leadership.  It begins with a fun “towel” fashion show. 

Ministers’ Wives Breakfast: One highlight of the retreat is a breakfast especially designed for pastor wives in our state. I’m delighted that we have one hundred pastors wives registered for our Ministers Wives Breakfast this Saturday! Pray for these important leaders who will attend–that God will use the event to encourage them, help them find new friendships, and inspire them.  I’ll get to recognize ten church planters’ wives, too.  Can’t wait! 

Each day this month, I’m blogging one simple idea to help you be a better deacon wife–ministry ideas, marital ideas, family ideas. Hope you enjoy them!

I’m at Highland Lakes Baptist Encampment today, leading an enjoyable time for spouses of the Indiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members. Pray for these important leaders. Here’s “Day Two” –

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Day #2 – Order personal business cards.

What?   Not a “business” card, actually, but a personal card that’s the size of a business card. 

What?  On your card, simply have the printer put your name and information you would share with someone you meet for ministry, such as an email address or phone number.  If you desire, you can add an attractive graphic or a favorite Scripture.  Some deacon wives I know print a short version of God’s plan of salvation on the back of the card.

Expense? This is a very inexpensive ministry tool.  Shop around and you may find a local business or internet printer who will print a box of 1000 business cards for $10-20. A thousand will last a long time.

Why? Here’s how you’ll use those cards.

- Try to give someone a card every day. When you’re watching for opportunities to invite people to your church or to minister to church members, you’ll find these little cards are valuable tools.

- Leave a card when you make an outreach visit, in-reach visit, hospital visit, homebound visit, new baby visit, bereavement call, etc.

- Give your card to a guest you meet at church. “Just call me if you have any questions about our church…or if you’d like to meet for coffee one day this week.”

- Give your card to a church member or guest who asks for prayer.  Jot a Scripture reference for encouragement on the back.

- Give your card to a person you meet who may be seeking a church home. For example, if you meet a woman in the grocery store line who mentions she’s just moved to town, invite her to your church, write down the time for worship and Bible study on the back of your card, and arrange to meet her at the front door.

- When you leave a ministry casserole for bereavement or illness. 

- Use them as gift cards for showers or parties.

Oh, we’re just getting started…you’ll be amazed at the ways you’ll use a personal business card for ministry purposes.  Order them today. Keep cards with you at all times, and be alert for ways you can use this simple tool to multiply ministry opportunities. 

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“…make the most of every opportunity.” Colossians 4:5 NLT

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For more ideas for deacon wives, see Deacon Wives (B&H Publishing), my newest book. 

IN MARCH, this blog will feature “31 days to a better women’s ministry.”

Here’s this month’s Fresh Ideas article:

Fresh Ideas for Winter Outreach

Sharing the Savior in the Snow

By Diana Davis

 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth…” Job 37:6

Whether you’re in Houston or Indianapolis, your church may have an occasional opportunity for sharing Jesus in the snow. A few fresh ideas:

We’re Open! Invest in a professional, brightly-colored sign or banner to display outdoors on questionable weather Sundays: “Let it snow! Join us for worship today at 11.”

Biggest Snowman in Kokomo! Build a gigantic snowman on the church lawn during the next big snow. Make a huge black hat, and gather accessories, buckets, snow shovels and ladders. A tree limb arm will hold a big sign: “God loves you snow much! Join us for worship Sunday at 11!” When the white seems right, send an email and phone tree message to invite church members to help. Some may bring trash bags of extra snow, if needed. You’ll enjoy fun Christian fellowship, and it may make the local paper’s front page!

Snow Fam. Build a snowfamily or a row of snowpeople on the church lawn—snowmen, snowgrandpas snowgirls, snowpets and so on. Each snow creature holds a sign inviting passersby to Sunday worship.

Snow Shoveling Party. During extended extreme weather, ask members to join deacons to shovel sidewalks for elderly church members and neighbors. Provide thermoses of hot cocoa for shovelers.   

Snow Soup. For snow parties, everyone brings cans of vegetables to add to huge, steaming soup pots.

Phones and  Escorts. Assign church members to call homebound church members during weather crises to assure their safety. Walk elderly folks to their car on slippery Sundays.

Coat Exchange. It’s like a cookie exchange, but warmer. Ask members to donate outgrown coats, place them on big coat racks, and invite everyone to help themselves. 

Hot Cocoa and Warm Teaching. Advertise a winter Bible study to feature a hot chocolate bar with all the trimmings. 

Mitten Tree. To collect warm socks and mittens for a local benevolence project, roll donated gloves and socks and hang like ornament balls on a tree.

Winter Sports. Take advantage of local opportunities for church-family winter fun, such as snow skiing, snowball wars, ice skating or sledding. Enjoy indoor sports during dreary weather months. Don’t have a gym? Rent a local facility for basketball, bowling, curling or volleyball tournaments. 

 Cancellation Policy. Make a plan for extreme weather cancellations. For example, one church cancels worship only for major power outages or if the governor mandates road closure. Post an announcement on the church’s answering machine and website within two hours of worship.

 God created the summer and the winter.  Praise Him in every season!

 ©Diana Davis is author of Fresh Ideas and Deacon Wives (B&H Publishing). See www.keeponshining.com