Don’t let a tight budget keep you from having an
exciting
and dynamic Sunday school program. We've got some great ways for you to
have a fabulous and fun fall kickoff, including fundraising and Kickoff
Party ideas.
First, here are some ideas for funding your
program(s).
Sunday School Sponsors
Have your church members sponsor children for Sunday school.
Most people would jump at the chance to support a child in a positive,
Bible-based program. Decorate a wall or bulletin board in your church as the
“Sunday School Hall of Fame.” Make a Sunday school poster to put in the middle
of the wall or board. At a Sunday School Sponsor Table have people purchase
stars for the amount they want to donate. Use a simple star pattern. Make
two stars for each of your donors—one on paper and one on card stock. Write
a brief note of thanks on the paper star (or have the child receiving a
scholarship write the note) and give it to the donor. Cut out the card stock star,
print the donor’s name in the middle and add glitter around the edges. Add the
card stock stars to the “Hall of Fame,” taping them around the poster.
Special Offering
Have a special Sunday School Offering for five weeks and
challenge your children and adults to a certain goal. Send a letter to your church
members explaining how the offering will work. Let them know that the offering
money will be used to help fund your Sunday school program. For each of the
first four weeks, ask people to bring a different coin (see chart below). Of
course, other coins and bills are welcome, as well! Have them bring bills the fifth
and final week. Give an update following each week, letting everyone know how
much was raised. You may want to have an artistic member of your congregation
draw a thermometer with some benchmarks indicated at the quarter, half, and
three-quarter points, and the goal at the top. Each week color the “mercury” on
the thermometer red to show how the offering is progressing.
Week 1 – Pennies
Week 2 – Nickels
Week 3 – Dimes
Week 4 – Quarters
Week 5 – Bills
Yard or Rummage Sale
Encourage your congregation to clean out their closets and
garages and bring the unneeded items to church for a giant rummage sale. Be
sure to advertise that all proceeds will be used to fund the Sunday school
programs at your church. Ask that items be brought in clean and in good and saleable condition. Then have children and teens
from your church set up an old fashioned lemonade stand at which they can also sell
donuts, muffins, coffee and juice. These things can be donated by members of
your congregation.
Stuck on Sunday School
Make a list of items needed for your Sunday school and the
cost of each item. Print each item needed and the price on a sticky note. Put
the notes on a bulletin board or wall and have your congregation members “go shopping.”
Each member can choose a sticky note and then pay for the items at the Sunday
School Sponsor Table. Even kids can use their allowances to help out. Give each
“shopper” a donor star on which to print his name and then add to your “Hall of
Fame.”
You can build interest and excitement for your Sunday school
program by hosting a Sunday School Kick-Off Party. This event will promote
Sunday school and your children’s ministry to your congregation and community.
Schedule time during the kick-off party to pre-register children, introduce leaders and teachers, and
educate parents about the importance of Sunday school for their children. Some of your parents may want
to donate money to benefit your program.
Stay tuned later this week for Kickoff Party ideas!
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